Patent ID: 8394089

Claim:
An electrosurgical system including: an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument including at least first, second and third electrodes in fixed relationship to each other, each spaced from each other by insulating members therebetween, the first electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute an active electrode, the second electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a first return electrode, and the third electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a second return electrode, the electrosurgical generator including a source of radio frequency energy and first second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes, respectively, of the electrosurgical instrument, a switching circuit, and a controller, the controller being able to control the switching circuit so as to selectively direct the radio frequency energy to either the first and second output connections, and hence, the first and second electrodes, or to the first and third output connections, and hence, the first and third electrodes, the first, second and third electrodes being arranged, such that the third electrode is not in the current path between the first and second electrodes when the first and second electrodes are in use, and the second electrode is not in the current path between the first and third electrodes when the first and third electrodes are in use.