Patent ID: 7175621

Claim:
An electrosurgical assembly which interfaces with a generator for executing a first electrosurgical procedure and which comprises: an output assembly which is at least operatively interconnectable with said generator; an active electrosurgical element which is operatively interconnected with said output assembly and which interacts with a first portion of a patient during said first electrosurgical procedure; a return path element which interacts with a second portion of said patient during said first electrosurgical procedure and which is mechanically interconnected with said active electrosurgical element to define a bipolar configuration, wherein said first and second portions are different, and wherein said return path element comprises a first dielectric component which interfaces with said patient; and a return assembly which is operatively interconnected with said return path element and further which is at least operatively interconnectable with said generator, wherein said return path element further comprises a first return conductor which interfaces with said first dielectric component in such a manner that energy is returned to said generator first through said first dielectric component and then to said first return conductor, wherein said first dielectric component is defined by a first tube, wherein said first return conductor is defined by a second tube, and wherein said first and second tubes are disposed in end-to-end relation.