Patent ID: 7666183

Claim:
An electrode arrangement for a surgical instrument for the electrothermal coagulation of human or animal tissue, comprising: an elongate carrier; and a plurality of self-supporting metal bar profile members, capable of being connected to an ac voltage and having electrodes, wherein said metal bar profile members are an integral component part of the carrier and which extend side-by-side in the longitudinal direction of the carrier and which are connected together by means of at least one insulating spacer element such that said at least one insulating spacer element is arranged between said bar profile members and extends uniformly over an entire length thereof, and wherein each of said plurality of metal bar profile members exhibit a bare peripheral portion forming a respective electrode of said electrodes that is capable of making contact with tissue, characterized in that at least one bar profile member is in the form of a hollow profile member having a hollow passage closed at a distal end, and wherein said bare peripheral portion extends at least in said longitudinal direction.