Patent ID: 7435247

Claim:
A system for applying electrical energy to tissue at a target site comprising: an electrosurgical instrument having a shaft with a proximal end, a distal section, a distal end and a substantially planar and solid tissue treatment surface at the distal end, one or more active electrodes extending distally from said planar tissue treatment surface, a plurality of spacers extending away from the planar tissue treatment surface wherein said spacers extend beyond said one or more electrodes such that a space remains between said electrodes and said tissue at said target site and wherein the spacers extend beyond a distal end of the electrodes by a distance between 0.025 mm to 0.25 mm; a return electrode arranged at the distal section of the instrument and proximal to said tissue treatment surface; a fluid source for providing electrically conductive fluid between the return electrode and the active electrodes; and one or more connectors coupled to the active electrodes for connecting the active electrodes to a high frequency power supply.