Patent ID: 7160295

Claim:
An electrosurgical monopolar probe for treating tissue, comprising: (a) an elongated member having a major longitudinal axis and having a proximal first end and a distal second end comprising an active electrode, the elongated member comprising a long thin flexible wire covered with an insulator except for a bare active second end, (b) said elongated member having sufficient resilience such that when bent will spring back to its unbent position and being sufficiently thin and flexible such that it can be passed through a straight or bent cannula or tissue having an inside diameter equal to or less than about 3 mm, (c) an insulated connector attached to and fully surrounding the first end so as to allow the passage of electrosurgical currents between its proximal and distal ends when the connector is connected to a source of electrosurgical currents but will prevent accidental electrical contact of the first end with the tissue, (d) wherein electrosurgical currents applied to the proximal end when an electrosurgical voltage is applied thereto will reach and activate the active end.