Patent ID: 8747401

Claim:
An electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue at a target site comprising: a shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal portion; at least one active electrode disposed on the distal portion of the shaft; a return electrode defining at least a portion of the distal portion of the shaft, the return electrode at least partially encircling an electrode insulator and having an outer surface; a plurality of discharge apertures through the return electrode, the plurality of discharge apertures fluidly connected to a fluid delivery element within shaft, the fluid delivery element to deliver an electrically conductive fluid through the plurality of discharge apertures laterally disposed and transverse to the at least one active electrode; and a plurality of aspiration apertures disposed through the electrode insulator and directly adjacent to the at least one active electrode, the plurality of aspiration apertures spaced away from the plurality of discharge apertures so as to direct the electrically conductive fluid from the plurality of discharge apertures to uniformly wet the outer surface before flowing into the plurality of aspiration apertures.