Patent ID: 7232439

Claim:
An endoscopic morcellator device comprising: a hollow elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen being sized and shaped for insertion of a tissue grasper therethrough, and having a substantially uniform inner diameter; a handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft; at least one active electrode disposed about a periphery of the distal end of the shaft; at least one return electrode disposed at the distal end of the shaft having a substantially annular overall configuration concentrically disposed about the shaft and having an outer surface, the return electrode being electrically insulated from the at least one active electrode; and a plurality of recesses formed in the outer surface of the at least one return electrode and extending along a length of the at least one return electrode to a distal end thereof, the plurality of recesses forming fluid conduits distinct and separate from the lumen, wherein the elongate shaft contains no moving parts, and wherein activation of said at least one active electrode in the presence of fluid introduced through said fluid conduits cuts and/or vaporizes tissue in proximity thereto.