Patent ID: 8137341

Claim:
A method for performing surgery using plasma, comprising the steps of: navigating an elongated flexible catheter to a target treatment site, wherein the catheter comprises a proximal end, a distal end, at least one optic fiber for illumination and image capture, an irrigation cannula passageway, and an aspiration cannula passageway, wherein the proximal end is coupled to a conditioning network and a distal end incising electrode tip is disposed on the distal end, wherein the distal end incising electrode tip is disposed adjacent to the target treatment site; generating a radiofrequency signal; wherein the radiofrequency signal is generated by a radiofrequency signal generator and passes through the conditioning network, the conditioning network outputting a conditioned radiofrequency signal, applying the conditioned radiofrequency signal to the distal end incising electrode tip; and ablating the target treatment site utilizing a harmonious plasma cloud surrounding the distal end incising electrode, wherein the conditioning network varies at least one of impedance, frequency, power, or q-curve output to tune the radiofrequency signal produced by the radiofrequency signal generator such that the energy is absorbed by the molecular lattice of the target treatment site in contact with the distal end incising electrode tip, the molecular bonds of the lattice fracture into fractured molecular particles, and the fractured molecular particles form the harmonious plasma cloud, wherein the harmonious plasma cloud coats the distal end incising electrode tip, contributing to the increased concentration of energy in the intended path of incision to achieve a cleaner, more precise, more powerful, and more efficient incision with less energy spillover on non-target sites outside an intended incision path, wherein a plasma fuel is not necessary.