Patent ID: 7824408

Claim:
A bipolar electrode probe comprising: an elongated shaft having an elongated axis, a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end; a sharpened distal probe end; a rigid, generally spherical or toroidal first electrode disposed near the distal end of the shaft; a rigid second electrode spaced axially from the first electrode along the elongate axis; and an electrical connector near the proximal end of the shaft for connecting the first and second electrodes to opposite poles of an electrosurgical power supply; wherein said second electrode is located distal of said first electrode along the elongate axis and said second electrode has a smaller radial profile than said first electrode such that the second electrode does not extend as far from the elongate axis as the first electrode; and wherein said probe is rigid and configured to puncture body tissue with said sharpened distal probe end as said sharpened distal probe end is urged against said body tissue.