Patent ID: 8333761

Claim:
An electrosurgical system including: an electrosurgical instrument, and an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument including: at least first, second and third electrodes, each spaced from each other by insulating members therebetween, the first electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute an active electrode, the second electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a first return electrode, and the third electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a second return electrode, the electrosurgical generator including: a source of radio frequency energy capable of producing either a coagulating RF waveform or a cutting RF waveform, first, second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes respectively of the electrosurgical instrument, a switch, and a controller, the controller being such that: when a cutting RF waveform is selected, the switch directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections, and thereby the first and second electrodes, such that the first electrode is the active electrode and the second electrode is the return electrode, and when a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switch directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections, and thereby, the first and third electrodes, such that the first electrode is the active electrode and the third electrode is the return electrode.