| abstract |
An electrosurgical instrument, which is used for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium, comprises an instrument shaft 10, and an electrode assembly at one end of the shaft. The electrode assembly comprises a tissue treatment electrode 14 and a return electrode 18 which is electrically insulated from the tissue treatment electrode by means of an insulation member 16. The tissue treatment electrode 14 is exposed at the distal end portion of the instrument 10, and the return electrode 18 has a fluid contact surface spaced proximally from the exposed end of the tissue treatment electrode by the insulation member 16. The exposed end of the tissue treatment electrode 14 is constituted by a plurality of tissue treatment filamentary members made of an electrically-conductive material, the filamentary members being electrically connected to a common electrical supply conductor. |