Importance

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Abstract

An electrosurgical system for cutting and coagulating tissue includes a generator for generating radio frequency (RF) power, and an electrosurgical instrument. The instrument includes a pair of blades pivotally joined for relative movement in a scissors-like action between open and closed positions, each of said blades including a conductive blade member and a conductive electrode electrically isolated from the blade member by means of an insulation member. A first one of either the conductive blade member or the conductive electrode constitutes an inner electrode on each blade, which are disposed in face-to-face relationship. A second one of either the conductive blade member or the conductive electrode constitutes an outer electrode on each blade spaced from the inner electrode. The instrument further includes an actuation mechanism for effecting relative movement of the blades in said scissors-like action, the generator including at least one source of RF power and a controller such that the generator is capable of delivering a first cutting RF waveform to the electrosurgical instrument or a second coagulating RF waveform to the electrosurgical instrument. The system further includes a switching circuit such that the first cutting RF waveform is delivered between the inner and outer electrodes on each blade, and the second coagulating RF waveform is delivered between the outer electrodes on each blade.

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First Claim