Method of inserting an electrosurgical instrument into an endoscope in an apparatus for ionisable gas coagulation and operating the electrosurgical instrument in the endoscope after insertion

A method of operating an apparatus for ionisable gas coagulation, the apparatus comprising at least an endoscope, an electrosurgical instrument capable of being inserted through the endoscope, a source for supplying ionisable gas to said electrosurgical instrument, and an electrosurgical generator for supplying high frequency energy to said electrosurgical instrument, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• a) inserting the electrosurgical instrument into the endoscope;
• b) activating the source to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of less than a predetermined threshold flow rate while the electrosurgical instrument is being inserted into the endoscope;
• c) activating the source to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of greater than the predetermined threshold flow rate when the electrosurgical instrument has been fully inserted into the endoscope;
• and
• d) supplying high frequency energy from the electrosurgical generator to said electrosurgical instrument, in order to ionise the ionisable gas flowing to the electrosurgical instrument in step c.