RF ablation systems and methods including a cannula with contacts or a connector

An RF ablation system, comprising:

• an RF ablation cannula comprising:
• a cannula shaft;
• an active tip as part of, or coupled to, the cannula shaft;
• a cannula hub coupled to the cannula shaft, the cannula hub comprising at least a first cannula contact and a second cannula contact, wherein each of the first cannula contact and the second cannula contact comprises a ring contact having an outer diameter defining an outer cylindrical contact surface configured for electrically coupling to an external contact, wherein the first cannula contact is electrically coupled to the active tip;
• and
• a wire extending along the cannula shaft and attached to the active tip or cannula shaft to form a thermocouple, wherein the wire is electrically coupled to the second cannula contact;
• and
• a coupler comprising:
• a first coupler contact and a second coupler contact configured for attaching and electrically coupling to the first cannula contact and second cannula contact of the RF ablation cannula, respectively, wherein the first coupler contact and the second coupler contact each have a partial ring shape complementary to the outer cylindrical contact surfaces of the first cannula contact and second cannula contact, respectively,
• a cable electrically coupled to the first and second coupler contacts and terminating in a connector configured to couple to an RF generator, and
• a coupler clip with the first and second coupler contacts directly attached to and extending from the coupler clip, wherein the coupler clip is configured and arranged to facilitate attachment of the coupler to the cannula hub of the RF ablation cannula, wherein the coupler clip comprises a first wing from which the first and second coupler contacts extend and to which the first and second coupler contacts are directly attached, a second wing, and an arm attached to, and between, the first and second wings.