Electrosurgical resector tool

An electrosurgical resector tool comprising:

• an energy conveying structure for carrying radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and microwave EM energy, the energy conveying structure comprising a coaxial transmission line having an inner conductor separated from an outer conductor by a dielectric material;
• an instrument tip mounted at a distal end of the energy conveying structure, wherein the instrument tip comprises a first jaw and a second jaw;
• wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between a closed position in which the first jaw and the second jaw lie alongside each other, and an open position in which the second jaw is spaced from the first jaw by a gap for receiving biological tissue;
• wherein the first jaw comprises a first pair of electrodes that are electrically isolated from one another;
• wherein the second jaw comprises a second pair of electrodes that are electrically isolated from one another;
• wherein the first pair of electrodes is coupled to the energy conveying structure, such that the first pair of electrodes is operable as active and return electrodes for delivering RF EM energy carried by the energy conveying structure;
• wherein the second pair of electrodes is coupled to the energy conveying structure, such that the second pair of electrodes is operable as active and return electrodes for delivering RF EM energy carried by the energy conveying structure;
• wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are operable as a microwave field emitting structure for emitting microwave EM energy carried by the energy conveying structure;
• wherein the first jaw comprises a first planar dielectric element having an inner surface that faces towards the second jaw and an outer surface that faces away from the second jaw, and the first pair of electrodes comprises an inner electrode and an outer electrode arranged on the inner and outer surfaces of the first planar dielectric element, respectively;
• the second jaw comprises a second planar dielectric element having an inner surface that faces towards the first jaw and an outer surface that faces away from the first jaw, and the second pair of electrodes comprises an inner electrode and an outer electrode arranged on the inner and outer surfaces of the second planar dielectric element, respectively;
• wherein the instrument tip further comprises a base structure that connects the outer electrodes of the first pair of electrode and the outer electrode of the second pair of electrodes to the distal end of the energy conveying structure;
• wherein the base structure comprises an electrically conductive material that forms a first electrical connection from:
• the outer electrode of the first pair of electrodes or the outer electrode of the second pair of electrodes;
• to
• a first one of the inner conductor and the outer conductor at a distal end of the coaxial transmission line;
• wherein the base structure defines a cavity in which the inner electrode of the first pair of electrodes or the inner electrode of the second pair of electrodes forms a second electrical connection to a second one of the inner conductor and the outer conductor at the distal end of the coaxial transmission line;
• and
• wherein the cavity contains a solid dielectric material that electrically insulates the first electrical connection from the second electrical connection.