Electrosurgical systems and methods for removing and modifying tissue

An electrosurgical probe, comprising:

• a shaft having a shaft distal end portion and a shaft proximal end portion;
• an electrode support affixed to the shaft distal end portion;
• and
• a blade electrode affixed to the electrode support, wherein the blade electrode comprises a hook having at least one active edge, a first blade side and a second blade side, wherein the at least one active edge is adapted for severing tissue via molecular dissociation of tissue components.

A plasma blade electrosurgical probe, comprising:

• a shaft having a shaft distal end portion and a shaft proximal end portion;
• at least one electrode support disposed on the shaft distal end portion;
• and
• a blade electrode affixed to the at least one electrode support, wherein the blade electrode comprises a metal blade having a first arm, a second arm, and a crosspiece extending between the first arm and the second arm, the first arm and the second arm disposed on the at least one electrode support, and the blade electrode adapted for severing tissue via molecular dissociation of tissue components.

An electrosurgical probe, comprising:

• a shaft having a shaft distal end portion and a shaft proximal end portion, the shaft distal end portion including a laterally compressed region;
• at least one electrode support affixed to the laterally compressed region;
• a blade electrode disposed on the at least one electrode support, the blade electrode adapted for modifying tissue at a target site;
• and
• an insulating sleeve covering a portion of the shaft, the insulating sleeve terminating distally in a sleeve distal end at a position proximal to the electrode support to define an exposed portion of the shaft distal end portion, and the exposed portion comprising a return electrode.

An electrosurgical apparatus, comprising:

• a shaft having a shaft distal end portion and a shaft proximal end portion;
• an electrode support arranged terminally on the shaft distal end portion;
• a blade electrode disposed on the distal terminus of the electrode support, the blade electrode including an active edge and first and second blade sides, the active edge capable of localized ablation of tissue to form a first-modified tissue, the blade electrode adapted for engaging the first-modified tissue against at least one of the first and second blade sides, and the first and second blade sides capable of effecting hemostasis of the first-modified tissue;
• and
• a return electrode arranged on the shaft distal end portion proximal to the electrode support.

A method of modifying a tissue at a target site of a patient's body, comprising:

• a) providing an electrosurgical probe having a shaft distal end, the shaft distal end bearing an electrode support, and the electrode support having an active electrode affixed thereto, the active electrode consisting essentially of a single blade electrode, the single blade electrode including at least one active edge and first and second blade sides, the at least one active edge adapted for severing tissue via molecular dissociation of components of the tissue;
• b) positioning the shaft distal end in the vicinity of the target site such that the single blade electrode is in at least close proximity to the tissue at the target site;
• and
• c) applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, wherein at least a portion of the tissue at the target site is ablated or modified.

A method of modifying a tissue at a target site of a patient, comprising:

• a) providing an electrosurgical probe having a shaft distal end, the shaft distal end bearing at least one electrically insulating electrode support, and the at least one electrode support having an active electrode affixed thereto, the active electrode consisting essentially of a hook having at least one active edge, the at least one active edge adapted for severing tissue via molecular dissociation of components of the tissue;
• b) positioning the shaft distal end in the vicinity of the target site such that the hook is in at least close proximity to the tissue at the target site;
• and
• c) applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage sufficient to ablate or modify at least a portion of the tissue at the target site.