Surgical instrument

A device for morcellating tissue within a body cavity of a patient, the morcellating device comprising a stationary tube having a distal end portion, the distal end portion including a bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly including first and second electrodes located at the distal end of the tube and separated one from the other by an insulation member, the first electrode constituting an active cutting electrode, and the second electrode constituting a return electrode, the morcellating device having a first circumferential region and a second circumferential region, the first circumferential region being longer than the second circumferential region, the first electrode being disposed further forwardly as compared with the second electrode in the first circumferential region, and the second electrode being disposed at least as far forwardly as compared with the first electrode in the second circumferential region, the arrangement being such that, when an electrosurgical cutting voltage is applied to the electrode assembly, tissue can be pulled against the distal end of the tube to form a slug of severed tissue within the tube, and, in the second circumferential region, the second electrode remains in contact with the unsevered tissue within the body cavity.