Electrical charge-dissipating cannula

A system to dissipate an electrical charge from a surgical instrument, comprising:

• a cannula, comprising:
• a hollow elongated structure configured to receive a surgical instrument, at least a portion of the hollow elongated structure comprising a polymer material, and
• an electrically conductive material provided at the hollow elongated structure sufficient to receive an electrical charge from the surgical instrument through capacitive coupling between the surgical instrument and the hollow elongated structure;
• and
• at least one dispersive electrode configured to be placed in contact with a patient's body.

A method of dissipating an electrical charge from a surgical instrument, comprising:

• connecting a cannula to a body in contact with at least one dispersive electrode, the cannula having an electrically conductive material provided at the cannula sufficient to receive an electrical charge from the surgical instrument through capacitive coupling between the surgical instrument and the cannula, at least a portion of the cannula comprising a polymer material;
• inserting the surgical instrument within an interior passage of the cannula;
• and
• providing energy to the surgical instrument from an energy source,
• wherein the electrical charge is dissipated through the electrically conductive material of the cannula to the body after the surgical instrument is provided with energy from the energy source.