Electrosurgical electrodes

An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

• an elongated housing having a lumen defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, the elongated housing having distal and proximal ends, the proximal end adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source;
• an electrode assembly comprising:
• a proximal end adapted to connect to the distal end of the elongated housing;
• a distal end including a cutting electrode having a loop configuration configured to cut tissue, the distal end including a return electrode operably disposed adjacent the cutting electrode;
• and
• a dielectric shield operably disposed between the cutting electrode and return electrode, the dielectric shield extending distally past the cutting electrode to hinder current flow to the return electrode when the dielectric shield, cutting electrode and return electrode are submersed in a conductive solution and the cutting electrode is energized, thereby concentrating current density at the cutting electrode.

An electrode assembly, comprising:

• a proximal end adapted to connect to an electrosurgical instrument including a housing defining a longitudinal axis therethrough and an electrosurgical energy source;
• a distal end including a cutting electrode having a loop configuration configured to cut tissue, the distal end including a return electrode operably disposed adjacent the cutting electrode;
• and
• an insulative material operably disposed between the cutting electrode and return electrode to hinder current flow to the return electrode when the insulative material, cutting electrode and return electrode are submersed in a conductive solution and the cutting electrode is energized, thereby concentrating current density at the cutting electrode.