Electrosurgical instrument

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument configured for thermal cutting of biological tissue of a patient is disclosed. The instrument comprises at least one movable jaw and at least one jaw including a thermal cutting element with an electrically conductive cutting conductor and an electrically conductive return conductor that are electrically connected with each other. The cutting element is arranged so that the cutting conductor is at least thermally uncovered on a side of one jaw facing another jaw and so that the return conductor is surrounded by an insulating body. The return conductor comprises a lower electrical resistance in a current flow direction and a higher thermal conductivity than the cutting conductor. In doing so, during supply of current to the cutting element at the return conductor a considerably lower amount of heat is created than in the cutting conductor and the return conductor can be used for heat dissipation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.