Electro cautery surgical blade

In combination, a blade holder and a blade comprising:

• (a) a blade holder including a longitudinal slit for receiving a predetermined portion of said blade and including electrical power source contact pad connection means in said slit;
• (b) electrical-to-mechanical transducer means positioned in a distal portion of said blade holder;
• (c) mechanical compression means for drawing said slit into a substantially closed position about both said blade and said transducer means for urging said transducer means into engagement against said blade;
• and
• (d) said blade including a proximal portion, a working edge extending distally of said proximal portion, a first conductor extending across said blade, a first insulation layer disposed over said first conductor and up to said working edge of said blade, a second conductor extending generally parallel to said first conductor and spaced by said first insulation layer from said first conductor and from said working edge on at least one side of said blade, a second insulation layer covering said second conductor, and two or more electrical contact pads electrically connected to said first and second conductors and located on said proximal portion of said blade and operatively connected to said contact pad connection means in said slit for coupling electrical energy to said blade.