Multiple-wire electrosurgical electrodes

A multiple-wire electrode for use with an electrosurgical handpiece in an electrosurgical procedure, comprising:

• (a) an electrically-conductive shaft having one end sized to fit on an electrosurgical handpiece and having an end opposite to the one end,
• (b) plural spaced electrically-conductive wires electrically connected to the opposite end of the shaft and having ends remote from the shaft, the end of at least one of said wires remote from the shaft being electrically active,
• (c) means for varying the spacing between the wire ends,
• (d) whereby the active wire end when applied to tissue of a patient and the handpiece energized, electrical currents will flow from the active wire end to the tissue allowing cutting by electrical currents of an incision relative to the end of another one of said wires when the handpiece is drawn across the tissue.

A multiple-wire unipolar electrode in combination with an electrosurgical handpiece for use in an electrosurgical cutting procedure, comprising:

• (a) an electrosurgical handpiece having an elongated handle and at one end an opening sized to receive a shaft of a unipolar electrode,
• (b) an electrically-conductive shaft having one end fitted within the opening at said one end of the electrosurgical handpiece and having an opposite end, said shaft extending in the same direction as the elongated handle,
• (c) plural spaced electrically-conductive wires electrically connected to each other and to the opposite end of the shaft and having ends remote from the shaft, the ends remote from the shaft of at least two of said wires being adjacent and electrically active,
• (d) whereby the active wire ends when applied to tissue of a patient and the handpiece energized, electrical currents will flow from the active wire ends to the tissue allowing cutting by electrical currents of spaced incisions corresponding to the wire end spacing when the handpiece is drawn by its handle across the tissue.