Electrosurgical stripping electrode for palatopharynx tissue

An electrosurgical electrode for stripping of tissue, comprising:

• (a) an electrically conductive shaft member having a first end for mounting in an electrosurgical handpiece and a second end,
• (b) first and second, spaced, wire-support members mounted on the shaft member at its second end, at least one of said first and second wire-support members being electrically conductive and being electrically connected to the shaft member,
• (c) an active, electrically conductive, cutting wire mounted to and across the first and second wire-support members, said active cutting wire being electrically connected to said one electrically conductive wire-support member, said cutting wire having exposed electrically conductive portions for applying electrosurgical currents to said tissue when said shaft is connected to a source of electrosurgical currents,
• (d) said first and second wire-support members being both conductive rod-like members and being both coated with an electrically insulating coating to prevent contact and passage of electrosurgical currents to areas adjacent to or surrounding the tissue to be stripped, the first wire-support member being located furthest from the first end of the shaft member, and the first wire-support member being longer and extending further away from the shaft member than the second wire-support member.

An electrosurgical electrode for stripping of tissue, comprising:

• (a) an electrically conductive shaft member having a first end for mounting in an electrosurgical handpiece and a second end,
• (b) first and second, spaced, wire-support members mounted on the shaft member at its second end, at least one of said first and second wire-support members being electrically conductive and being electrically connected to the shaft member,
• (c) an active, electrically conductive, cutting wire mounted to and across the first and second wire-support members, said active cutting wire being electrically connected to said one electrically conductive wire-support member and extending parallel to the shaft member, said cutting wire having exposed electrically conductive portions for applying electrosurgical currents to said tissue when said shaft is connected to a source of electrosurgical currents,
• (d) portions of said first and second wire-support members adjacent said exposed portions being electrically insulating to prevent contact and passage of electrosurgical currents to areas adjacent to or surrounding the tissue to be stripped.

In combination:

• an electrosurgical handpiece having means at one end for connection to electrosurgical apparatus capable of supplying high frequency currents at a frequency exceeding 1.5 MHz and having at its opposite end means for holding the electrically conductive shaft of an electrosurgical electrode and for supplying the high frequency currents to said electrode;
• an electrosurgical electrode for stripping of palatopharynx tissue, comprising:
• (a) an electrically conductive shaft member having a first end mounted at the opposite end of the electrosurgical handpiece and a second end,
• (b) first and second, spaced, wire-support members mounted on the shaft member at its second end, at least one of said first and second wire-support members being electrically conductive and being electrically connected to the shaft member, the first wire-support member being located furthest from the first end of the shaft member, and the first wire-support member being longer and extending further away from the shaft member than the second wire-support member, the first and second wire-support members extending transversely to the shaft member,
• (c) an active, electrically conductive, cutting wire mounted to and across the first and second wire-support members, said active cutting wire being electrically connected to said one electrically conductive wire-support member, said cutting wire having exposed electrically conductive portions for applying electrosurgical currents to said palatopharynx tissue when said electrosurgical apparatus is energized,
• (d) portions of said first and second wire-support members adjacent said exposed portions being electrically insulating to prevent contact and passage of electrosurgical currents to areas adjacent to or surrounding the tissue to be stripped.

In combination:

• an electrosurgical handpiece having means at one end for connection to electrosurgical apparatus capable of supplying high frequency currents and having at its opposite end means for holding the electrically conductive shaft of an electrosurgical electrode and for supplying the high frequency currents to said electrode;
• an electrosurgical electrode for stripping of palatopharynx tissue, comprising:
• (a) an electrically conductive shaft member having a first end mounted at the opposite end of the electrosurgical handpiece and a second end,
• (b) first and second, spaced, wire-support members mounted on the shaft member at its second end, at least one of said first and second wire-support members being electrically conductive and being electrically connected to the shaft member,
• (c) an active, electrically conductive, cutting wire mounted to and across the first and second wire-support members, said active cutting wire being electrically connected to said one electrically conductive wire-support member and extending parallel to the shaft member, said cutting wire having exposed electrically conductive portions for applying electrosurgical currents to said palatopharynx tissue when said electrosurgical apparatus is energized,
• (d) portions of said first and second wire-support members adjacent said exposed portions being electrically insulating to prevent contact and passage of electrosurgical currents to areas adjacent to or surrounding the tissue to be stripped.