Electrocautery instrument

Abstract

An electrocautery instrument in accordance with the present invention facilitates a relatively non-invasive procedure for treating small varicose and spider veins. In the furtherance of this and other objectives, an electrocautery device is provided that does not have to be inserted or into the veins in order to satisfactorily treat them. In particular, an exemplary electrocautery instrument can destroy the target tissue when brought into with the target vein. Moreover, the electrocautery instrument can destroy target veins without causing collateral damage to neighboring tissue. In the furtherance of this and other objectives a thin sheath of biocompatible material coats substantially the entire needle portion of the electrocautery instrument so as to prevent the exposure of neighboring tissue to its therapeutics. The sheath effectively shields surrounding tissue from exposure, while being sufficiently thin to allow for unobstructed insertion of the needle through the skin of a patient to the target site.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.