Foam electrode and method of use thereof during tissue resection

A method of resecting a portion of tissue to be removed from a portion of the tissue to be retained within a patient, comprising:

• absorbing a volume of an electrically conductive fluid into a hydrophilic electrode, the hydrophilic electrode comprising a porous electrically insulative material, wherein the volume of electrically conductive fluid is sufficient to provide an electrically conductive path through the porous electrically insulative material, wherein the electrically conductive path is broken when the volume of electrically conductive fluid drops below a threshold level;
• conveying electrical energy to or from the hydrophilic electrode while being moved in proximity to the tissue along a resection line, whereby tissue adjacent to the resection line is coagulated;
• separating the tissue along the resection line to resect the tissue portion to be removed from the tissue portion to be retained;
• conveying electrical energy to or from the hydrophilic electrode to seal a blood vessel that traverses the resection line;
• and
• transecting the sealed blood vessel.