AN ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT

摘要

An electrosurgical instrument is provided for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium. The instrument comprises an instrument shaft (10), a tissue treatment electrode (12) at the distal end of the shaft for electrosurgically excising tissue pieces at an operation site, morcellation means for electrosurgically reducing the size of excised tissue pieces, and removal means for removing morcellated tissue pieces. The instrument has an apertured portion (20a) through which matter can be aspirated by the removal means from the region surrounding the tissue treatment electrode (12). The removal means comprises a channel formed within the instrument shaft (10) and leading from the apertured portion (20a). The tissue treatment electrode (12) is movable cyclically relative to the distal end of the shaft (10), and constitutes the morcellation means.