Surgical instrument

Abstract

A method of using electrosurgical instrument for removal of tissue from a patient. The electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of lever members each of which having an associated end effector associated. One of the end effectors includes a cutting element forming a loop on the end of the end effector. The cutting element is also configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy source. The other of the end effectors includes a pad that can be brought into a position generally opposing the cutting element during relative movement of the end effectors toward one another. When electrical energy is discharged from the cutting element and the end effectors moved toward one another, dissection and cauterization of tissue from a patient is facilitated.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of dissecting tissue from a patient utilizing an electrosurgical instrument, the electrosurgical instrument having a pair of lever members with an end effector associated with each of the lever members and supported by the lever members for relative movement in a direction toward one another, one of the end effectors including a cutting element that is configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy source, the cutting element forming a loop having a central opening on the end of the end effector, the method comprising:
 positioning the loop on one lateral side of the tissue to be removed and positioning the other of the end effectors on an opposing lateral side of the tissue to be removed;   causing relative movement of the end effectors toward each other;   providing electrosurgical energy to the cutting portion and discharging the electrosurgical energy through the cutting element to the tissue to be removed ;   dissecting and cauterizing the tissue;   passing the dissected tissue through the opening of the loop; and   removing the dissected tissue from the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least the cutting element is formed by a length of wire, the electrosurgical energy being discharged through the length of wire. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the loop on one lateral side of the tissue to be removed includes performing blunt dissection to position the loop between adjacent portions of tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of causing relative movement of the end effectors toward each other causes part of the other of the end effectors to at least partially extend though the opening of the loop. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of causing relative movement of the end effectors toward each other causes a leading face of the other of the end effectors to pass completely though the opening of the loop. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of passing the dissected tissue through the opening of the loop includes passing all of the dissected tissue through the loop. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of passing the dissected tissue through the opening of the loop includes passing at least part of the dissected tissue through the loop. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is tonsil tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is pharyngeal tonsil tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dissected tissue is removed by the electrosurgical instrument. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of discharging the electrosurgical energy through the cutting element to the tissue includes accounting for impedance variations in the tissue to be removed thereby. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the impedance variations are accounted for by one of impedance matching, voltage adjustment, and/or current adjustment.