Electrolyte purging electrode tip

Claim 1

An electrolyte fluid purging electrosurgical device for use with an electrode holder connected to an electrical power source and with a source of non-electrically conductive fluid for enabling electrosurgery at a surgical site which is surrounded by an electrically conductive fluid, comprising: an electrically conductive electrode shaft having a first electrode end and a second electrode end; an insulating tubular duct defining a duct conduit extending between a first duct end and a second duct end; said electrode shaft being disposed within said duct conduit with said first electrode end of said electrode shaft extending beyond said first duct end of said insulating tubular duct for defining an electrode shaft connecting means for connection to the electrode holder; said second electrode end of said electrode shaft extending beyond said second duct end of said insulating tubular duct for defining an electrode tip to provide electrical current to the surgical site; a plurality of support walls extending longitudinally within said duct conduit of said insulating tubular duct and disposed between said insulating tubular duct and said electrode shaft for supporting said electrode shaft within said duct conduit of said insulating tubular duct and for defining a plurality of conduit channels encompassing said electrode shaft; and means for connecting said first duct end of said insulating tubular duct to the source of non-electrically conductive fluid for enabling non-electrically conductive fluid to flow through said plurality of conduit channels of said insulating tubular duct to deliver the electrically non-conductive fluid to an immediate area proximate said electrode tip to displace the electrically conductive fluid from the immediate area proximate the surgical site when said electrode tip is positioned at the surgical site to enable electrosurgical treatment thereat.