A surgical
cutting and tissue vaporizing instrument, also referred to as an electrosurgical instrument, is in the form of a scalpel or scissors. The scalpel has a
handle portion and a blade portion mounted on the
handle portion. The blade portion has a smaller front section which acts as an
active electrode, a larger rear section which acts as a return
electrode, and an insulating middle section separating the two electrodes. A plurality of ports and conduits are formed in the blade portion, with the conduits extending through the
handle portion, so that
saline may be supplied to the handle and blade portions and out of the ports to the targeted area for tissue transection, and so that excess
saline may be drawn by suction through other ports formed on the blade portion. The scissors include two cross-pivotally joined blades, each having a tip portion functioning as either an
active electrode or as a return
electrode. Ports and conduits are formed in each blade to elute
saline onto the targeted area for tissue transection and to remove by suction excess saline from the targeted area.