Abstract: An electrosurgical bipolar probe with internal cooling for use in systems and methods for lesioning in bone and other tissue is disclosed. The bipolar probe includes tubular electrodes configured such that the inner surface of the electrodes are cooled, directly or indirectly, while keeping the electrodes electrically isolated. An exemplary disclosed method of using a bipolar probe having an active tip having at least two electrodes for delivering energy includes the steps of: advancing the active tip into a bone tissue; delivering energy substantially between the electrodes in a bipolar manner; and supplying cooling fluid to the active tip for internal cooling of the electrodes. Some versions of the method further include the steps of monitoring the temperature of tissue to which the energy is being delivered; and controlling the delivery of energy in response to the temperature of the tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical probe with internal cooling for use in systems and methods for lesioning in bone and other tissue is disclosed. The probe includes tubular electrodes configured such that the inner surface of the lesioning electrodes are cooled, directly or indirectly, while keeping the electrodes electrically isolated. One embodiment includes an electrosurgical probe having at least two electrically isolated electrical conductors, including an inner electrical conductor and an outer electrical conductor. The inner electrical conductor defines a lumen for the circulation of a cooling fluid therein. An inner electrical insulator is disposed between the electrical conductors to electrically isolate the electrical conductors. The electrical insulator has sufficient thermal conductivity to allow for cooling of the inner and outer electrical conductors when the cooling fluid is circulating within the lumen of the inner electrical conductor.