Abstract: An electrosurgical bipolar RF generator apparatus includes a bipolar electrode. An aperiodic sequence of uniform width bursts of a high frequency signal are electronically synthesized. Substantially identical decaying amplitude envelopes are impressed on the bursts of the high frequency signal. Each of the envelopes has a predetermined rate of change from a preselected initial amplitude. The impressed bursts of the high frequency signal are applied to the electrode. The electrical apparatus operates in a cut mode or a coagulation mode. The apparatus includes a power supply for providing a variable DC voltage, a short circuit detect circuit for detecting a short circuit at the bipolar electrode, and an open circuit detector for detecting an open circuit at the bipolar electrode.