Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a shaft, a flexible portion, and a head coupled to the shaft through the flexible portion and pivotably coupled to the flexible portion. The head includes a non-conductive surface and an electrically conductive surface. The flexible portion is configured to bias the non-conductive surface and the electrically conductive surface towards a tissue surface, such as cartilage. The non-conductive surface may include a material having a thermal conductivity less than or equal to about 30 W/m*K and/or a volume resistivity greater than or equal to about 1×1014 ohm*cm. The non-conductive surface may include a ceramic such as Macor® ceramic, ZTA ceramic, and/or 99.5% alumina ceramic.

Abstract: A multi-lumen, multi-purpose cardiac catheter which incorporates optical filaments and an optical coupler for use with external apparatus for determining the oxygen concentration in the blood of a patient under critical care conditions, as well as incorporating therein a thermal element useable with a second external apparatus for measurement of continuous cardiac output. The thermal element is disposed at a necked down portion of the catheter at the distal end thereof, with at least one of the lumens of the catheter substantially compressed at the necked down portion thereof. The catheter also includes a thermistor and at least one injectate port for enabling the user to also conduct thermal dilution readings and obtain intermittent measurements of cardiac output. The combination of a thermal dilution catheter with a SVO.sub.