An electro-surgical instrument for excision of a tissue specimen from the transformation zone of the uterine cervix includes an elongated body member with an endocervical portion at one end, a contact portion at the other end, and a vaginal portion therebetween. A stop arm extends at a right angle to the body member at the juncture of the endocervical and vaginal portions, and a wire electrode extends diagonally between the stop arm and endocervical portion. Preferably the stop arm has a laterally offset portion intermediate its length to enable observation of the electrode cutting action over most of its length. In using the instrument, the endocervical portion is inserted through the vaginal canal and into the endocervical canal of the uterine cervix until the electrode contacts an area of the ectocervix without colposcopically evident pathology. Current is imparted to the electrode and the instrument is advanced into the endocervical canal until the stop arm abuts the ectocervix, after which the instrument is rotated one full revolution to cut a conically shaped tissue specimen from the transformation zone of the uterine cervix which is withdrawn with the instrument.
展开▼
