A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprises a
handle (5), a body (1) joined to the
handle, and a jaw
assembly (12) joined to the body and arranged such that manipulation of the
handle allows the opposed jaws of the jaw
assembly to be opened and closed with respect to one another. A first of said opposed jaws (14) has at least a first coagulating
electrode, and the other of said opposed jaws (13) has at least a second coagulating
electrode and a
cutting electrode (16) separated from the second coagulating electrode by an insulating member (17). The instrument is manipulated at the
surgical site such that the jaws of the jaw
assembly (12) are open with respect to one another, with the
cutting electrode (16) and at least one of the first and second coagulating electrodes contacting tissue at the
surgical site. A
radio frequency electrosurgical
signal is supplied between the
cutting electrode and the at least one coagulating electrode, and the electrosurgical instrument is moved while maintaining the jaws (13, 14) in their open position so as to
cut tissue at the
surgical site.