Electrosurgical devices and methods

1. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an energy source; and

first and second electrodes each having a first end configured to couple to the energy source, and each having a second electrically conductive end configured to deliver energy to tissue of a patient in electrical contact therewith, wherein the energy source is operative to generate and deliver pulses of a biphasic radio frequency (RF) waveform to the tissue in electrical contact with the second electrically conductive ends of the first and second electrodes, and wherein the pulses induce non-thermal cell death in the tissue in electrical contact with the second electrically conductive ends of the first and second electrodes, wherein the energy source comprises an alternating current (AC) waveform generator, wherein the pulses cause no or minimal contraction in muscular tissue of the patient within reach of the biphasic radio frequency waveform during treatment of the tissue in the electrical contact with the second electrically conductive ends of the first and second electrodes.

2. The electrosurgical system of claim 1 , wherein the biphasic radio frequency (RF) waveform operates at a fundamental frequency of about 330 KHz to about 900 KHz.

3. The electrosurgical system of claim 1 , wherein the biphasic radio frequency (RF) waveform comprises a peak-to-peak voltage amplitude of about 200 ACV to about 12,000 ACV.

4. The electrosurgical system of claim 1 , wherein the energy source is operative to generate and deliver the pulses in bursts.

5. The electrosurgical system of claim 4 , wherein the pulses within each one of the bursts are configured to repeat at a pulse frequency of about 1 Hz to about 500 Hz.

6. The electrosurgical system of claim 4 , wherein the bursts are configured to repeat at a burst frequency of about 0.02 Hz to about 500 Hz.

7. The electrosurgical system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor located adjacent at least one of the first and second electrodes.

8. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an energy source; and

first and second electrodes each having a first end configured to couple to the energy source, and each having a second electrically conductive end configured to deliver energy to tissue in electrical contact therewith, wherein the energy source is operative to generate and deliver pulses of a biphasic radio frequency (RF) waveform to the tissue in electrical contact with the second electrically conductive ends of the first and second electrodes, and wherein the pulses induce a change in voltage potential across cell membranes in the tissue in electrical contact with the second electrically conductive ends of the first and second electrodes, wherein the energy source comprises an alternating current (AC) waveform generator, wherein the pulses cause no or minimal contraction in muscular tissue of the patient in electrical contact with the second electrically conductive ends of the first and second electrodes during treatment of the tissue in the electrical contact with the second electrically conductive ends of the first and second electrodes.

9. The electrosurgical system of claim 8 , wherein the biphasic radio frequency (RF) waveform operates at a fundamental frequency of about 330 KHz to about 900 KHz.

10. The electrosurgical system of claim 8 , wherein the biphasic radio frequency (RF) waveform comprises a peak-to-peak voltage amplitude of about 200 ACV to about 12,000 ACV.

11. The electrosurgical system of claim 8 , wherein the energy source is operative to generate and deliver the pulses in bursts.

12. The electrosurgical system of claim 8 , wherein the pulses within each one of the bursts are configured to repeat at a pulse frequency of about 1 Hz to about 500 Hz.

13. The electrosurgical system of claim 8 , wherein the bursts are configured to repeat at a burst frequency of about 0.02 Hz to about 500 Hz.

14. The electrosurgical system of claim 8 , further comprising a temperature sensor located adjacent at least one of the first and second electrodes.

15. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an energy source comprising an alternating current (AC) waveform generator;

a first electrode electrically coupled to the energy source; and

a second electrode electrically coupled to the energy source, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to deliver energy to tissue in electrical contact therewith, wherein the energy source is operative to generate and deliver pulses of a biphasic waveform to the tissue, and wherein the pulses induce a change in voltage potential across cell membranes of a plurality of cells in the tissue, wherein the pulses are configured to induce non-thermal cell death in the plurality of cells while causing no or minimal contraction in muscular tissue during treatment of the tissue in the electrical contact therewith, and wherein the biphasic waveform is delivered to the plurality of cells at a radio frequency (RF).

16. The electrosurgical system of claim 15 , wherein the biphasic waveform operates at a fundamental frequency of about 330 KHz to about 900 KHz.

17. The electrosurgical system of claim 15 , wherein the biphasic waveform comprises a peak-to-peak voltage amplitude of about 200 ACV to about 12,000 ACV.

18. The electrosurgical system of claim 15 , wherein the energy source is operative to generate and deliver the pulses in bursts.

19. The electrosurgical system of claim 18 , wherein the pulses within each one of the bursts are configured to repeat at a pulse frequency of about 1 Hz to about 500 Hz.

20. The electrosurgical system of claim 18 , wherein the bursts are configured to repeat at a burst frequency of about 0.02 Hz to about 500 Hz.

21. The electrosurgical system of claim 15 , further comprising a temperature sensor located adjacent at least one of the first and second electrodes.