Method for using an electrosurgical electrode for treating glaucoma

Claim 1

A surgical procedure for treating glaucoma in a patient, comprising the steps: (a) providing an electrosurgical apparatus connected to a handpiece holding an electrosurgical electrode, said electrosurgical electrode comprising: (i) an elongated thin flat slightly-flexible metal strip having first and second flat sides and having a length direction, a width transverse to the length direction, and a thickness perpendicular to the flat sides, the thickness being substantially less than its width and its length, (ii) an insulating coating over the first and second sides along substantially the entire length of the flat strip except for a spade-shaped active first end that is exposed on only one of the first and second sides, (iii) means at an end of the electrode opposite to said first end for applying electrosurgical currents to said electrode when connected to the handpiece, (b) forming an appropriate incision to expose the choroid of the patient and to relieve any intraocular pressure, (c) applying electrosurgical currents to said electrode, (b) inserting the active first end of the electrode into the incision and activating the electrosurgical apparatus at spaced intervals while advancing and then retracting the electrode into and from the incision to effect electrosurgical coagulation of the incision.