COATED ELECTROSURGICAL ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

The present invention relates to an electrode (10) for an electrosurgical tool to be used for surgery on the tissue of a patient, the electrode (10) comprising: an elongate metallic shaft (13) having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is shaped for insertion into the electrosurgical tool for conducting electrosurgical energy, wherein the distal end is blade-like in shape with at least two major surfaces (14) which are generally parallel and are bounded by an edge (15); a patient end portion at the distal end for manipulation of the tissue of the patient, wherein the patient end portion, before being coated, has a surface roughness in the range of about 50 to 250 mu in Ra; a base coating (12) of primer material on the patient end portion, the base coating comprising a polysiloxane resin with a crosslinking catalyst; a top coating (11) over the base coating, the top coating comprising a silicone elastomer base polymer, wherein the top coating is of non-uniform thickness over the patient end portion, wherein the major surfaces (14) are coated to achieve a higher dielectric value than the bounding edge.