US Patent 8246617 Surgical snare with electrosurgical tip and method of use

A medical device includes a tissue dissector and a snare loop on a common shaft. At least the distal tip of the snare loop is energizable to function as an electrosurgical element for tissue dissection. In use the snare loop is partially extended from the shaft to expose the electrosurgical element for electrosurgical dissection, and the snare loop is fully extended from the shaft to deploy the snare loop for retrieval and positioning of an implant such as a gastric banding device. The snare loop may be deployed through a pair of jaws also mounted on the shaft for use in tissue dissection.