A surgical laser backstop instrument comprising a rod, a backstop pivotally mounted to one end of the rod, and a backstop adjustment mechanism mounted to the other end of the rod. The backstop is comprised of a non-reflective material. The backstop adjustment mechanism controls the movement of the backstop. The backstop is a flat section of titanium-coated material and is movable between a position longitudinally aligned with the axis of the rod and a position transverse to the axis of the rod. The backstop adjustment mechanism comprises a body connected to the other end of the rod, a line fastened at one end to the backstop and extending through the rod, and a movement actuator mechanism connected to the other end of the line for controlling the pivotal movement of the backstop. This movement actuator mechanism includes a knob rotatably mounted to the body, a rack assembly placed within the body and connected to the end of the line, and a pinion gear engaging the rack assembly and connected to the knob such that rotational movement of the knob causes movement of the rack assembly.

An electrosurgical probe is provided which reduces the likelihood of arcing from the probe. In addition, the probe provides the ability to place a fiber-optic cable through the probe for providing for laser surgery or for laproscopic examination of the patient. The electrosurgical probe comprises an electrosurgical tip, a cylindrical body attached to the tip, and a base attached to the cylindrical body. The tip may have many different shapes but a spatula shape is generally preferred. The tip has at least one notch in the periphery of the spatula shape for retaining a fiber-optic cable. The cylindrical body is substantially hollow so that suction, irrigation, and laparoscopy may be carried out through the probe. To aid the surgeon in determining dimensions of organs within a patient, the cylindrical body has a plurality of striped regions having a predetermined thickness spaced apart at predetermined intervals on an outer surface of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body is composed of an insulative material for preventing accidental shock to a patient. To prevent accidental arcing, an insulative layer which substantially covers the electrosurgical tip with at most a 4 mm extension of the electrosurgical tip exposed with no insulative layer.

A resecting device for use in tissue removal is disclosed. The resecting device includes a cannula having a hollow and which is sized for introduction into a body. The cannula is formed with at least one, preferably a plurality of, cutting openings each having a cutting edge. The resecting device further includes a rotating mechanism which is connectable through a shaft to the cannula and which serves for rotating the cannula around a longitudinal axis thereof. As a result of such rotation and the cannula's construction, when the cannula is contacted with a tissue, the cutting edges of the cutting openings dissect the tissue and direct the dissected tissue through the openings into the hollow of the cannula.