and 20 an electromagnetic wave generator 26 operatively connected to instrument 12 is activated to supply an alternating current of radio frequency to balloon electrode 14 to that end balloon electrode 14 includes an electrically conductive layer not shown balloon electrode 14 may be coated with a nonconductive polymeric film not shown upon the energization of balloon electrode 14 with radio frequency current from generator 26 instrument 20 is manipulated from outside the patient to bring a sharp electrode tip 28 into contact with uterine tissues utt at a boundary 30 between myoma myo and the body of uterus ut during a subsequent severing of myoma myo from uterus ut the uterine tissues utt are cauterized the severed myoma myo may be removed from abdominal cavity ac by any known technique a pouch not illustrated with a purse string for example may be inserted through a laparoscopic trocar sleeve laparoscopic grasping forceps not shown may be used to deposit the severed myoma myo into the pouch the pouch with the severed myoma is then removed through a trocar sleeve e g sleeve 22 or abdominal perforation 24 after the removal of sleeve 22 from the perforation upon removal of myoma myo from uterus ut balloon electrode 14 is deflated and removed from uterus ut via.