dimensioned so as to pass through a viewing endoscope or a trocar when used in a minimally invasive surgical procedure the barrel 12 has a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16 along with a lumen 18 extending therebetween the tubular barrel 12 may comprise an extruded metal tube of a predetermined length having an electrically insulating coating on its exterior surface alternatively the tubular barrel 12 may be formed from a suitable plastic in an extrusion operation affixed to the proximal end 14 of the tubular barrel 12 is a handle member 20 that is generally longitudinally aligned with the barrel the handle 20 is ergonomically designed to be grasped with the curved bottom surface 22 lying generally across the joints between the metacarpals and proximal phalanges of a surgeon 39 s hand and with the surgeon 39 s thumb resting on a slide mechanism 24 the handle 20 is preferably molded from a suitable medical grade plastic and formed interiorly therein is a channel through which electrical conductors 26 28 and 30 may pass affixed to the proximal end of the conductors 26 28 and 30 are plugs 32 34 and 36 which are adapted to mate with jacks not shown on a standard electrosurgical generator or mode control switch also not shown affixed to the distal end 16 of the tubular barrel 12 is an end effector assembly indicated generally by numeral 38 as can be seen from fig1 and from the enlarged view of the distal end portion of the instrument illustrated in fig2 a and 2b the end effector comprises first and second hemispherical shaped electrodes 40 and 42 which are disposed in parallel closely spaced but non contacting relationship to one another and which are fixedly secured to the.