shaft 820 by causing coolant to flow proximally by introducing coolant c to cooling jacket 872 at the distal end thereof in embodiments the direction of coolant c flow may be selected by causing a reversing valve not explicitly shown that is in fluid communication with cooling jacket 872 to be actuated in a manner consistent with the desired direction of coolant c flow fig9 a and 9b illustrate still another envisioned embodiment of a suction coagulator 900 in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated the suction coagulator including a distal housing 915 having extending distally therefrom an elongated shaft 920 shaft 920 includes a cooling jacket 972 that is formed by the generally cylindrical region longitudinally disposed between a tubular electrode 924 and a tubular cover 926 the cooling jacket is sealed at the distal end thereof by distal seal 960 and at the proximal end thereof by proximal seal 961 a cooling supply lumen 970 is in fluid communication with the cooling jacket via an inlet port 962 provided by proximal seal 961 during use coolant c is admitted into cooling jacket 972 at the proximal end thereof and thereafter flows distally a distal return opening 963 is provided by cover 926 or additionally or alternatively by distal seal 960 supply end 870 is in fluid communication with a coolant source 890 via a conduit 895 coolant c may be any biocompatible fluid for example without limitation saline water or air coolant c may flow to cooling jacket 972 via conduits 970 995 from coolant source 990 via gravity feed i e u201c drip u201d feed and or by pressure feed provided by for example.