A surgical spatula (10, 34) has a flat paddle (38, 62) and a handle extending away from a first end of the flat paddle (38, 62). The handle has a coaxial power feed (64, 130) which is connectable to receive energy from a microwave power source. The paddle (38, 62) contains a microwave conveying structure connected to the coaxial power feed (64, 130). The microwave conveying structure is enclosed at a front end of the paddle (38, 62) opposite to the first end so that microwave radiation is blocked from being emitted from the front end. The microwave conveying structure is open along a side of the paddle (38, 62) which extends away from the first end to permit a microwave radiation field to be emitted from that side.
