A sterile, semi-flexible, hand-held surgical instrument intended to be percutaneously introduced via a dedicated cannula [under x-ray, ultrasound (US) or other external image guidance] to deliver radio-frequency current, in a bipolar configuration, from a system generator directly to peripheral nerve tissues to coagulate/ablate them for the treatment of pain. It includes a distal bipolar electrode which may include temperature-sensing elements; the introduction cannula may be included. This is a single-use device.