A hollow surgical probe for the minimally invasive removal of tissue has an elongate hollow body and an electrical conductive ring-shaped or loop-shaped cutting element. The elongate hollow body includes two segments of which at least one encloses a cavity for receiving tissue and which can be separated from each other and which are movably relative to each other in such a way that an opening between the segments is to be selectively opened or closed. The electrically conductive ring-shaped or loop-shaped cutting element is movable relative to at least one of the segments and is adapted for electrosurgically cutting out tissue which has penetrated into the opening between the hollow body segments.