Methods and devices for intraosseous nerve ablation

• US 20010047167A1
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor College)
• Original Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor College)
• Inventors: Heggeness, Michael H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,699,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation

Abstract

The invention relates to surgical devices, and in particular, ablating probes for ablating, or severing, intraosseous nerves. The ablating probes are used to ablate or sever the pathway of intraosseous nerves after the ablating probe contacts, or is positioned in close proximity to, the intraosseous nerve. Access to the intraosseous nerve may be provided by the ablating probe or another instrument. The invention is also directed to a surgical system for ablating intraosseous nerves that comprises at least one nerve ablating device, e.g., the ablating probes of the invention, and at least one sleeve through which the ablating probe is passed to contact the intraosseous nerve, or the area in close proximity to the intraosseous nerve, thereby facilitating ablation of the intraosseous nerve. Methods of ablating intraosseous nerves are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves comprising:

a shaft having a first end, a second end, and a length defined therebetween, wherein the second end of the shaft is adapted to be operatively associated with an electrical power source; and

a tip disposed at the first end, the tip being formed from an electrically conductive material.

2. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 1

, wherein the shaft includes at least one drill thread disposed along the shaft in proximity to the first end, and the second end is adapted to be operatively associated with a drill.

3. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 1

, wherein the shaft includes at least one handle.

4. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 1

, wherein the tip is blunted.

5. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 1

, wherein the tip is pointed.

6. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 1

, wherein the shaft is formed from electrically conductive material and the shaft includes an insulating layer disposed along a portion of the shaft.

7. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 6

, wherein the portion of the shaft having the insulating layer disposed thereon includes at least one drill thread disposed thereon in proximity to the first end, and the second end is adapted to be operatively associated with a drill.

8. An ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves comprising:

a shaft having a first end, a second end, a length defined therebetween, and at least one cavity, wherein the second end of the shaft is adapted to be operatively associated with a fluid source; and

a tip disposed at the first end.

9. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 8

, wherein the shaft includes at least two cavities.

10. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 8

, wherein the tip is blunted.

11. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 8

, wherein the tip is pointed.

12. The ablating probe for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 8

, wherein the shaft includes at least one handle.

13. An intraosseous nerve ablation system comprising:

at least one nerve ablation device; and

at least one sleeve;

wherein the at least one nerve ablation device or the at least one sleeve is adapted for creating a passageway in a bone, thereby providing access to the intraosseous nerve.

14. The intraosseous nerve ablation system of

claim 13

, wherein the at least one nerve ablating device is an ablating probe having a shaft, the shaft having a first end including a tip formed from an electrically conductive material, a second end adapted to be operatively associated with an electrical power source, and a length defined between the first end and the second end.

15. The intraosseous nerve ablation system of

claim 13

, wherein the at least one nerve ablating device is an ablating probe having a shaft, the shaft having a first end, a second end adapted to be operatively associated with a fluid source, a length defined between the first end and the second end, and at least one cavity.

16. The intraosseous nerve ablation system of

claim 13

, wherein the at least one nerve ablating device is a laser.

17. The intraosseous nerve ablation system of

claim 13

, wherein the intraosseous nerve ablation system includes two sleeves.

18. The intraosseous nerve ablation system of

claim 13

, wherein the at least one sleeve includes a first end having an edge surface, a second end, a length defined between the first end and the second end, and a cavity.

19. The intraosseous nerve ablation system of

claim 18

, wherein the edge surface is serrated.

20. The surgical system for ablating intraosseous nerves of

claim 18

, wherein the edge surface is pointed.

21. A method of ablating an intraosseous nerve comprising the steps of:

providing a nerve disposed within a bone and at least one ablating device;

creating a passageway in the bone, thereby providing access to the intraosseous nerve;

inserting the at least one ablating device into the passageway until the at least one ablating device contacts, or is in close proximity to, the intraosseous nerve; and

activating the at least one ablating device, thereby ablating the intraosseous nerve.

22. The method of

claim 21

, wherein the at least one ablating device is activated by transmitting electricity through the nerve ablation device.

23. The method of

claim 21

, wherein the at least one ablating device is activated by transmitting a fluid into, or through, the nerve ablation device.

24. The method of

claim 21

, wherein the nerve ablation device is an ablating probe and the passageway is created in the bone by the ablating probe.

25. The method of

claim 21

, wherein the passageway is created in the bone by a sleeve having at least one cavity and the nerve ablation device is inserted into the cavity of the sleeve and through the passageway until the nerve ablation device contacts, or is in close proximity to, the intraosseous nerve.

26. The method of

claim 21

, wherein the intraosseous nerve is a basivertebral nerve having an exit point.

27. The method of

claim 26

, wherein the basivertebral nerve is ablated at, or in close proximity to, the exit point.