Systems and methods for electrosurgical spine surgery
First Claim
1. A method for treating a herniated disc within a patient'"'"'s spine comprising:
- positioning an electrode terminal within close proximity of a herniated disc in the patient'"'"'s spine; and
applying a high frequency voltage difference between the electrode terminal and a return electrode, the voltage difference being sufficient to reduce a volume of the disc to relieve pressure on a spinal nerve.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within of a patient'"'"'s body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to remove, contract or otherwise modify the structure of tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for treating herniated discs within a patient'"'"'s spine by applying sufficient electrical energy to the disc tissue to reduce a volume of the disc, thereby relieving pressure on a spinal nerve. In one embodiment, the high frequency voltage is sufficient to ablate a portion of the nucleus pulposis, either the extruded portion outside of the annulus or a portion or all of the pulposis within the annulus. In another embodiment, the electrode terminal is advanced into the annulus and sufficient high frequency voltage is applied to contract or shrink the collagen fibers within the nucleus pulposis. This causes the pulposis to shrink and withdraw from its impingement on the spinal nerve.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for treating a herniated disc within a patient'"'"'s spine comprising:
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positioning an electrode terminal within close proximity of a herniated disc in the patient'"'"'s spine; and
applying a high frequency voltage difference between the electrode terminal and a return electrode, the voltage difference being sufficient to reduce a volume of the disc to relieve pressure on a spinal nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 25)
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16. A method of performing endoscopic spine surgery comprising:
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generating a passage from an exterior of a patient to a disc within a patient'"'"'s spine;
introducing an electrosurgical instrument into the passage, the instrument having an electrode terminal; and
applying sufficient high frequency electrical energy to the electrode terminal to ablate body structures within the passage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for treating a degenerative disc in a patient'"'"'s spine comprising:
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positioning an electrode terminal between adjacent vertebrae within in the patient'"'"'s spine; and
applying a high frequency voltage difference between the electrode terminal and a return electrode, the voltage difference being sufficient to remove spinal tissue in contact with the vertebrae without damaging the vertebrae.
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26. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue within a patient'"'"'s spine comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion sized to fit between adjacent intervertebral disks in the patient'"'"'s spine;
an electrode terminal on the distal end portion of the shaft;
a return electrode; and
means for applying a high frequency voltage difference between the electrode terminal and the return electrode to reduce a volume of the disc to relieve pressure on a spinal nerve. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification