Methods for targeted electrosurgery on contained herniated discs
First Claim
1. A method of using an electrosurgical system for treatment of a contained herniation of an intervertebral disc of a patient, the electrosurgical system including a power supply unit functionally coupled to at least one active electrode, the at least one active electrode disposed on a shaft distal end of an electrosurgical probe, and the method comprising:
- a) guiding the shaft distal end within the intervertebral disc such that the at least one active electrode is in the vicinity of the contained herniation; and
b) applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, wherein at least a portion of tissue in the vicinity of the contained herniation is ablated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating an intervertebral disc by ablation of disc tissue. A method of the invention includes positioning at least one active electrode within the intervertebral disc, and applying at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s), wherein the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased, pressure exerted by the nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus is reduced, and discogenic pain of a patient is alleviated. In other embodiments, a curved or steerable probe is guided to a specific target site within a disc to be treated, and the disc tissue at the target site is ablated by application of at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s). A method of making an electrosurgical probe is also disclosed.
194 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of using an electrosurgical system for treatment of a contained herniation of an intervertebral disc of a patient, the electrosurgical system including a power supply unit functionally coupled to at least one active electrode, the at least one active electrode disposed on a shaft distal end of an electrosurgical probe, and the method comprising:
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a) guiding the shaft distal end within the intervertebral disc such that the at least one active electrode is in the vicinity of the contained herniation; and
b) applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, wherein at least a portion of tissue in the vicinity of the contained herniation is ablated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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18. A method of ablating tissue at a target site of an intervertebral disc having a contained herniation, the method comprising:
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a) providing an electrosurgical system including a probe, an introducer needle, and a power supply unit coupled to the probe, the probe having a shaft, the shaft including a distal end portion having at least one active electrode, the introducer needle having a lumen for accommodating axial movement of the shaft therein;
b) advancing the introducer needle towards the intervertebral disc;
c) passing the shaft distal end portion distally through the lumen of the introducer needle towards the disc, wherein the shaft distal end portion is positioned in the vicinity of the contained herniation; and
d) applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, the high frequency voltage selected for ablating disc tissue at the target site.
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Specification