Methods and apparatus for treating intervertebral discs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for treating an intervertebral disc comprising:
- advancing an access device into the disc by separating layers of a fibrous outer portion of the disc to create a passageway into the disc with the access device;
advancing a treatment device into the disc using the access device; and
activating the treatment device to treat the disc;
wherein upon removal of the accessing device the separated layers of the fibrous outer portion substantially relax to remove the passageway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The systems, devices and methods described herein selectively apply electrical energy and thermal energy to structures within a patient'"'"'s body, such as the intervertebral disc. The systems, devices and methods thereof are useful for shrinkage, ablation, and/or hemostasis of tissue and other body structures in open and endoscopic spine surgery. In particular the systems, devices and methods described herein provide advantages in the treatment of disc tissue. The system, devices and methods described herein also treat a disc via a microdiscectomy which require little or no annulotomy.
370 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method for treating an intervertebral disc comprising:
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advancing an access device into the disc by separating layers of a fibrous outer portion of the disc to create a passageway into the disc with the access device;
advancing a treatment device into the disc using the access device; and
activating the treatment device to treat the disc;
wherein upon removal of the accessing device the separated layers of the fibrous outer portion substantially relax to remove the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 46)
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27. An electrosurgical device for use with a high-frequency power supply, the device comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a return electrode at the distal portion of the shaft and having a return electrode surface area, the return electrode distally terminating in a tip portion;
at least one active electrode at the distal portion of the shaft, and having an active electrode surface area, the active electrode further comprising an arm portion being radially spaced from the return electrode, wherein the tip portion of the return electrode is distally spaced from the arm portion of the active electrode; and
a connector located at the proximal portion of the shaft and adapted to couple the return electrode and each active electrode to respective poles of the high-frequency power supply. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An electrosurgical system for treating tissue with a high-frequency power supply, the system comprising:
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a source of electrically conductive medium;
an electro surgical device for use with the high-frequency power supply, the device comprising, a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a return electrode at the distal portion of the shaft and having a return electrode surface area, the return electrode having a tip portion;
at least one active electrode at the distal portion of the shaft, and having an active electrode surface area, the active electrode further comprising an arm portion being radially spaced from the return electrode, wherein the tip portion of the return electrode is distally spaced from the arm portion of the active electrode; and
a connector located at the proximal portion of the shaft and adapted to couple the return electrode and each active electrode to respective poles of the high-frequency power supply; and
wherein the source of electrically conductive medium provides an electrically conductive medium which completes a circuit between the return electrode and the active electrode.
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Specification