NON-INVASIVE DEVICES AND METHODS TO DIAGNOSE PAIN GENERATORS

• US 20110184284A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McKay, William F.
• Application Number:
  US12/695,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184284A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided that diagnose one or more pain generators at or near the spine in a patient suffering from pain. In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes: an external transducer probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a body therebetween wherein the probe is configured to be placed in contact with the skin of a patient near a pain generator or suspected pain generator; an energy source that supplies the probe with energy; and a conduit for engaging the energy source and the proximal end of the probe. The energy is transferred from the energy source to the distal end of the probe through the skin of the patient and has an intensity to deliver and produce a pain signal when at least the distal end of the probe is near the pain generator or suspected pain generator.

Claims

1. A device for diagnosing a pain generator or a suspected pain generator at or near the spine in a patient suffering from pain, the device comprising an external transducer probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a body therebetween, the probe configured to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient near the pain generator or suspected pain generator;

an energy source that supplies the probe with energy; and

a conduit for engaging the energy source and the proximal end of the probe;

wherein the energy is transferred from the energy source to the distal end of the probe and has an intensity to deliver and produce a pain signal when at least the distal end of the probe is pointing in the direction of the pain generator or suspected pain generator.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the energy is ultrasound energy and the ultrasound energy has a frequency in the approximate range of 15 kHz-20 MHz, 20 kHz-100 kHz, 25 kHz-50 kHz, 30 kHz-50 kHz, 1 MHz-10 MHz, 5 MHz-10 MHz or 500 kHz-1 MHz.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises a tip attached to the distal end to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient and the energy is transferred to the tip from the energy source.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the tip is removable.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the probe comprises a sensor to monitor the position of the energy source relative to the spine in the patient.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein (i) the probe is re-positioned near the suspected pain generator a plurality of times before it is positioned on the skin of the patient at a position in the direction of the pain generator, so that a location of the pain generator is diagnosed or (ii) the probe is re-positioned at a plurality of suspected pain generators before it is re-positioned on the skin of the patient at a position in the direction of a plurality of pain generators so that locations of the pain generators can be mapped.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the probe contacts the skin of the patient and thereby vibrates a tissue having the pain generator or the suspected pain generator at or near the spine to generate a pain signal.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the tissue is at least one muscle, ligament, tendon, cartilage near the spine, or spinal nerve, spinal disc, facet joint, spinal foraminal space near the spinal nerve root, facet, annulus, or spinal canal.

6. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a stereotactic system having an overhead camera for monitoring the sensor.

10. A method for diagnosing a location of a pain generator or a suspected pain generator at or near the spine in a patient suffering from pain, the method comprising:

positioning an external transducer probe on the skin of the patient in the direction of the pain generator or suspected pain generator, the probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a body therebetween, the probe supplied with energy from an energy source via a conduit that connects the energy source to the proximal end of the probe; and

delivering sufficient energy from the distal end of the probe through the skin of the patient to a tissue at or near the pain generator or suspected pain generator to produce a pain signal so as to diagnose the location of the pain generator or suspected pain generator.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the probe is re-positioned at a suspected pain generator a plurality of times before it is positioned on the skin of the patient at a position in the direction of the pain generator so that the location of the pain generator is diagnosed.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the energy is ultrasound energy and the ultrasound energy has a frequency in the approximate range of 15 kHz-20 MHz, 20 kHz-100 kHz, 25 kHz-50 kHz, 30 kHz-50 kHz, 1 MHz-10 MHz, 5 MHz-10 MHz or 500 kHz-1 MHz.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the probe further comprises a tip attached to the distal end to be placed in contact with skin of the patient and the energy is transferred to the tip from the energy source.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the probe comprises a sensor to monitor the position of the energy source relative to the spine in the patient.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising administering a stereotactic system having an overhead camera for tracking the sensor.

16. A device for diagnosing a pain generator or a suspected pain generator at or near the spine in a patient suffering from pain, the device comprising:

(a) a first external transducer probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a body therebetween, the first probe configured to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient at a first location in the direction of the pain generator or suspected pain generator;

(b) a second external transducer probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a body therebetween, the second probe configured to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient at a second location in the direction of the pain generator or suspected pain generator;

(c) an energy source that supplies the first probe and the second probe with energy;

(d) a first conduit for engaging the energy source and the proximal end of the first probe; and

(e) a second conduit for engaging the energy source and the proximal end of the second probe;

wherein the energy is transferred from the energy source to the distal end of the first probe and the distal end of the second probe, the energy from both the first probe and the second probe is of an intensity for each probe to deliver a signal through the skin of the patient to or toward the pain generator or the suspected pain generator when the distal end of each probe is pointing in the direction of the pain generator or the suspected pain generator, and the signals produced by each probe intersect at the location of the pain generator or the suspected pain generator.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the energy is ultrasound energy and the ultrasound energy has a frequency in the approximate range of 15 kHz-20 MHz, 20 kHz-100 kHz, 25 kHz-50 kHz, 30 kHz-50 kHz, 1 MHz-10 MHz, 5 MHz-10 MHz or 500 kHz-1 MHz.

18. A device according to claim 16, wherein the first probe further comprises a removable tip attached to its distal end to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient, the second probe further comprises a removable tip attached to its distal end to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient, and the energy is transferred to the tip of the first probe from the energy source and the tip of the second probe from the energy source.

19. A device according to claim 16, wherein each probe comprises a sensor to monitor the position of the energy source relative to the spine in the patient.

20. A device according to claim 19, further comprising a stereotactic system having an overhead camera for monitoring the sensors.