Apparatus for treating chondromalacia
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermal energy delivery apparatus comprising:
- a distal portion having longitudinal surfaces extending distally to a distal end, a portion of the longitudinal surfaces including a recessed portion such that the recessed portion is positionable adjacent a fibrillated cartilage joint surface; and
a electrode positioned within the recessed portion at a first depth which when the recessed portion is positioned adjacent fibrillated cartilage tissue of a joint surface is (a) less than a depth where fibrils extending from the fibrillated cartilage tissue would not be able to contact the electrode, and (b) greater than a depth where the electrode would contact the cartilage tissue underlying the fibrils.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal energy delivery apparatus has a probe including a distal end and a proximal end. A first electrode is positioned at the distal end of the probe such that the electrode is positioned on a recessed longitudinal portion of the probe. The first electrode is configured to deliver sufficient thermal energy to a fibrillated cartilage surface to reduce a level of fibrillation of the fibrillated cartilage surface. A cabling is coupled to the proximal end of the probe.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A thermal energy delivery apparatus comprising:
-
a distal portion having longitudinal surfaces extending distally to a distal end, a portion of the longitudinal surfaces including a recessed portion such that the recessed portion is positionable adjacent a fibrillated cartilage joint surface; and a electrode positioned within the recessed portion at a first depth which when the recessed portion is positioned adjacent fibrillated cartilage tissue of a joint surface is (a) less than a depth where fibrils extending from the fibrillated cartilage tissue would not be able to contact the electrode, and (b) greater than a depth where the electrode would contact the cartilage tissue underlying the fibrils. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification