Electromagnetic energy delivery intervertebral disc treatment devices
First Claim
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1. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple active bands and return bands of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the probe further includes a flexible neck that causes the probe to bend as the probe is advanced within the intervertebral disc, and the flexible neck is predisposed to bending in opposing directions along a single plane relative to a longitudinal axis of the probe.
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Abstract
An intervertebral disc device is provided comprising a distal probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising an active and return electrode which are each spirally wrapped around the probe such that there are multiple alternating bands of the same active and return positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the active and return being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc; and a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc.
271 Citations
59 Claims
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1. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple active bands and return bands of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the probe further includes a flexible neck that causes the probe to bend as the probe is advanced within the intervertebral disc, and the flexible neck is predisposed to bending in opposing directions along a single plane relative to a longitudinal axis of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe being predisposed to forming a loop when extended from the distal end of the introducer, the looping portion of the probe comprising an active electrode and a return electrode which are positioned on the probe such that the active and return electrodes are on opposing sides of the probe loop; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the probe further includes a distal tip that is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29)
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26. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising an active and a return electrode which are each spirally wrapped around the probe such that there are multiple alternating bands of the same active and return electrodes positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the probe further includes a distal tip that is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the probe.
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30. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the probe further includes a flexible neck that causes the probe to bend as the probe is advanced within the intervertebral disc, and the flexible neck is predisposed to bending in at least two directions along at least two different planes relative to a longitudinal axis of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the probe further includes a flexible neck that causes the probe to bend as the probe is advanced within the intervertebral disc, and the flexible neck has at least one flat surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the neck. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the probe further includes a flexible neck that causes the probe to bend as the probe is advanced within the intervertebral disc, and the flexible neck has two flat surfaces extending along a longitudinal axis of the neck on opposing sides of the neck. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the probe further includes a flexible neck that causes the probe to bend as the probe is advanced within the intervertebral disc, and the neck is formed of a flexible coil. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc, the probe further comprising a distal tip that has a flat surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the probe; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrode which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple active bands and return bands of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc, the probe further comprising a distal tip that is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the probe; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. An intervertebral disc device according to further comprising multiple active electrodes and multiple return electrodes.
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48. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc, the probe further comprising a distal tip and a portion proximal to the tip, the tip being attached to the proximal portion by a spring; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc, the probe further comprising a distal tip and a portion proximal to the tip, the tip being attached to the proximal portion by a pivot mechanism; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc, the probe further comprising a distal tip and a portion proximal to the tip, the tip being attached to the proximal portion by a ball and socket mechanism; and
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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57. An intervertebral disc device comprising:
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a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc;
a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc; and
a connector system which enables an introducer to be removably attached to the connector system, the probe being positionable within the introducer for delivery within the intervertebral disc with assistance of the introducer. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59)
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Specification