Intervertebral disc replacement method
First Claim
1. A method for preparing a patient for a prosthetic disc nucleus implant, by ablating tissue of a nucleus pulposus of a vertebral disc, the method comprising:
- positioning a distal end of a shaft of an electrosurgical probe in contact with the vertebral disc, the probe having a plurality of electrodes coupled to a high frequency power supply, the plurality of electrodes comprising at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, the active electrode being disposed towards the distal end of the shaft;
applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode within the nucleus pulposus to ablate and/or vaporize the nucleus pulposus tissue; and
ablating and/or vaporizing significantly all of the nucleus pulposus, while preserving an annulus of the disc.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient'"'"'s body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to contract collagen fibers within the tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided for removing a vertebral disc in preparation for implanting a prosthetic disc or removing a portion of the vertebral disc such as the nucleus pulposus in preparation for placing a prosthetic nucleus within the annulus of the disc. The present invention also teaches shrinking residual tissue in preparation for placing the implants.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for preparing a patient for a prosthetic disc nucleus implant, by ablating tissue of a nucleus pulposus of a vertebral disc, the method comprising:
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positioning a distal end of a shaft of an electrosurgical probe in contact with the vertebral disc, the probe having a plurality of electrodes coupled to a high frequency power supply, the plurality of electrodes comprising at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, the active electrode being disposed towards the distal end of the shaft; applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode within the nucleus pulposus to ablate and/or vaporize the nucleus pulposus tissue; and ablating and/or vaporizing significantly all of the nucleus pulposus, while preserving an annulus of the disc. - 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, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for treating a patient with a prosthetic disc nucleus implant, by ablating tissue of a nucleus pulposus of a vertebral disc, the method comprising:
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positioning a distal end of a shaft of an electrosurgical probe in contact with the vertebral disc, the probe having a plurality of electrodes coupled to a high frequency power supply, the plurality of electrodes comprising at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, the active electrode being disposed towards the distal end of the shaft; applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode within the nucleus pulposus to ablate and/or vaporize the nucleus pulposus tissue; and ablating and/or vaporizing significantly all of the nucleus pulposus, while preserving an annulus of the disc; and further comprising inserting the prosthetic disc nucleus implant into the patient subsequent to removal of the nucleus pulposus. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification