Method and apparatus for veterinary RF pain management
First Claim
1. A method of reducing chronic pain in animals by radio frequency (RF) neuromodulation of peripheral nerves of the animal, comprising the steps of:
- placing an active and a dispersive percutaneous probe at respective active and dispersive locations against a peripheral nerve of the animal associated with the pain to be reduced;
generating a first pulsed RF signal configured according to a first protocol for coupling to the active and dispersive probes via conductive leads to verify the location of the peripheral nerve; and
generating a second pulsed RF signal configured according to a second protocol for coupling to the active and dispersive probes via the conductive leads after the first pulsed RF signal is withdrawn, to modify propagation of pain sensation in the peripheral nerve without ablation thereof;
whereinat least the active percutaneous probe includes an RF cannula having an elongated conductive spatulate blade conformably attached to a dorsal side of a curved, blunt-ended tubular tip portion of the RF cannula.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing chronic pain in animals by radio frequency (RF) neuromodulation of peripheral nerves of the animal is disclosed. The method, using the disclosed apparatus, comprises the steps of attaching active and dispersive percutaneous probes at respective active and dispersive locations relative to a peripheral nerve of the patient associated with the pain to be reduced; generating a first pulsed RF signal for coupling to the active and dispersive probes to verify the location of the peripheral nerve; and generating a second pulsed RF signal for coupling to the active and dispersive probes to modify propagation of pain sensation in the peripheral nerve without ablation thereof. In one embodiment of the apparatus, the active percutaneous probe includes an RF cannula having a conductive spatulate blade conformably attached to a dorsal side of a curved, blunt-ended tubular tip portion of the RF cannula. In another embodiment of the apparatus, a dispersive percutaneous probe includes a pair of 22 gauge needles connected to ground return conductors. In yet another embodiment of the apparatus, a pulsed RF generator is modified to provide specific outputs adapted to the neuromodulation of peripheral nerves in veterinary patients.
62 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method of reducing chronic pain in animals by radio frequency (RF) neuromodulation of peripheral nerves of the animal, comprising the steps of:
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placing an active and a dispersive percutaneous probe at respective active and dispersive locations against a peripheral nerve of the animal associated with the pain to be reduced; generating a first pulsed RF signal configured according to a first protocol for coupling to the active and dispersive probes via conductive leads to verify the location of the peripheral nerve; and generating a second pulsed RF signal configured according to a second protocol for coupling to the active and dispersive probes via the conductive leads after the first pulsed RF signal is withdrawn, to modify propagation of pain sensation in the peripheral nerve without ablation thereof;
whereinat least the active percutaneous probe includes an RF cannula having an elongated conductive spatulate blade conformably attached to a dorsal side of a curved, blunt-ended tubular tip portion of the RF cannula. - 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)
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30. Apparatus for reducing chronic pain in animals by radio frequency (RF) neuromodulation of a peripheral nerve of the animal, comprising:
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a generator, for generating pulsed RF signals in at least a first mode and a second mode, to be coupled via respective active and dispersive conductors through respective active and dispersive probes placed in respective active and dispersive locations on an animal patient'"'"'s body, for reducing chronic pain experienced by the animal without ablation of the peripheral nerve; a set of RF percutaneous probes including at least an active probe and a dispersive probe placed in the respective active and dispersive locations in the animal'"'"'s body, at least the active probe further comprising an RF cannula having an elongated conductive spatulate blade conformably attached along a longitudinal axis to a dorsal side of a curved, blunt-ended tubular tip portion of the RF cannula; and anesthetic metering device adapted to connect with the active probe, for administering a liquid substance into the tissue of the animal that is in the active location. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification