Method for treatment of an intervertebral disc
First Claim
1. A method for relieving pain associated with an intervertebral disc having a disc nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus fibrosus surrounding the nucleus pulposus, the method comprising:
- providing an elongated thermal or electromagnetic probe member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis, and having a flexible guidable region adjacent the distal end;
penetrating the elongated thermal or electromagnetic probe member into a portion the intervertebral disc at a location that is immediately adjacent to a region of the intervertebral disc to be thermally or electromagnetically treated, wherein the region of the intervertebral disc to be treated is a tear extending through the annulus fibrosus;
introducing the flexible guidable region of the probe into at least one of the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc, at a location which is immediately adjacent to the tear;
positioning the flexible guidable region of the probe toward the tear to extend substantially across the tear;
supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from an energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field adjacent to the annulus fibrosus sufficient to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect on the intervertebral disc;
positioning the flexible guidable region of the probe away from the tear to extend substantially opposite the tear;
supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from the energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field adjacent to the annulus fibrosus sufficient to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect on the intervertebral disc;
positioning the flexible guidable region of the probe substantially parallel the tear and toward the nucleus pulpous; and
supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from the energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field adjacent to the annulus fibrosus sufficient to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect on the intervertebral disc.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to methods for relieving pain associated with an intervertebral disc having a disc nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus fibrosus surrounding the nucleus pulposus. The method includes the steps of providing an elongated thermal or electromagnetic probe member having a flexible guidable region adjacent the distal end thereof; introducing the flexible guidable region of the probe into the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc; and supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from an energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field adjacent to the annulus fibrosus sufficient to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect on the intervertebral disc. The flexible guidable region of the probe may be introduced at a location which is in relative close proximity to the region of intervertebral disc to be thermally or electromagnetically treated.
175 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for relieving pain associated with an intervertebral disc having a disc nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus fibrosus surrounding the nucleus pulposus, the method comprising:
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providing an elongated thermal or electromagnetic probe member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis, and having a flexible guidable region adjacent the distal end; penetrating the elongated thermal or electromagnetic probe member into a portion the intervertebral disc at a location that is immediately adjacent to a region of the intervertebral disc to be thermally or electromagnetically treated, wherein the region of the intervertebral disc to be treated is a tear extending through the annulus fibrosus; introducing the flexible guidable region of the probe into at least one of the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc, at a location which is immediately adjacent to the tear; positioning the flexible guidable region of the probe toward the tear to extend substantially across the tear; supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from an energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field adjacent to the annulus fibrosus sufficient to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect on the intervertebral disc; positioning the flexible guidable region of the probe away from the tear to extend substantially opposite the tear; supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from the energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field adjacent to the annulus fibrosus sufficient to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect on the intervertebral disc; positioning the flexible guidable region of the probe substantially parallel the tear and toward the nucleus pulpous; and supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from the energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field adjacent to the annulus fibrosus sufficient to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect on the intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for relieving pain associated with an intervertebral disc, the method comprising:
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providing an elongated thermal or electromagnetic probe having a flexible guidable region; penetrating the elongated thermal or electromagnetic probe member into a portion the intervertebral disc that is to be thermally or electromagnetically treated, adjacent to a treatment site; introducing the flexible guidable region of the probe into the portion the intervertebral disc that is to be thermally or electromagnetically treated, adjacent the treatment site; positioning the flexible guidable region of the probe in a first location, adjacent to the treatment site of the intervertebral disc; supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from an energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect on the treatment site of the intervertebral disc; positioning the flexible guidable region of the probe in a second location, extending across the treatment site of the intervertebral disc; and supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy, from the energy source, to heat or induce an electromagnetic field to produce a thermal or electromagnetic effect across the treatment site. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification