Electrosurgical tissue treatment method
First Claim
1. A method of treating spinal tissue of a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
- providing a system including an energy source having a first probe assembly and a second probe assembly, wherein the first probe assembly and the second probe assembly each include an electrically conductive energy delivery device electrically coupled to the energy source;
inserting a first introducer tube into the spinal tissue of the patient'"'"'s body lateral to a Superior Articular Process at a first insertion angle β
1 from a saggital plane, wherein the first insertion angle β
1 is from 20 degrees to 45 degrees;
advancing the first introducer tube until a distal tip of the first introducer tube reaches a medial border of a pedicle;
inserting a second tube at an opposing insertion angle β
2 into the patient'"'"'s body on an opposite side of a Superior Articular Process than the first introducer such that the distal tip of the first introducer tube and a distal tip of the second introducer tube are located at spaced-apart treatment sites of the Superior Articular Process, wherein the opposing insertion angle β
2 is substantially equal to the first angle β
1;
inserting the electrically conductive energy delivery devices of each of the first probe assembly and the second probe assembly into the first introducer tube and the second introducer tube, respectively;
delivering energy from the energy source to the spinal tissue through the electrically conductive energy delivery devices of each of the first probe assembly and the second probe assembly so as to from a bipolar lesion;
repositioning at least one of the first probe assembly and the second probe assembly at a second insertion angle θ
that is less than the first insertion angle β
1; and
delivering energy through at least one of the first probe assembly or the second probe assembly so as to from one or more monopolar lesions, wherein the one or more monopalar lesions overlap the bipolar lesion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of treating spinal tissue of a patient'"'"'s body are disclosed, some including providing a system including an energy source and first and second probe assemblies, wherein each of the probe assemblies includes an electrically conductive energy delivery device electrically coupled to the energy source; inserting the energy delivery devices of the first and second probe assemblies into spaced-apart treatment sites for the spinal tissue; and delivering energy from the energy source to the spinal tissue through the energy delivery devices. Various options and modifications are possible. For example, energy may be delivered in both a bipolar manner and a monopolar manner, and at least one of the fist ad second probe assemblies may be repositioned before again delivering energy.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of treating spinal tissue of a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
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providing a system including an energy source having a first probe assembly and a second probe assembly, wherein the first probe assembly and the second probe assembly each include an electrically conductive energy delivery device electrically coupled to the energy source; inserting a first introducer tube into the spinal tissue of the patient'"'"'s body lateral to a Superior Articular Process at a first insertion angle β
1 from a saggital plane, wherein the first insertion angle β
1 is from 20 degrees to 45 degrees;advancing the first introducer tube until a distal tip of the first introducer tube reaches a medial border of a pedicle; inserting a second tube at an opposing insertion angle β
2 into the patient'"'"'s body on an opposite side of a Superior Articular Process than the first introducer such that the distal tip of the first introducer tube and a distal tip of the second introducer tube are located at spaced-apart treatment sites of the Superior Articular Process, wherein the opposing insertion angle β
2 is substantially equal to the first angle β
1;inserting the electrically conductive energy delivery devices of each of the first probe assembly and the second probe assembly into the first introducer tube and the second introducer tube, respectively; delivering energy from the energy source to the spinal tissue through the electrically conductive energy delivery devices of each of the first probe assembly and the second probe assembly so as to from a bipolar lesion; repositioning at least one of the first probe assembly and the second probe assembly at a second insertion angle θ
that is less than the first insertion angle β
1; anddelivering energy through at least one of the first probe assembly or the second probe assembly so as to from one or more monopolar lesions, wherein the one or more monopalar lesions overlap the bipolar lesion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification