Implantable thermal treatment method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for delivering ultrasonic energy within a vertebral body of a vertebra to treat skeletal joint pain of a subject, the vertebral body comprising a bony structure located above a lower vertebral endplate and below an upper vertebral endplate of the vertebra, the method comprising:
- penetrating a vertebral body by inserting a distal end of a cannula through an outer wall of the vertebral body and within the bony structure of the vertebral body;
wherein the cannula comprises a sharp distal tip and a central bore;
inserting an ultrasound energy delivery device through the central bore of the cannula and into the vertebral body;
wherein the ultrasound energy delivery device comprises at least one ultrasound transducer; and
activating the ultrasound energy delivery device to deliver ultrasound energy to at least a portion of the vertebral body sufficient to denervate a target region of the vertebral body;
wherein the ultrasound energy delivery device is positioned within the vertebral body when the ultrasound device is activated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A long-term implantable ultrasound therapy system and method is provided that provides directional, focused ultrasound to localized regions of tissue within body joints, such as spinal joints. An ultrasound emitter or transducer is delivered to a location within the body associated with the joint and heats the target region of tissue associated with the joint from the location. Such locations for ultrasound transducer placement may include for example in or around the intervertebral discs, or the bony structures such as vertebral bodies or posterior vertebral elements such as facet joints.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for delivering ultrasonic energy within a vertebral body of a vertebra to treat skeletal joint pain of a subject, the vertebral body comprising a bony structure located above a lower vertebral endplate and below an upper vertebral endplate of the vertebra, the method comprising:
-
penetrating a vertebral body by inserting a distal end of a cannula through an outer wall of the vertebral body and within the bony structure of the vertebral body; wherein the cannula comprises a sharp distal tip and a central bore; inserting an ultrasound energy delivery device through the central bore of the cannula and into the vertebral body; wherein the ultrasound energy delivery device comprises at least one ultrasound transducer; and activating the ultrasound energy delivery device to deliver ultrasound energy to at least a portion of the vertebral body sufficient to denervate a target region of the vertebral body; wherein the ultrasound energy delivery device is positioned within the vertebral body when the ultrasound device is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for delivering ultrasonic energy within a vertebral body of a vertebra to treat skeletal joint pain of a subject, the vertebral body comprising a bony structure located above a lower vertebral endplate and below an upper vertebral endplate of the vertebra, the method comprising:
-
inserting a distal end of a spinal needle through an outer wall of a vertebral body and within the bony structure of the vertebral body; wherein the spinal needle comprises a sharp distal tip configured to penetrate the outer wall of the vertebral body and a needle bore; inserting an ultrasound energy delivery device through the needle bore of the spinal needle and within the vertebral body; wherein the ultrasound energy delivery device comprises at least one ultrasound transducer; and causing the at least one ultrasound transducer to deliver acoustic energy to at least a portion of the vertebral body sufficient to denervate a target region of the vertebral body comprising a nociceptive nerve. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification