Methods for repairing damaged intervertebral discs
First Claim
1. A method of treating an inter-vertebral disc, comprising:
- a) contacting at least a first region of a nucleus pulposus of the inter-vertebral disc with at least one active electrode of an electrosurgical system, the at least one active electrode disposed on a shaft of an electrosurgical probe, and the at least one active electrode functionally coupled to a power supply unit; and
b) applying a first high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, wherein at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus is ablated and the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased .
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating an intervertebral disc by ablation of disc tissue. A method of the invention includes positioning at least one active electrode within the intervertebral disc, and applying at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s), wherein the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased, pressure exerted by the nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus is reduced, and discogenic pain of a patient is alleviated. In other embodiments, a curved or steerable probe is guided to a specific target site within a disc to be treated, and the disc tissue at the target site is ablated by application of at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s). A method of making an electrosurgical probe is also disclosed.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method of treating an inter-vertebral disc, comprising:
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a) contacting at least a first region of a nucleus pulposus of the inter-vertebral disc with at least one active electrode of an electrosurgical system, the at least one active electrode disposed on a shaft of an electrosurgical probe, and the at least one active electrode functionally coupled to a power supply unit; and
b) applying a first high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, wherein at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus is ablated and the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased . - 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, 31, 32, 58)
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33. A method of treating an inter-vertebral disc, comprising:
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providing an electrosurgical system including a probe and a power supply unit, wherein the probe includes a shaft and a handle, the shaft including a distal end portion, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode, the at least one active electrode located on the distal end portion of the shaft, the distal end portion of the shaft having a pre-defined bias in the longitudinal direction thereof;
inserting the distal end portion of the shaft within the disc; and
ablating at least a portion of nucleus pulposus tissue from the disc, wherein at least one channel is formed within the nucleus pulposus tissue. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of treating an inter-vertebral disc with an electrosurgical system, the electrosurgical system including a probe having a shaft, the shaft including a shaft distal end portion, an active electrode disposed on the shaft distal end portion, and a return electrode disposed proximal to the active electrode, the method comprising:
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a) contacting a nucleus pulposus of the disc with the active electrode;
b) applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and the return electrode, wherein the high frequency voltage is sufficient to ablate disc tissue; and
c) during the applying step, translating the shaft distal end portion within the nucleus pulposus, wherein tissue of the nucleus pulposus is ablated and the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification