Curved bone access systems
AssigneeRelevant Medsysterns, Inc.
InventorsBrian W. Donovan, Alexander Pruitt, Michael Willink
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and/or treatment.
Claims20
A system configured to provide curved access within bone, the system comprising:
- a cannula comprising a proximal handle with a curved insertion slot and a distal polymeric tube,
- wherein the distal polymeric tube comprises a curved distal end portion having a preformed curvature but configured to bend when placed under constraint;
- a stylet comprising a proximal handle and a distal elongate shaft,
- wherein the distal elongate shaft comprises a curved distal end portion having a preformed curvature but configured to bend when placed under constraint and a distal channeling tip,
- wherein a length of the curved distal end portion of the distal elongate shaft proximal to the distal channeling tip comprises a cross-section circumference profile that is less than a full cross-section circumference profile such that there is a larger gap between an outer cross-sectional dimension of the curved distal end portion of the distal elongate shaft and the inner diameter of the curved distal end portion of the cannula along the length,
- wherein the cross-section circumference profile is asymmetric,
- wherein a maximum vertical cross-sectional dimension of the length of the curved distal end portion of the stylet is between 40% and 80% of a maximum cross-sectional dimension of proximal and distal regions bordering the length of the curved distal end portion of the stylet, and
- wherein the proximal handle of the stylet is configured to actuate so as to cause proximal axial retraction of the stylet with respect to the cannula when the proximal handle of the stylet is engaged with the proximal handle of the cannula.
A system configured to provide curved access within bone, the system comprising:
- a cannula comprising a proximal handle with a curved insertion slot and a distal polymeric tube,
- wherein the distal polymeric tube comprises a curved distal end portion having a preformed curvature but configured to bend when placed under constraint;
- a stylet comprising a proximal handle and a distal elongate shaft,
- wherein the distal elongate shaft comprises a curved distal end portion having a preformed curvature but configured to bend when placed under constraint and a distal channeling tip,
- wherein a length of the curved distal end portion of the distal elongate shaft proximal to the distal channeling tip comprises a platform having a cross-section circumference profile that is less than a full cross-section circumference profile such that there is a larger gap between an outer cross-sectional dimension of the platform of the distal elongate shaft and the inner diameter of the curved distal end portion of the cannula along the length of the curved distal end portion of the distal elongate shaft, and
- wherein the proximal handle of the stylet actuates so as to cause proximal axial retraction of the stylet with respect to the cannula when the proximal handle of the stylet is engaged with the proximal handle of the cannula.
A system configured to provide curved access within bone, the system comprising:
- a cannula comprising a proximal handle with a curved insertion slot and a distal polymeric tube,
- wherein the distal polymeric tube comprises a curved distal end portion having a preformed curvature but configured to bend when placed under constraint;
- a stylet comprising a proximal handle and a distal elongate shaft,
- wherein the distal elongate shaft comprises a curved distal end portion having a preformed curvature but configured to bend when placed under constraint and a distal channeling tip,
- wherein a length of the curved distal end portion of the distal elongate shaft proximal to the distal channeling tip comprises a cross-section circumference profile that is less than a full cross-section circumference profile such that there is a larger gap between an outer cross-sectional dimension of the curved distal end portion of the distal elongate shaft and the inner diameter of the curved distal end portion of the cannula along the length of the curved distal end portion,
- wherein the cross-section circumference profile is asymmetric,
- wherein a maximum vertical cross-sectional dimension of the length of the curved distal end portion of the stylet is between 40% and 80% of a maximum cross-sectional dimension of proximal and distal regions bordering the length of the curved distal end portion of the stylet, and
- wherein the proximal handle of the stylet comprises an actuator configured to cause proximal axial retraction of the stylet with respect to the cannula when the proximal handle of the stylet is engaged with the proximal handle of the cannula.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.