Medial branch smart tip needle

A cryogenic device for treating a target tissue of a patient, the device comprising:

• a handpiece having a size and shape suitable for supporting in a hand of an operator, and at least one cooling fluid supply path disposed in the handpiece;
• and
• a needle probe coupled to a distal portion of the handpiece, the needle probe comprising:
• a probe body;
• a blunt needle coupled to the probe body, the blunt needle comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a needle lumen therebetween, wherein the blunt needle has a length greater than or equal to 175 mm and a gauge that is greater than or equal to 25 G;
• and
• a silica supply tube extending within the needle lumen and coupled to the at least one cooling fluid supply path, the silica supply tube comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein a ratio of the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the silica supply tube is configured to provide a desired teardrop ice ball, wherein the inner diameter is configured to enable formation of the desired teardrop ice ball shape, wherein the outer diameter is configured to provide exhaustion space within the needle probe.