Intradiscal lesioning device
AssigneeBaylis Medical Company Inc.
InventorsMark S. Leung, Kris Shah, Frank H. Baylis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An intradiscal device for treatment of a patient's intervertebral disc. The device has two elongate probes for insertion to two spaced apart treatment sites of the annulus fibrosus. The distal portions of each probe have energy delivery means for delivering energy between the distal portions of the probes through the annulus fibrosus adjacent the two treatment sites. The energy is preferably electrical energy the probes may be inserted surgically through respective elongate introducer tubes.
Claims20
A device for treatment of a patient's intervertebral disc, the disc including a nucleus pulposus bounded by an annulus fibrosus, said device comprising:
- a first and a second elongate probe for surgical insertion to two spaced apart treatment sites of the annulus fibrosus, each probe having a proximal portion and a distal portion,
- wherein the distal portions of each probe comprises energy delivery means for delivering energy between the distal portions of the probes through the annulus fibrosus adjacent and between the two treatment sites.
A device for providing percutaneous access to an intervertebral disc comprising an elongate hollow tube having an inner and an outer end, with a surface that is electrically insulated, having a temperature sensor near the outer end.
A method for treatment of an intervertebral disc, the disc including a nucleus pulposus bounded by an annulus fibrosus, said method comprising the steps of:
- i) inserting a first and a second intradiscal lesioning probe to respective spaced apart treatment sites for annulus fibrosus, each probe having an energy delivery means located at a distal end thereof, the distal ends being inserted to the treatment sites;
- and
- ii) delivering energy from an energy source through the energy delivery means to the annulus fibrosus adjacent and between the treatment sites.
An intradiscal probe for use with a second probe for treatment of a patient's intervertebral disc, the disc including a nucleus pulposus bounded by an annulus fibrosus, the probe comprising:
- an elongate body for surgical insertion to a treatment site for the annulus fibrosus, the body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- wherein the distal portion comprises energy delivery means for delivering energy between the distal portion of the probe and a distal portion of the second probe through the annulus fibrosus.
An intradiscal probe for treatment of a patient's intervertebral disc, the disc including a nucleus pulposus bounded by an annulus fibrosus, the probe comprising:
- an elongate body for surgical insertion to a treatment site for the annulus fibrosus, the elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- the distal portion comprising an impedance measuring means;
- and
- an energy delivery means for delivering energy to the annulus fibrosus wherein the energy delivery means is configured to selectively deliver the energy in a desired direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.