Nerve and soft tissue ablation device

Abstract

Ablation devices useful for destroying nerve and/or soft tissue via a minimally invasive procedure to alleviate pain are provided. The device comprises a probe having an interior surface that defines an internal passage and an exterior surface comprising a tip. The internal passage has a filament comprising an opening configured to release a pressurized material into the interior surface of the probe so as to cool the exterior surface of the probe to a selected temperature. An introducer is provided having an interior surface configured for engagement with the exterior surface of the probe. This engagement produces an air gap that surrounds the exterior surface of the probe to form a seal, and an exterior surface comprising an opening configured for engagement with the exterior surface of the probe is configured for ablating nerve and/or soft tissue. Methods for ablating nerve and/or soft tissue utilizing the ablation devices are also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.