Access and ablation system and method for use thereof

A method of treating tissue, the method comprising:

• inserting a stylet through an interior cavity of a cannula so that a distal end of the stylet extends outwardly from a distal end of the cannula to form a combined stylet and cannula;
• creating a pathway through a patient's body using the combined stylet and cannula to position the distal end of the stylet and the distal end of the cannula adjacent tissue;
• removing the stylet from the interior cavity of the cannula;
• advancing a needle through the interior cavity of the cannula to position a curved distal end portion of the needle adjacent the distal end of the cannula in the pathway;
• lengthening the pathway in an angled and curved direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the cannula by advancing the curved distal end portion of the needle further into the tissue;
• removing the needle from the interior cavity of the cannula;
• advancing an electrosurgical probe through the interior cavity of the cannula and the pathway to position a distal end portion of the electrosurgical probe adjacent the tissue, wherein the electrosurgical probe includes at least two axially spaced electrodes, the electrodes being individually energizable in situ such that any one of the electrodes can be energized as an active electrode and any other one of the electrodes can be energized as a return electrode without withdrawing the electrosurgical probe from the pathway;
• and
• activating the electrosurgical probe to treat the tissue.

A method of treating tissue, comprising:

• introducing a cannula into a patient to provide access toward the tissue;
• forming a curved portion of a pathway extending beyond a distal end of the cannula by advancing an elongate access instrument through the cannula, the elongate access instrument having a distal end portion biased or steerable to advance along a non-linear trajectory relative to a longitudinal axis of the cannula;
• removing the elongate access instrument from the cannula;
• advancing an electrosurgical probe through the cannula and into the curved portion of the pathway to position a distal end portion of the electrosurgical probe adjacent the tissue, the electrosurgical probe including at least two axially spaced electrodes disposed on the distal end portion;
• selectively energizing the at least two axially spaced electrodes in situ such that one of the electrodes is energizable as an active electrode and another one of the electrodes is energizable as a return electrode without withdrawing the electrosurgical probe from the pathway;
• and
• activating the electrosurgical probe to deliver energy between the active electrode and the return electrode to treat the tissue.

A method of treating tissue, comprising:

• creating a pathway through a patient by advancing an access instrument through an interior cavity of a cannula, the access instrument including a distal end portion configured to advance along a curved trajectory to define a curved portion of the pathway;
• removing the access instrument from the interior cavity of the cannula while leaving the cannula positioned along at least a portion of the pathway;
• advancing a drill through the interior cavity of the cannula and into the pathway;
• operating the drill to remove tissue to at least one of enlarge or further lengthen the pathway;
• removing the drill from the interior cavity of the cannula;
• advancing an electrosurgical probe through the interior cavity of the cannula and into the pathway to position a distal end portion of the electrosurgical probe in the curved portion of the pathway adjacent tissue, the electrosurgical probe including at least two axially spaced electrodes disposed on the distal end portion;
• energizing the at least two axially spaced electrodes in situ such that one of the at least two axially spaced electrodes is selectively energizable as an active electrode and another one of the at least two axially spaced electrodes is selectively energizable as a return electrode without withdrawing the electrosurgical probe from the pathway;
• and
• activating the electrosurgical probe to deliver energy between the active electrode and the return electrode to treat the tissue.