US 5,433,739 A · Method and apparatus for heating an intervertebral disc for relief of back pain

Abstract

The present invention relates to a technique of relieving back pain by heating of an intervertebral disc. The heating is illustrated by a percutaneous technique where a needle or electrode is inserted into the disc under X-ray or other imaging control and subsequently used to elevate the temperature of the disc. Above a certain temperature, the innervation related to the disc is destroyed to the point that back pain related to that innervation can also be eliminated. Specific examples of methods and apparatus to achieve such disc heating are given. Among the methods are use of radiofrequency heating and direct current heating, use of stimulation and impedance monitoring to improve target control, and the use of temperature monitoring to determine and quantify the appropriate disc temperature to achieve the desired clinical results.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of treating back or neck pain of a patient by heating an intervertebral disc, including:

(a) Inserting a probe into said disc, said probe being adapted to be connected to external apparatus which can deliver power through said probe to said disc so as to heat said disc;
(b) Applying said power from said external apparatus to said disc via said probe causing heating of said disc which thereby causes relief of said back pain.

A method of treating back or neck pain of a patient by heating the interior of an intervertebral disc, including the steps of:

(a) Inserting a probe into said patient so that the tip of said probe is positioned inside said intervertebral disc;
said probe being adapted to be connected to external apparatus which is so adapted to generate power that can be transmitted via said probe to said probe tip so as to heat tissue around said probe tip when said probe tip is in said intervertebral disc;
(b) Applying power from external apparatus to said probe so that said probe tip causes heating of said interior of said intervertebral disc to a temperature substantially above body temperature by absorption of at least a portion of said applied power via said probe tip to the tissue of said intervertebral disc;
(c) Whereby consequent spread of heat around said probe tip and within said intervertebral disc will cause heating and resultant changes in the disc material and nearby neurological structures, thereby relieving said patient's pain.

1 more element

An apparatus for heating the intervertebral disc of a patient for the relief of pain, including:

(a) an insulated cannula with substantially radiolucent hub and electrically uninsulated conductive tip;
(b) an obdurating stylet for insertion into said insulated cannula having a substantially radiolucent hub and electrical connection means running within said insulated cannula to connect said uninsulated conductive tip to an external current source;
(c) whereby, when said insulated cannula is inserted into said patient's body so that said uninsulated tip of said cannula is placed within said intervertebral disc, with said obdurating stylet inserted into said insulated cannula so that said substantially radiolucent cannula hub and said substantially radiolucent stylet hub will present no substantial image or viewing obstruction on an X-ray view which will be taken of said insulated cannula and said stylet when said insulated cannula is being guided into said intervertebral disc, and when said obdurating stylet is connected to said external current source by said electrical connection means, then electrical current from said electrical current source can be caused to flow from said uninsulated tip into said intervertebral disc so as to heat said intervertebral disc and relieve said patient's pain.

A radiofrequency electrode system for heating the intervertebral disc of a patient, including:

(a) a cannula with metal tube shaft which is insulated over its surface, except for an uninsulated tip which can deliver radiofrequency current to nearby tissue of said patient when said cannula is inserted into said patient's body, said metal tube shaft of said cannula having an open end at the far end of said cannula, and said cannula having a substantially radiolucent cannula hub at the near end of said cannula;
(b) a stylet including a metal shaft to fit into said cannula so as to make electrical connection to said metal tube, and to occlude said open end at said far end;
and when said stylet is inserted into said cannula, said stylet having a substantially radiolucent stylet hub, and said stylet having electrical connection means adapted to be electrically connected to external impedance monitoring apparatus and to said metal shaft;
(c) whereby, when said stylet is inserted into said cannula and said cannula is inserted into said intervertebral disc of said patient, said radiolucent hubs enable substantially unobstructed guidance of said electrode by X-ray images of said cannula's uninsulated tip to be placed within said intervertebral disc, and whereby the electrical impedance of said patient's bodily tissue near said uninsulated tip can be monitored so as to determine when said uninsulated tip is within said intervertebral disc.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for heating an intervertebral disc for relief of back pain

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for heating an intervertebral disc for relief of back pain

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14