Implantable thermal treatment method and apparatus

A skeletal joint therapy device, comprising:

• a long-term implantable thermal treatment assembly with an energy emitter;
• wherein the thermal treatment assembly is adapted to be implanted at a location within a body of a patient;
• and
• a skeletal joint delivery assembly comprising a needle that is adapted to deliver the thermal treatment assembly into the body with the energy emitter positioned at a location within the body associated with the skeletal joint;
• wherein the needle is configured to be delivered through bone to the location;
• wherein the thermal treatment assembly is adapted to be delivered through the needle to the location;
• wherein the energy emitter is adapted to follow a long-term protocol for energy delivery into a region of tissue associated with a skeletal joint;
• and
• wherein the thermal treatment assembly is adapted to heat tissue up to a distance of at least 4 mm from the energy emitter to a temperature of at least 75 degrees C., and is adapted to heat tissue up to a distance of at least about 7 mm from the energy emitter to a temperature of at least about 55 degrees C., and is adapted to heat tissue up to a distance of at least about 10 mm from the energy emitter to a temperature of at least about 45 degrees C.

A long-term implantable ultrasound thermal therapy system, comprising:

• a long-term implantable ultrasound heating assembly with an ultrasound transducer and that is adapted to be implanted within a body of a mammal with the ultrasound transducer positioned at a location such that the ultrasound transducer is adapted to deliver a ultrasound energy into a targeted region of tissue in the body from the location;
• a skeletal joint delivery assembly comprising a needle that is adapted to deliver the ultrasound heating assembly into the body with the ultrasound transducer positioned at a location within the body associated with the skeletal joint;
• wherein the needle is configured to be delivered through bone to the location;
• wherein the ultrasound heating assembly is adapted to be delivered through the needle to the location;
• and
• a long-term ultrasound therapy control system that is adapted to be coupled to the ultrasound heating assembly;
• wherein the long-term implantable ultrasound therapy control system is adapted to be coupled to and control operation of the ultrasound heating assembly while it is implanted at the location according to a long-term ultrasound thermal therapy protocol
• said ultrasound thermal therapy protocol being sufficient to denervate a nociceptive nerve at said region of tissue.

A long-term directional ultrasound spinal thermal therapy system, comprising:

• a long-term implantable ultrasound delivery assembly with a directional ultrasound transducer that is adapted to be positioned at a location associated with a spinal joint and to deliver a directed, therapeutic amount of ultrasound energy from the location and to a region of tissue associated with the spinal joint;
• and
• a skeletal joint delivery assembly comprising a needle that is adapted to deliver the ultrasound delivery assembly into the body with the ultrasound transducer positioned at the location;
• wherein the ultrasound treatment assembly is adapted to be delivered through the needle to the location;
• said therapeutic amount of ultrasound energy being sufficient to denervate a nociceptive nerve at said region of tissue;
• wherein the needle is configured to be delivered through bone to the location.

A long-term implantable skeletal joint ultrasound delivery system, comprising:

• a long-term implantable ultrasound treatment assembly with an ultrasound transducer and a coupling member;
• and
• a skeletal joint delivery assembly comprising a needle;
• wherein the ultrasound treatment assembly is adapted to be delivered through the needle to be implanted within a body of a mammal with the ultrasound transducer positioned at a location within the body associated with a skeletal joint;
• and
• wherein the ultrasound transducer is adapted to deliver a therapeutic amount of ultrasound energy to a region of tissue associated with the skeletal joint via the coupling member and according to a long-term ultrasound treatment protocol;
• said therapeutic level of ultrasound energy being sufficient to denervate a nociceptive nerve at said region of tissue;
• wherein the needle is configured to be delivered through bone to the location.

A long-term implantable ultrasound thermal therapy system, comprising:

• a long-term implantable ultrasound heating assembly with an ultrasound transducer;
• a delivery assembly comprising a needle that is adapted to deliver the ultrasound heating assembly into the body with the ultrasound transducer positioned at a location within the body;
• wherein the ultrasound heating assembly is adapted to be delivered through the needle to the location;
• wherein the needle is configured to be delivered through bone to the location;
• and
• a control system that is adapted to be coupled to the ultrasound heating assembly and to control operation of the ultrasound heating assembly according to a long-term ultrasound thermal therapy protocol and such that a region of tissue being heated by the ultrasound heating assembly exceeds a temperature of at least about 70 degrees C.

An ultrasound thermal therapy system, comprising:

• a delivery assembly comprising a needle that is adapted to deliver a long-term implantable ultrasound heating assembly to a location within the body of a patient;
• wherein the ultrasound heating assembly is adapted to be delivered through the needle to the location, to be implanted at the location and to couple with an ultrasound controller from the location, and also with a curvilinear ultrasound transducer having a concave surface with a radius of curvature around a reference axis such that ultrasound energy transmitted therefrom converges into a region of tissue at a target location;
• said transmitted ultrasound energy being sufficient to denervate a nociceptive nerve at said region of tissue;
• wherein the needle is configured to be delivered through bone to the location.

A method for providing long-term, invasive treatment to a region of tissue associated with the spine in a body of a patient, comprising:

• positioning a delivery assembly at a location associated with the region of tissue;
• wherein the delivery assembly comprises a needle;
• delivering a long-term ultrasound transducer implant through the needle to said location;
• and
• implanting the long-term ultrasound transducer implant at the location;
• and
• delivering a therapeutic level of ultrasound energy from the transducer to the tissue to denervate a nociceptive nerve at said region of tissue.

A method for providing long-term medical treatment for a medical condition associated with a spinal joint in a body of a patient, comprising:

• positioning a delivery assembly at a location within a vertebral body associated with the joint;
• wherein the delivery assembly comprises a needle;
• delivering an ultrasound transducer through the needle to said location;
• implanting the ultrasound transducer at the location for a long-term;
• and
• emitting ultrasound energy from the transducer at the location so as to provide a therapeutic effect to at least a portion of the joint and according to a long-term ultrasound therapy protocol.