Treatment of pain, neurological dysfunction and neoplasms using radiation delivery catheters

A method for the treatment of a pain complaint of a subject using a removable catheter-based source of ionizing radiation, comprising:

• localizing a spinal nerve as it exits a spinal column of the subject, the localized spinal nerve being identified as a component of the pain complaint of the subject;
• accessing the spinal nerve percutaneously through an internal bore of a cannula, a distal aspect of the cannula being positioned in proximity to the localized spinal nerve as the nerve exits the spinal column;
• advancing a catheter through the bore of the cannula, a distal region of the catheter being in proximity to the localized spinal nerve as the nerve exits the spinal column, the catheter configured to deliver ionizing radiation;
• and
• delivering a desired dose of ionizing radiation to the localized spinal nerve, the spinal nerve being in proximity to an exit site of the nerve from the spinal column;
• removing the catheter and the cannula after administration of the ionizing radiation dose.