Nerve modulation methods
AssigneeRelievant Medsystems, Inc.
InventorsRichard Pellegrino, Samit Patel, Harold Carrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System and methods for channeling a path into bone include a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel disposed along a central axis of the trocar. The trocar includes a distal opening at the distal end of the trocar. The system includes a curved cannula sized to be received in the central channel, the curved cannula comprising a curved distal end configured to be extended outward from the distal opening to generate a curved path extending away from the trocar. The curved cannula has a central passageway having a diameter configured to allow a treatment device to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path.
Claims18
A method for channeling a path into bone to a treatment location in the body of a patient, comprising:
- inserting an introducer into a region of the bone;
- wherein the introducer comprises a central channel and an axial opening at a distal tip of the introducer;
- delivering a cannula through said central channel and advancing a distal tip of the cannula to said axial opening;
- wherein the cannula comprises a deflectable distal portion with a preformed curve such that the deflectable distal portion straightens while being delivered through the introducer and curves upon exiting the axial opening at the distal tip of the introducer;
- extending the deflectable distal portion of the cannula out of the axial opening of the introducer to generate a curved path in the bone corresponding to the preformed curve of the deflectable distal portion;
- inserting a straight channeling stylet into the central passageway of the cannula;
- and
- advancing a distal tip of the straight channeling stylet be and the distal tip of the cannula,
- wherein the straight channeling stylet is flexibly deformable to navigate the cannula yet retain a straight form upon exiting the cannula,
- wherein an entire length of the straight channeling stylet is straight in an unconstrained configuration;
- and
- delivering a flexible radiofrequency energy delivery device through the central passageway in said cannula to the treatment location beyond the curved path.
A method for channeling a path into bone to a treatment location in the body of a patient, comprising:
- inserting a curved stylet having a curved distal portion into a central passageway of a cannula having a curved distal portion;
- aligning the curved distal portion of the curved stylet and the curved distal portion of the cannula;
- advancing a distal tip of the curved stylet at least to an opening at a distal tip of the cannula;
- advancing the curved stylet and cannula together into a cancellous region of a vertebral body and toward a location of a nerve within the vertebral body, thereby forming a curved path within the cancellous region toward the location of the nerve;
- removing the curved stylet from the cannula;
- inserting a straight flexible stylet into the central passageway of the cannula;
- advancing a distal tip of the straight flexible stylet in a straight path beyond the distal tip of the cannula to the location of the nerve;
- and
- removing the straight flexible stylet,
- wherein an entire length of the straight flexible stylet is straight in an unconstrained configuration.
A method for channeling a path into bone to a treatment location in the body of a patient, comprising:
- inserting a curved stylet having a curved distal portion into a central passageway of a cannula having a curved distal portion;
- aligning the curved distal portion of the curved stylet and the curved distal portion of the cannula;
- advancing a distal tip of the curved stylet at least to an opening at a distal tip of the cannula;
- advancing the curved stylet and cannula together into a cancellous region of the bone and toward a location of a nerve within the bone, thereby forming a curved path within the cancellous region toward the location of the nerve;
- removing the curved stylet from the cannula;
- inserting a straight flexible stylet into the central passageway of the cannula;
- advancing a distal tip of the straight flexible stylet beyond the distal tip of the cannula along a straight path to the location of the nerve;
- and
- removing the straight flexible stylet,
- wherein an entire length of the straight flexible stylet is straight in an unconstrained configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.