US 11,701,168 B2
Radiofrequency ablation of tissue within a vertebral body
Richard Pellegrino, Leesburg, VA (US); Paula Papineau, West Bridgewater, MA (US); John S. Crombie, East Hanover, NJ (US); Samit Patel, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Thomas Ryan, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to Relievant Medsystems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Relievant Medsystems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/394,189.
Application 17/394,189 is a continuation of application No. 16/818,092, filed on Mar. 13, 2020.
Application 16/818,092 is a continuation of application No. 16/153,242, filed on Oct. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,588,691, issued on Mar. 17, 2020.
Application 16/153,242 is a continuation of application No. 15/344,284, filed on Nov. 4, 2016, granted, now 10,111,704, issued on Oct. 30, 2018.
Application 15/344,284 is a continuation of application No. 14/673,172, filed on Mar. 30, 2015, granted, now 9,486,279, issued on Nov. 8, 2016.
Application 14/673,172 is a continuation of application No. 13/923,798, filed on Jun. 21, 2013, granted, now 8,992,523, issued on Mar. 31, 2015.
Application 13/923,798 is a continuation of application No. 13/615,300, filed on Sep. 13, 2012, abandoned.
Application 13/615,300 is a continuation of application No. 13/612,541, filed on Sep. 12, 2012, granted, now 8,361,067, issued on Jan. 29, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0361351 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61N 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/18 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 18/20 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/22 (2006.01); A61B 18/16 (2006.01); A61B 18/02 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 18/08 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1487 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3472 (2013.01); A61B 18/148 (2013.01); A61B 18/1492 (2013.01); A61B 18/18 (2013.01); A61N 5/00 (2013.01); A61B 17/320068 (2013.01); A61B 17/8805 (2013.01); A61B 17/8819 (2013.01); A61B 18/02 (2013.01); A61B 18/082 (2013.01); A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 18/16 (2013.01); A61B 18/1815 (2013.01); A61B 18/20 (2013.01); A61B 18/22 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00261 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00331 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00867 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00017 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0044 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0072 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00339 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00434 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00565 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00761 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00821 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1425 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1807 (2013.01); A61B 2018/2005 (2013.01); A61B 2034/301 (2016.02); A61B 2090/374 (2016.02); A61B 2218/002 (2013.01); A61N 1/0551 (2013.01); A61N 7/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of accessing and ablating tissue within a vertebral body involving internal cooling, the method comprising:
inserting a first stylet within a first cannula;
percutaneously inserting the first stylet and the first cannula through skin of a patient;
advancing the first stylet and the first cannula within the vertebral body using a transpedicular approach through a first pedicle using real time image guidance;
removing the first stylet from the first cannula;
inserting a first channeling tool through the first cannula to create a first working channel beyond a first path formed by the first stylet within the vertebral body using real time image guidance;
removing the first channeling tool from the first cannula;
identifying a treatment zone within the vertebral body;
inserting a first radiofrequency probe through the first cannula to the treatment zone within the vertebral body using real time image guidance,
wherein the first radiofrequency probe comprises a bipolar probe having a first two electrodes, wherein the first two electrodes comprises a first active electrode and a first return electrode,
wherein the first radiofrequency probe has a diameter between 1 mm and 5 mm;
inserting a second stylet within a second cannula;
percutaneously inserting the second stylet and second cannula together through skin of the patient;
advancing the second stylet and the second cannula within the vertebral body using a transpedicular approach through a second pedicle using real time image guidance;
removing the second stylet from the second cannula;
inserting a second channeling tool through the second cannula to create a second working channel beyond a second path formed by the second stylet within the vertebral body using real time image guidance;
removing the second channeling tool from the second cannula;
inserting a second radiofrequency probe within the vertebral body through the second cannula and to the treatment zone using real time image guidance,
wherein the second radiofrequency probe comprises a bipolar probe having a second two electrodes, wherein the second two electrodes comprises a second active electrode and a second return electrode,
wherein the second radiofrequency probe has a diameter between 1 mm and 5 mm,
wherein the first and second radiofrequency probes are coupled to a connector that integrally couples the first and second radiofrequency probes to a single generator,
causing energy within a frequency range between 400 kHz and 600 kHz to be delivered to the treatment zone within the vertebral body using the first and second radiofrequency probes for a duration of time sufficient to ablate a basivertebral nerve at the treatment zone,
wherein the first radiofrequency probe and the second radiofrequency probe each comprise a plurality of diagnostic devices configured to provide diagnostic information relating to the treatment zone,
wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices comprise one or more sensors; and
causing cooling fluid to circulate through one or more lumens of at least one of the first and second radiofrequency probes to provide cooling.