US 11,806,070 B2
Methods and systems for spinal radio frequency neurotomy
Robert E. Wright, Clayton (AU); and Scott A. Brandt, Denver, CO (US)
Assigned to Stratus Medical, LLC, Magnolia, TX (US)
Filed by Stratus Medical, LLC, Magnolia, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/126,675.
Application 17/126,675 is a continuation of application No. 16/933,995, filed on Jul. 20, 2020, granted, now 10,925,664.
Application 16/933,995 is a continuation of application No. 15/098,673, filed on Apr. 14, 2016, granted, now 10,736,688, issued on Aug. 11, 2020.
Application 15/098,673 is a continuation of application No. 12/940,974, filed on Nov. 5, 2010, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/347,351, filed on May 21, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/280,557, filed on Nov. 5, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2021/0100609 A1, Apr. 8, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 18/1477 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00434 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00595 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00821 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1253 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1467 (2013.01); A61B 2090/376 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3762 (2016.02)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of performing spinal radiofrequency neurotomy in a patient, the method comprising:
moving a tip of a needle to a first position proximate to a target nerve within the patient, the needle comprising an elongate member and a filament in a retracted position, the tip of the needle being electrically conductive and positioned at a distal end of the elongate member;
advancing the filament relative to the tip of the needle from the retracted position to a deployed position;
inserting a radiofrequency probe into the needle such that a distal end of the radiofrequency probe contacts the tip of the needle; and
after the filament has been advanced to the deployed position and the radiofrequency probe has been inserted into the needle, applying radiofrequency energy to the radiofrequency probe such that the radiofrequency energy is conducted away from the distal end of the radiofrequency probe by the tip of the needle and the filament, with the radiofrequency probe, the tip of the needle, and the filament operating in combination as an active radiofrequency electrode to ablate at least a portion of the target nerve.