| US 7,462,178 B2 | ||
| Systems and methods for electrosurgical spine surgery | ||
| Jean Woloszko, Austin, Tex. (US); David C. Hovda, Mountain View, Calif. (US); Hira V. Thapliyal, Los Altos, Calif. (US); and Philip E. Eggers, Dublin, Ohio (US) | ||
| Assigned to ArthroCare Corporation, Austin, Tex. (US) | ||
| Filed on Sep. 17, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/856,641. | ||
| Application 10/384050 is a division of application No. 09/708962, filed on Nov. 08, 2000, granted, now 6,726,684. | ||
| Application 11/856641 is a continuation of application No. 10/384050, filed on Mar. 10, 2003, granted, now 7,270,658. | ||
| Application 09/708962 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/676194, filed on Sep. 28, 2000, granted, now 6,602,248. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/204206, filed on May 12, 2000. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0004615 A1, Jan. 03, 2008 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—32 [606/41; 607/99; 607/105; 607/113] | 12 Claims |
| 1. A method of using an electrosurgical system for alleviation of spinal pain by targeted electrosurgery of an intervertebral
disc of a patient, the electrosurgical system including a power supply unit functionally coupled to at least one active electrode,
the at least one active electrode disposed on a shaft distal end of an electrosurgical instrument, and the method comprising:
a) advancing an introducer needle towards the intervertebral disc, the introducer needle including a lumen and a needle distal
end;
b) passing the shaft distal end through the lumen distally beyond the needle distal end, wherein the shaft distal end avoids
contact with the needle lumen;
c) applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode while the
shaft distal end is in the vicinity said intervertebral disc.
|