Patent ID: 9039701
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for channeling a path into bone to a treatment location in a body of a patient, comprising: inserting an introducer into a region of the bone near the treatment location, the introducer having a central channel and an opening at a distal tip of the introducer; delivering a curved cannula through said central channel of said introducer to said opening, wherein a proximal portion of the curved cannula comprises a locking nut to control advancement of the curved cannula with respect to the introducer, wherein the curved cannula comprises a deflectable distal tip having a preformed curve such that the deflectable distal tip straightens while being delivered through the introducer and transitions to a curved configuration upon exiting the introducer, wherein the deflectable distal tip of the curved cannula is configured to arc to an angle of between 5 degrees and 90 degrees; moving the locking nut to a position such that the locking nut is in contact with a proximal end of the curved cannula, thereby allowing the deflectable distal tip of the curved cannula to be advanced past the opening at the distal tip of the introducer and to transition to the curved configuration; extending the curved cannula past the opening at the distal tip of the introducer to generate a curved path in the bone corresponding to the preformed curve of the deflectable distal tip; inserting a channeling stylet into the curved cannula, wherein the channeling stylet is flexibly deformable to navigate the curved cannula yet rigid enough to retain a straight form upon exiting the deflectable distal tip of the curved cannula; creating a linear channel starting at a distal end of the curved path formed by the curved cannula by extending a distal end of the channeling stylet out of the deflectable distal tip of the curved cannula; removing the channeling stylet from the curved cannula; and delivering a treatment device through said curved cannula to the treatment location through the linear channel.