Patent ID: 8628528
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of energy delivery to a nerve within a vertebral body, comprising: identifying a target energy delivery region within an inner cancellous bone portion of a vertebral body corresponding to a likely location of a portion of a basivertebral nerve, wherein the target energy delivery region is located within a posterior section of the vertebral body; inserting a cannula and a first stylet within the inner cancellous bone portion of the vertebral body, the first stylet being slidably received within a passageway of the cannula, wherein a distal portion of the cannula and a distal portion of the first stylet are curved, wherein a distal end of the curved portion of the first stylet extends beyond a distal end of the curved portion of the cannula, wherein the curved stylet and the curved cannula have mating proximal ends that align the curve of the first stylet with the curve of the curved cannula; advancing a distal end of the first stylet and a distal end of the cannula together toward a midline of the vertebral body, thereby forming a curved path toward the target energy delivery region; removing the first stylet from the cannula; inserting a channeling stylet within the passageway of the cannula and advancing a distal end of the channeling stylet beyond the distal end of the cannula, wherein the channeling stylet is flexibly deformable so as to navigate the cannula yet rigid enough to retain a straight form upon exiting the distal end of the cannula, forming a linear path beyond the curved path to the target energy delivery region by advancing the distal end of the channeling stylet beyond the curved path; removing the channeling stylet from the cannula; inserting an energy delivery device through the passageway of the cannula to the target energy delivery region; and delivering energy to the target energy delivery region using the energy delivery device.