Patent ID: 8419730
Filing Date: 2013-04-16
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 a trocar into a region of bone near the treatment location, the trocar having a central channel and an opening at a distal tip of the trocar; delivering a curved cannula through said central channel of said trocar to said opening, wherein the curved cannula comprises a deflectable distal tip with a preformed curve such that the deflectable distal tip straightens while being delivered through the trocar and regains its preformed curve upon exiting the trocar; extending the curved cannula past the opening at the distal tip of the trocar 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 and wherein the channeling stylet is longer than the curved cannula; creating a linear working channel starting at a distal end of the curved path formed by the curved cannula by extending the channeling stylet past the deflectable distal tip of the curved cannula; removing the channeling stylet from the curved cannula; and delivering a treatment device through a central passageway in said curved cannula to the treatment location within the linear working channel beyond the curved path.