Patent ID: 8298216
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for treating pain associated with a nerve of a patient, the pain associated with a muscle spasm in a muscle of a patient and the nerve being disposed along a contractile chain of the muscle, the nerve underlying a tissue, the tissue having a surface, the method comprising: manually manipulating a body with a hand, the body supporting a needle, the body manipulated so as to penetrate a sharpened distal end of the needle through the surface and into the tissue to thermally couple the needle with the nerve, wherein the needle has a 22 gauge needle size or smaller so as to inhibit collateral tissue damage, and wherein the body supports a cooling fluid source; and transmitting cooling fluid from the source through the surface within the needle so that the fluid cools the needle and the needle cools the nerve sufficiently that contraction of the muscle and the pain are inhibited.