Patent ID: 7393351

Claim:
A method of treating a target tissue of an inter-vertebral disc, comprising: a) inserting an introducer needle into the inter-vertebral disc, the introducer needle having a needle lumen therethrough and a needle distal end; b) positioning the needle distal end with respect to the target tissue within the inter-vertebral disc; c) positioning an active electrode of an electrosurgical probe in relation to the needle distal end, the probe including a shaft having a shaft distal end, the active electrode disposed at the shaft distal end; d) retracting the introducer needle by at least a first distance, wherein the first distance represents a minimum distance, between the active electrode and the needle distal end, for activating the probe; and e) after said step d), applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage sufficient to ablate or modify at least a portion of the target tissue; and f) during said step e) axially translating the shaft distally within the inter-vertebral disc.