Patent ID: 7896872

Claim:
A method for relieving pain associated with an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus and an annulus fibrosus surrounding the nucleus pulposus, comprising the steps of: introducing a thermal transmitting element of a thermal probe into the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc, the thermal probe defining proximal and distal ends and having a guidable region adjacent the distal end thereof the guidable region characterized by having sufficient rigidity to advance within the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc in response to an axial force exerted on the proximal end of the thermal probe while having sufficient flexibility to substantially follow and conform to an azimuthal course defined by the natural striata of the annulus fibrosus; advancing the thermal transmitting element of the thermal probe within the annulus fibrosus while avoiding the nucleus pulposus; and supplying thermal energy from a thermal energy source to the thermal transmitting element to heat the annulus fibrosus adjacent the transmitting element while avoiding directly heating the nucleus pulposus sufficiently to relieve pain associated with the intervertebral disc.