Patent ID: 7979138

Claim:
A method of treating back and neck pain of a patient by radiofrequency heating of an intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of: providing a radiofrequency electrode including proximal and distal ends and having a keyed slot defined therein, the keyed slot including at least two openings separated from each other by a distance along the length of the radiofrequency electrode, the radiofrequency electrode comprising: a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and having an open end defined at the distal end thereof, the cannula including a substantially insulated shaft with an uninsulated conductive radiofrequency tip at the distal end thereof, the radiofrequency tip adapted for insertion between intervertebral discs of a patient, the cannula adapted to couple to a power source through a radiofrequency connection attached to the proximal end thereof; a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end, the stylet fitting into the cannula so that the distal end of the stylet occludes the open end at the distal end of the cannula, the stylet having a key portion configured to operably engage at least one of the openings of the keyed slot, the stylet including a pressure sensor probe proximate the distal end of the stylet, the pressure sensor probe adapted to monitor pressure in the intervertebral disc as the radiofrequency electrode heats the intervertebral disc; and an electrical connection between the radiofrequency connection and the radiofrequency tip, the electrical connection providing electrical communication between the radiofrequency connection and the radiofrequency tip; inserting the radiofrequency electrode into the body of a patient; positioning the key portion within a first of the at least two openings of the keyed slot of the radiofrequency electrode; connecting an external radiofrequency generator to the radiofrequency connection so as to apply a radiofrequency voltage generated by the radiofrequency generator to the radiofrequency tip via the electrical connection; increasing the radiofrequency voltage to cause current to flow from the radiofrequency tip into the intervertebral disc when the radiofrequency tip is placed therein to cause changes in the intervertebral disc material and nearby neurological structures; monitoring the pressure in the intervertebral disc using the pressure sensor probe; and re-positioning the key portion within a second of the at least two openings of the keyed slot of the radiofrequency electrode.