System and method providing directional ultrasound therapy to skeletal joints

Abstract

An ultrasound therapy system and method is provided that provides directional, focused ultrasound to localized regions of tissue within body joints, such as spinal joints. An ultrasound emitter or transducer is delivered to a location within the body associated with the joint and heats the target region of tissue associated with the joint from the location. Such locations for ultrasound transducer placement may include for example in or around the intervertebral discs, or the bony structures such as vertebral bodies or posterior vertebral elements such as facet joints. Various modes of operation provide for selective, controlled heating at different temperature ranges to provide different intended results in the target tissue, which ranges are significantly affected by pre-stressed tissues such as in-vivo intervertebral discs. In particular, treatments above 70 degrees C., and in particular 75 degrees C., are used for structural remodeling, whereas lower temperatures achieve other responses without appreciable remodeling.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 349,207 filed on Jan. 15, 2002, and also from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 351,827 filed on Jan. 23, 2002; and also U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 410,603 filed on Sep. 12, 2002; and also 60 / 411,401 filed on Sep. 16, 2002. The disclosures of these U.S. provisional patent applications are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable REFERENCE TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM APPENDIX [0003] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] 1. Field of the Invention [0005] The present invention is a system and method for delivering therapeutic levels of energy to tissue in a living body. More specifically, it is a system and method for delivering therapeutic levels of ultrasound energy invasively within the body in order to treat disorders associated w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0035] Another object of the invention is to deliver therapeutic levels of energy sufficient to cause necrosis of particular cellular structures associated with an intervertebral disc without substantially remodeling or affecting the structure integrity of the annulus fibrosus of the disc.

[0115] Another mode includes providing sufficient thermal dose at appropriate temperature so as to stimulate cellular metabolism without substantially killing cells in the region of tissue.

Problems solved by technology

In one regard, tissues or their function may be damaged by energy delivery such as thermal therapy.

In any event, because of the pronounced effects observed from tissue energy delivery, it is often desired to control and accurately select the localization of tissue / energy interaction in order to treat only the intended tissue, else normal surrounding tissue is effected with harmful results.

For temperature exposures in excess of 45° C. and / or longer durations, it is believed that cellular repair mechanisms no longer function due to denaturation of key proteins or can't keep up with the accumulating damage.

High temperature exposures (50+° C.) are generally believed to produce rather lethal and immediate irreversible denaturation and conformational changes in cellular and tissue structural proteins, thereby thermally coagulating the tissue.

Chronic low back pain is a significant health and economic problem in the United States, being the most costly form of disability in the industrial setting.

Traditionally, patients who fail conservative therapy have few treatment options beside discectomy or fusion, either of which can result in significant morbidity and variable outcomes.

However, the long-term benefits of this treatment have been questioned since the collagenous tissue may re-lengthen over time.

While these results have been considered by some to be promising, prospective placebo-controlled trials are lacking, and the therapeutic mechanisms of thermal therapy are unknown.

However, given that the annular architecture of intervertebral discs is quite different from these other tissues it is has not been previously made clear that prior results can be directly extrapolated to the intervertebral disc.

Chronic lower back pain (e.g. discogenic lumbar pain) and related motor nerve deficit is typically due to damaged or herniated vertebral discs which either directly impinge on surrounding nerves or cause irritating inflammation.

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