Curved RF Ablation Probe for Multilevel Sinuvertebral Nerve Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for chronic lower back pain, such as medial nerve ablation, are invasive and time-consuming, and often ineffective at treating pain, and often ineffective at addressing the pain, and often require multiple procedures to be performed at each level, leading to prolonged recovery times and incomplete pain relief.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive radiofrequency (RF) tissue ablation probe with a bent distal end and electrodes for targeting the sinuvertebral nerve, allowing for simultaneous treatment of multiple levels with reduced risk to surrounding structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transpedicular intraosseous approach or intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty is used to treat vertebrogenic or discogenic pain, then the treatment can address the pain source, but the procedure becomes considerably more invasive and time-consuming with increased risk to patient and provider
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a curved probe as an intermediary tool that can navigate through the intervertebral foramen to access the sinuvertebral nerve without requiring direct transpedicular or intradiscal access. This intermediary approach allows treatment of the same target nerve while avoiding the harmful invasive procedures of drilling through bone or penetrating diseased discs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the treatment approach by separating the access path from the target. Instead of directly accessing the basivertebral nerve through bone (transpedicular approach), the procedure segments the path into: (1) accessing the intervertebral foramen through soft tissue, (2) navigating the curved probe through the foramen, and (3) ablatively treating the sinuvertebral nerve. This segmentation eliminates the need for invasive bone drilling while maintaining treatment efficacy
2Reliability
If multiple levels are treated at each procedure to manage multilevel pathology, then treatment comprehensiveness improves, but procedure time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The curved probe design provides multi-functionality by enabling access to sinuvertebral nerves at multiple vertebral levels through a single surgical approach. The probe's curvature allows it to navigate through the intervertebral foramen and treat nerves at different levels sequentially without requiring separate incisions or complex repositioning, making the procedure universal for multilevel CLBP treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by establishing a single surgical corridor through the intervertebral foramen that can be used to treat multiple levels. Once the probe is positioned through the foramen, the physician can sequentially treat sinuvertebral nerves at multiple vertebral levels through this pre-established access path, eliminating the need to repeatedly invade tissue for each level
3Ease of operation
If ablative probes are passed through diseased vertebral bone or intervertebral disc to access target nerves, then direct nerve access is achieved, but further destruction of already diseased tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element of bone drilling and disc penetration from the procedure. Instead of taking the direct path through diseased bone or disc tissue, the curved probe is extracted through the soft tissue route of the intervertebral foramen. This extraction eliminates further destruction of already compromised vertebral structures while still enabling access to the target sinuvertebral nerve
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The probe provides effective pain relief by denervating downstream structures without damaging adjacent tissues, reducing recovery time and improving treatment efficacy compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
the tip including an active side and an inactive side, the inactive side opposite the active side and including an insulating material, the active side including one or more electrodes extending therefrom for delivering RF energy to a target nerve
Data Source
AI summary
A probe for radiofrequency (RF) tissue ablation includes an elongated shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end, the elongated shaft comprising a bent portion at the distal end, and a tip positioned on the distal end of the elongated shaft after the bent portion, the tip comprising an active side and an inactive side, the inactive side opposite the active side and comprising an insulating material, the active side comprising one or more electrodes extending therefrom for delivering RF energy to a target nerve. The probe can be connected to an RF generator for producing RF energy to be de-livered via the active side of the tip.