External Energy Denervation of the Basivertebral Nerve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for back pain, such as pharmaceuticals and surgery, are costly, invasive, and provide only short-term relief, while physical therapy offers limited long-term benefits, often necessitating surgical intervention.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for treating back pain by identifying and modulating the basivertebral nerve, which involves percutaneously guiding a delivery device to isolate and treat the nerve externally using energy sources like radiation, ultrasound, or microwave to denervate the nerve, thereby addressing the pain source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgery is used to treat back pain, then long-term relief is achieved, but extensive recovery time and additional physical therapy are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical surgical intervention with energy-based nerve modulation. Instead of physically cutting or fusing vertebrae, the invention uses radiofrequency, microwave, or ultrasonic energy to modulate the basivertebral nerve, achieving pain relief without the trauma of surgery and associated recovery time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an energy delivery device as an intermediary between the energy source and the basivertebral nerve. This device enables precise targeting and modulation of the nerve through minimally invasive percutaneous access, avoiding the need for extensive surgical exposure and reducing recovery time while maintaining long-term pain relief
2Ease of operation
If pharmaceuticals are used to treat back pain, then pain management is achieved, but patient dependence and high long-term cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological treatment with energy-based nerve modulation. Instead of using chemicals that require long-term administration, the invention uses controlled energy delivery to modulate the basivertebral nerve, providing pain relief without medication dependence or ongoing treatment costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary nerve modulation in a single procedure that can provide long-lasting or permanent pain relief. This eliminates the need for continuous pharmaceutical intervention, reducing both treatment duration and long-term costs while maintaining effective pain management
3Ease of operation
If physical therapy is used to treat back pain, then short-term relief is achieved, but treatment must extend over several years increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces repetitive physical therapy with a single energy-based nerve modulation procedure. Instead of requiring months or years of ongoing therapy sessions, the invention uses controlled energy delivery to modulate the basivertebral nerve, providing pain relief that lasts from months to permanently, thereby reducing both treatment duration and cost
4Ease of operation
If external energy source is used to denervate basivertebral nerve, then non-invasive treatment is achieved, but precise targeting of the nerve is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an energy delivery device with imaging guidance as an intermediary system. This device combines fluoroscopic or CT imaging with energy delivery capabilities, enabling real-time visualization and precise targeting of the basivertebral nerve through percutaneous access, thereby achieving both non-invasive treatment and accurate nerve localization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs imaging feedback systems (fluoroscopy, CT, or ultrasound) that provide real-time visualization of the energy delivery device's position relative to the basivertebral nerve. This feedback enables the operator to adjust the device placement and energy delivery parameters to achieve precise nerve targeting while maintaining non-invasive treatment benefits
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
Provides non-invasive, long-term pain relief by modulating the basivertebral nerve, reducing the need for surgical intervention and minimizing recovery time, with the potential for both temporary and permanent nerve conduction block or stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy using an externally positioned energy source (e.g., radiation, ultrasound, microwave source)
Implementation Method 2
delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy using an externally positioned energy source (e.g., radiation, ultrasound, microwave source)
Implementation Method 3
delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy using an externally positioned energy source (e.g., radiation, ultrasound, microwave source)
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for treating back pain associated with a vertebral body of a patient. The system may include an external energy source configured to be positioned at a location external to the body of the patient, a linear configured to drive translation of the external source in one or more axes, a computer coupled to the external source and linear drive and programming executable on said computer for determining a target treatment site within or near the vertebral body based on acquired imaging data, positioning a focal point of the external energy source to substantially coincide with the target treatment site, and delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy at said target treatment site, wherein the treatment dose is configured to modulate a nerve within or near the vertebral body.