Steerable Vertebral Nerve Assembly for Minimally Invasive RF Ablation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatments for chronic back pain, such as physical therapy, pharmacological therapy, and surgical intervention, are costly, addictive, temporary, or ineffective, and do not provide adequate relief for most patients, with only a small percentage being surgically eligible.

Innovation Solution

A steerable assembly comprising an elongate member and a hypotube, which can deflect between configurations, is used to access and treat the basivertebral nerve within the vertebral body, delivering bipolar radiofrequency energy to modulate or ablate the nerve, thereby reducing pain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing treatments (physical therapy, pharmacological therapy, surgical intervention) are used for chronic back pain, then pain relief may be achieved for some patients, but the treatments are costly, addictive, temporary, or ineffective for the majority of patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment applicability to different patients

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment approach segments the complex problem of chronic back pain by targeting specific anatomical structures (basivertebral nerves) within the vertebral body, allowing for precise intervention rather than generalized treatment. This segmentation enables tailored therapy that addresses the specific source of pain in individual patients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using image-guided techniques and specialized delivery systems to access and treat the basivertebral nerves. This intermediary methodology bridges the gap between diagnostic imaging and therapeutic intervention, enabling precise treatment delivery that overcomes the limitations of conventional treatments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If surgical intervention is used for chronic back pain, then pain relief may be achieved, but only a small percentage of patients are surgically eligible and the procedure is invasive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidinvasiveness of treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical surgical intervention with a minimally invasive image-guided approach. Instead of open surgery, the system uses fluoroscopic or CT guidance to deliver treatment through small incisions, substituting complex mechanical surgery with a more precise, less invasive methodology that maintains effectiveness while reducing harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment approach changes the parameters of intervention by targeting the basivertebral nerves specifically within the vertebral body, rather than performing general spinal surgery. This parameter change in target location and intervention type enables effective pain relief while minimizing invasiveness and expanding patient eligibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If existing treatments are used for chronic back pain, then some patients may experience relief, but the treatments are costly and require long recovery times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing image-guided targeting and nerve identification before delivering the treatment. This preliminary localization ensures that the intervention is precisely placed on the basivertebral nerves, reducing the need for extensive intraoperative adjustment and accelerating the overall recovery process while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 steerable assembly effectively navigates the vertebral body to reach the basivertebral nerve, providing targeted treatment that reduces or eliminates chronic back pain, offering a more effective and less invasive alternative to existing therapies.

Implementation Method 1

delivering bipolar radiofrequency energy to modulate or ablate the nerve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiofrequency energy: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

ablate the nerve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAblation: Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS20260026858A1Steerable assembly for treating a vertebral body

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 RELIEVANT MEDSYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A system for treating a basivertebral nerve in a vertebral body of a patient includes an introducer having a central channel and a steerable assembly sized for passable through the central channel. The introducer is configured to pass through the cortical bone of the vertebral body and into the cancellous bone of the vertebral body, and the steerable assembly has a first configuration and a deflected configuration. The steerable assembly includes an elongate member and a hypotube over a portion of the elongate member. The elongate member has a proximal end and a distal portion and is deflectable between the first configuration and the deflected configuration, and the hypotube has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal portion of the elongate member is configured to engage the distal end of the hypotube.