Radionics, Inc.

Other

Sherwood Services Ag

Covidien Ag

Menno E Sluijter

Eric R Cosman, Sr

William J Rittman, Iii

Eric Richard Cosman

Eric R Cosman

William J Rittman

William J Iii Rittman

A method and apparatus for altering a function of neural tissue in a patient. An electromagnetic signal is applied to the neural tissue through an electrode. The electromagnetic signal has a frequency component above the physiological stimulation frequency range and an intensity sufficient to product an alteration of the neural tissue, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain, and a waveform that prevents lethal temperature elecation of the neural tissue during application of the electromagnetic signal to the neural tissue.

Method and apparatus for altering neural tissue function

A method and apparatus for altering a function of neural tissue in a patient. An electromagnetic signal is applied to the neural tissue through an electrode. The electromagnetic signal has a frequency component above the physiological stimulation frequency range and an intensity sufficient to produce an alteration of the neural tissue, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain, and a waveform that prevents lethal temperature elevation of the neural tissue during application of the electromagnetic signal to the neural tissue.

Method and system for neural tissue modification

A method and apparatus are provided for altering a function of tissue in a patient. An electromagnetic signal generated by a signal generator is applied to the tissue to be altered through an electrode. The electromagnetic signal has at least one frequency component above the physiologic stimulation frequency range at an intensity sufficient to produce an alteration of the tissue and a waveform that inhibits temperature elevation to the lethal temperature range of the tissue. Both externally coupled and fully implanted electrode and signal generator systems can be used at tissue sites in various parts of the body.

Modulated high frequency tissue modification

This continuation-in-part patent application follows the original parent patent application which described a general method of denervation of the nerves in and around the intervertebral disc to relieve back pain using heating from a probe which is inserted within the intervertebral disc. The probe in the original application can be connected to a power source to deliver energy to the disc, thereby heating the disc and denervating the nerves associated with the disc, with consequent relief of various kinds of discogenic pain. This continuation-in-part illustrates other embodiments of the invention described in the parent patent application. In particular, it describes other embodiments of heating methods to denervate the disc, as well as thermal cooling or cryogenic methods to denervate the disc. These methods can be either percutaneous or carried out during open interoperative intervention of the disc. Furthermore, we describe in this continuation-in-part an embodiment of the impedance-detecting probes and shafts which were generically described in the parent patent application. The impedance measuring method and devices can help in ascertaining when the thermal probe is in the proper position within the intervertebral disc to make the thermal lesion.

Thermal denervation of an intervertebral disc for relief of back pain

The present invention relates to a technique of relieving back pain by heating of an intervertebral disc. The heating is illustrated by a percutaneous technique where a needle or electrode is inserted into the disc under X-ray or other imaging control and subsequently used to elevate the temperature of the disc. Above a certain temperature, the innervation related to the disc is destroyed to the point that back pain related to that innervation can also be eliminated. Specific examples of methods and apparatus to achieve such disc heating are given. Among the methods are use of radiofrequency heating and direct current heating, use of stimulation and impedance monitoring to improve target control, and the use of temperature monitoring to determine and quantify the appropriate disc temperature to achieve the desired clinical results.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Menno E Sluijter