The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 15, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 14, 2003
Hugh R. Sharkey, Woodside, CA (US);
John Ashley, San Francisco, CA (US);
Joel Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jeffrey A. Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Le Trong Le, San Jose, CA (US);
Hugh R. Sharkey, Woodside, CA (US);
John Ashley, San Francisco, CA (US);
Joel Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jeffrey A. Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Le Trong Le, San Jose, CA (US);
Oratec Interventions, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
A method of manipulating a disc tissue of an intervertebral disc is described, the disc has a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus. The method includes providing a catheter having a radiofrequency electrode at a distal region of the catheter and a proximal region for externally guiding the distal region of the catheter within an intervertebral disc. The method also includes positioning the electrode at the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus by applying a sufficient force to advance the catheter through the nucleus pulposus to the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus. The force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus. The method further includes delivering energy to the disc tissue using the electrode.