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:
Nov. 11, 2008
Filed:
Aug. 29, 2003
Andy H. Uchida, Mountain View, CA (US);
Kevin to, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Andy H. Uchida, Mountain View, CA (US);
Kevin To, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
A method of delivering energy to an intervertebral disc includes positioning an energy delivery device adjacent an inner wall of the disc, and shrinking the nucleus pulposus. An energy delivery element of the device is positioned adjacent a bulge in the intervertebral disc. Energy delivery is controlled based on monitored temperature. A device for delivering energy includes a catheter with a distal portion configured to be inserted into a patient and to follow a natural boundary of a patient tissue, and an energy delivery element located at the distal portion for treating tissue. The distal portion includes a braided polymeric material. The catheter has a proximal portion including a tube for transmitted torque to the distal portion. The energy delivery element is a resistive heating coil having a length, e.g., of about 1.5 cm.