Device and method for alleviation of pain

Abstract

A target-treating system treats a target disposed within a bone of a patient. The system comprises a probe configured to be inserted into the bone and navigated therethrough toward the target. The probe comprises a shaft that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a main body extending between and interconnecting the proximal end and the distal end. The distal end is configured to engage the target such that, upon activation of the probe, the target is treated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A target-treating system configured to treat a target disposed within a bone of a patient, said system comprising:
 a probe configured to be inserted into the bone and navigated therethrough toward the target,   said probe comprising a shaft that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a main body extending between and interconnecting the proximal end and the distal end,   said distal end configured to engage the target such that, upon activation of the probe, the target is treated,   said main body including an obstruction-avoidance portion configured such that incidental damage to a sensitive biological structure by the shaft is at least in part avoided,   said obstruction-avoidance portion including a proximal section, a distal section at least in part transversely offset relative to the proximal section, and an intermediate section extending between and interconnecting the proximal and distal sections,   said proximal section and said intermediate section defining a proximal bend,   said intermediate section and said distal section defining a distal bend oriented such that the proximal bend and the distal bend are generally oppositely oriented.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 said distal end comprising an electrode,   said probe being an electrocautery device configured to ablate the target by means of electricity flowing through said electrode.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 at least one of said proximal bend and said distal bend configured to circumvent the sensitive biological structure.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 said proximal, distal, and intermediate sections each being at least substantially straight, such that said proximal bend defines a proximal angle and said distal bend defines a distal angle.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 ,
 said proximal and distal angles being at least substantially right angles.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 ,
 said proximal and distal angles being at least substantially obtuse angles.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 ,
 said proximal and distal sections being at least substantially parallel.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 said proximal and distal sections being at least substantially curved, such that the obstruction-avoidance portion is at least substantially S-shaped.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 said shaft extending generally longitudinally such that the distal end is spaced longitudinally from the proximal end.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 ,
 said intermediate section of the obstruction-avoidance portion extending generally transversely and being spaced longitudinally from the distal end by between about 5 mm and about 30 mm.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 ; and
 a depth limiter projecting generally laterally from the shaft,   said depth limiter configured to prevent over-insertion of the probe into the bone.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 ; and
 a temperature sensor disposed on the shaft, said sensor configured to sense a temperature adjacent the sensitive biological structure.   
     
     
         13 . A target-treating system configured to treat a target disposed within a bone of a patient, said system comprising:
 a probe configured to be inserted into the bone and navigated therethrough toward the target,   said probe comprising a shaft that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a main body extending between and interconnecting the proximal end and the distal end,   said distal end configured to engage the target such that, upon activation of the probe, the target is treated,   said main body including an obstruction-avoidance portion configured such that incidental damage to a sensitive biological structure by the shaft is at least in part avoided,   said obstruction-avoidance portion including intersecting, at least substantially straight proximal and distal shaft segments defining an obtuse angle therebetween.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 ,
 said angle being between about 120 degrees and about 160 degrees.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 ,
 said distal shaft segment abutting the distal end.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 ,
 said angle being defined between about 5 mm and about 30 mm from the distal end.   
     
     
         17 . A target-treating system configured to treat a target disposed within a bone of a patient, said system comprising:
 a probe configured to be inserted into the bone and navigated therethrough toward the target,   said probe comprising a shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, and a main body extending between and interconnecting the proximal end and the distal end,   said distal end configured to engage the target such that, upon activation of the probe, the target is treated; and   a depth limiter projecting generally laterally from the shaft and configured to prevent over-insertion of the probe into the bone.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 ,
 said depth limiter comprising a plurality of arcuately spaced apart, generally radially extending prongs.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 ,
 said depth limiter being generally toroidal.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 ,
 said depth limiter being immovably fixed relative to the shaft.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 ,
 said depth limiter projecting generally orthogonally relative to the shaft.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 ,
 said shaft extending generally longitudinally such that the distal end is spaced longitudinally from the proximal end,   said depth limiter being spaced longitudinally from the distal end by between about 5 mm and about 30 mm.   
     
     
         23 . A method of treating a target disposed within a bone of a patient, said bone presenting a generally anterior face, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) maneuvering a probe to circumvent a sensitive biological structure, such that incidental damage thereto by the probe is at least in part avoided during the course of said maneuvering;   (b) inserting the probe into the generally anterior face of the bone in a generally anterior-to-posterior direction;   (c) navigating the probe through the bone toward the target;   (d) engaging the target with a distal end of the probe; and   (e) activating the probe such that the target is treated.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , step (e) comprising the step of ablating the target. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 said distal end comprising an electrode,   step (e) comprising the step of supplying electricity to the electrode.   
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 ,
 wherein step (a) is completed prior to commencement of step (e), such that the probe circumvents the sensitive biological structure during step (e).   
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 23 ,
 said probe comprising a shaft that includes an obstruction-avoidance portion,   step (a) including the step of guiding the obstruction-avoidance portion relative to the sensitive biological structure such that the obstruction-avoidance portion circumvents the sensitive biological structure during at least step (e).   
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 23 ,
 said target being selected from the group consisting of a nerve, a tumor, a vascular malformation, a stress fracture, and a neurovascular structure.   
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 28 ,
 said bone being a vertebra,   said target being a basivertebral nerve.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 ,
 said sensitive biological structure being selected from the group consisting of a fluid-filled structure, a component of the alimentary canal, a component of the lymphatic system, an artery, a vein, and a neural structure.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 ,
 said incidental damage including but not limited to thermal damage to and/or prolonged retraction of said sensitive biological structure.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 ,
 step (c) including the step of penetrating the bone by a distance of between about 5 mm and about 30 mm.