The field of the invention pertains to medical devices and methods for treating intervertebral disc hernias, and more particularly, to decompressing herniated intervertebral discs using radio frequency (RF) ablation.
The spinal column consists of thirty-three bones called vertebra, the first twenty-four vertebrae of which make up the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine and are separated from each other by “pads” of tough cartilage called “intervertebral discs,” which act as shock absorbers that provide flexibility, stability, and pain-free movement of the spine.
A person may develop any one of a variety of debilitating spinal conditions and diseases. One of the more common spinal conditions results when an intervertebral disc become herniated, as illustrated in
Whether the herniation is contained (in the case of a prolapsed herniation) or not contained (in the case of an extruded or sequestered herniation), the herniated region of the disc often pinches or compresses the adjacent dorsal root 36 against a portion of the vertebra 10, as illustrated in
Often, inflammation from disc herniation can be treated successfully by nonsurgical means, such as bed rest, therapeutic exercise, oral anti-inflammatory medications or epidural injection of corticosterioids, and anesthetics. In some cases, however, the disc tissue is irreparably damaged, in which case, surgery is the best option.
Discectomy, which involves removing all, or a portion, of the affected disc, is the most common surgical treatment for ruptured or herniated discs of the lumbar spine. In most cases, a laminotomy or laminectomy is performed to visualize and access the affected disc. Once the vertebrae, disc, and other surrounding structures can be visualized, the surgeon will remove the section of the disc that is protruding from the disc wall and any other offending disc fragments that may have been expelled from the disc. In some cases, the entire disc may be removed, with or without a bony fusion or arthroplasty (disc nucleus replacement or total disc replacement).
Open discectomy is usually performed under general anesthesia and typically requires at least a one-day hospital stay. During this procedure, a two to three-inch incision in the skin over the affected area of the spine is made. Muscle tissue may be separated from the bone above and below the affected disc, while retractors hold the wound open so that the surgeon has a clear view of the vertebrae and disc and related structures. The disc or a portion thereof, can then be removed using standard medical equipment, such as rongeurs and curettes.
Because open discectomy requires larger incisions, muscle stripping or splitting, more anesthesia, and more operating, hospitalization, and a longer patient recovery time, the trend in spine surgery is moving towards minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as microdiscectomy and percutaneous discectomy.
Microdiscectomy uses a microscope or magnifying instrument to view the disc. The magnified view may make it possible for the surgeon to remove herniated disc material through a smaller incision (about twice as small as that required by open discectomy) with smaller instruments, potentially reducing damage to tissue that is intended to be preserved.
Percutaneous discectomy is often an outpatient procedure that may be carried out by utilizing hollow needles or cannulae through which special instruments can be deployed into the vertebra and disc in order to cut, remove, irrigate, and aspirate tissue. X-ray pictures and a video screen and computer-aided workstation may be used to guide by the surgeon into the treatment region. Improved imaging and video or computer guidance systems have the potential to reduce the amount of tissue removal required to access and treat the injured tissue or structures. Sometimes an endoscope is inserted to view the intradiscal and perivertebral area.
As shown in
A probe 62 with an ablative element 64, which may remove tissue using chemical, mechanical, or thermal/heat (radio frequency energy or laser) means, may then be introduced through the needle 60 and into the disc 12′ to remove nuclear tissue 40 from the center of the disc 12′, as illustrated in
Because the nuclear tissue 40 that is removed from the disc 12′ is relatively far away from the herniated disc portion, the effectiveness of the decompression may be limited. In the case of ablative means that uses RF energy, the amount of tissue ablated is limited by heat dispersion, and must be compensated for by moving the probe 64 within the disc 12′. Increasing generator output has been unsuccessful for increasing lesion diameter, because an increased wattage is associated with a local increase of temperature to more than 100° C., which induces tissue vaporization and charring. This, then, increases local tissue impedance, limiting RF deposition, and therefore heat diffusion and associated coagulation necrosis. The increased temperature may also have risk of nerve injury.
There, thus, remains a need to provide an improved means for percutaneously treating herniated intervertebral discs using RF tissue ablation.
A method of treating an intervertebral disc is provided. The method comprises introducing a probe with an electrode into contact with the nucleus pulposus of the disc. In one method, the probe may be percutaneously introduced into the disc, but may alternatively be introduced into the disc in any one of a variety of other manners. The method further comprises conveying radio frequency ablation energy from the electrode into the nucleus pulposus of the disc. For example, if the disc has a herniated region, the electrode can be placed into contact with the nucleus pulposus within the herniated region (e.g., by steering the electrode), and the ablation energy can be conveyed directly into the herniated region. The electrode can also be placed into contact near the center region of the disc, in which case, the ablation energy can be conveyed into the center region. In any event, tissue is removed, which may decompress the disc or provide some other therapeutic result. The method further comprises circulating a cooling medium through the probe in thermal contact with the electrode. The cooling fluid may be chilled, e.g., to a temperature of 5° C.-10° C., or may be at room temperature. In one method, the cooling medium is circulated into thermal contact with the electrode during the ablation process. By cooling the electrode, tissue is more efficiently ablated from the disc.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present inventions, a method of treating an intervertebral disc having a herniated region is provided. The herniated region may be contained or not contained. The method comprises introducing a probe into contact with the disc. In one method, the probe may be percutaneously introduced into the disc, but may alternatively be introduced into the disc in any one of a variety of other manners. The probe has a steerable distal tip and an ablative element located on the distal tip. The method further comprises steering the distal tip of the probe into contact with the nucleus pulposus in the herniated region (e.g., by operating a steering mechanism on the probe), and conveying ablation energy from the ablative element directly into the herniated region. The ablation energy may be RF ablation energy, or some other type of ablation energy, such as laser or mechanical energy. A cooling medium can optionally be circulated through the probe in thermal contact with the ablative element.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The drawings illustrate the design and utility of preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures. In order to better appreciate how the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the present inventions are obtained, a more particular description of the present inventions briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The cannula 102 comprises a shaft 112 having a distal end 114 and proximal end 116, a lumen 118 (shown in phantom) terminating in an exit port 120 at the distal end 114 of the cannula shaft 112, and a handle 122 mounted on the proximal end 116 of the cannula shaft 112. The handle 122 defines an entry port 124 in communication with the cannula lumen 118. To facilitate introduction through tissue, the cannula shaft 112 is preferably stiff (e.g., it can be composed of a stiff material, or reinforced with a coating or a coil to control the amount of flexing), so that the cannula shaft 112 can penetrate the tissue without being damaged. The materials used in constructing the cannula shaft 112 may comprise any of a wide variety of biocompatible materials. In a preferred embodiment, a radiopaque material, such as metal (e.g., stainless steel, titanium alloys, or cobalt alloys) or a polymer (e.g., ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) may be used, as is well known in the art. Alternatively, if supported by a rigid member during introduction into the tissue, the cannula shaft 112 may be flexible. The handle 122 is preferably composed of a durable and rigid material, such as medical grade plastic, and is ergonomically molded to allow a physician to more easily manipulate the cannula 102.
The outer diameter of the cannula shaft 112 is preferably less than ½ inch, but other dimensions for the outer diameter of the cannula shaft 112 may also be appropriate. The cannula lumen 118 should have an inner diameter so as to allow the tissue ablation probe 104 to be slidably housed therein, as will be described in further detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the profile of the cannula lumen 118 is circular, but can be other shapes as well. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal tip of the cannula shaft 112 tapered or sharpened to facilitate its introduction through tissue. Alternatively, the distal tip of the cannula shaft 112 is blunt, in which case, a stylet (not shown) can be introduced through the cannula lumen 118 to provide an independent means for boring through tissue. In this manner, tissue cores will not block the cannula lumen 118, which may otherwise prevent, or at least make difficult, deployment of the tissue ablation probe 104.
The ablation probe 104 comprises an elongated shaft 126 having a distal end 128 and a proximal end 130. The diameter of the probe shaft 126 is sized to fit through the lumen 118 of the cannula 102, while the length of the probe shaft 126 is sized, such that its distal end 128 extends out from the exit port 120 of the cannula 102 when the probe 104 is fully introduced into the cannula 102. The probe shaft 126 is composed of a suitable plastic material, such as polyurethane, nylon, Pebax®, Hytrel®, etc. The distal end 128 of the probe shaft 126 is preferably stiff enough, so that it can be guided through the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc without collapsing. For example, the distal end 128 of the probe shaft 126, or the entire length of the probe shaft 126, can include a braid (not shown) composed of a suitable material, such as Nylon or Kevlar, to increased its rigidity. The probe shaft 126 need not be capable of penetrating the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc, since access to the nucleus pulposus will be provided via the cannula 102.
The ablation probe 104 further comprises a RF ablation electrode 132 mounted on the distal end 128 of the probe shaft 126. In the illustrated embodiment, the ablation electrode 132 takes the form of a hollow tip metal conducting cup mounted on the distal extremity of the probe shaft 126. In particular, as illustrated in
The probe 104 further comprises means for delivering RF ablation energy to the ablation electrodes 132, 142. In particular, as illustrated in
The probe 104 further comprises means for cooling the tip electrode 132 during the ablation process. In particular, the probe 104 comprises a pair of cooling and return lumens 152, 154 that extend through the probe shaft 126 in fluid communication with the cavity 136 of the tip electrode 132. As will be described in further detail below, a cooling medium can be conveyed through the cooling lumen 152 into the cavity 136 of the tip electrode 132. Heat generated in the tip electrode 132 during the ablation process is then absorbed into the cooling medium within the cavity 136, which is then conveyed out of the cavity 136, through the return lumen 154. As can be seen in
The probe 104 further comprises means for steering the distal end 128 of the probe shaft 126. In particular, the probe 104 comprises a pair of steering wire lumens 156 and a pair of steering wires 158 that extend through the lumens 156, terminating in plugs (not shown) suitably bonded at the distal ends of the lumens 156.
Referring back to
The RF generator 106 may be a conventional RF power supply that operates at a frequency in the range from 200 KHz to 1.25 MHz, with a conventional sinusoidal or non-sinusoidal wave form. Such power supplies are available from many commercial suppliers, such as Valleylab, Aspen, and Bovie. Most general purpose electrosurgical power supplies, however, operate at higher voltages and powers than would normally be necessary or suitable for vessel occlusion. Thus, such power supplies would usually be operated at the lower ends of their voltage and power capabilities. More suitable power supplies will be capable of supplying an ablation current at a relatively low voltage, typically below 150V (peak-to-peak), usually being from 50V to 100V. The power will usually be from 20 W to 200 W, usually having a sine wave form, although other wave forms would also be acceptable. Power supplies capable of operating within these ranges are available from commercial vendors, such as Boston Scientific Corporation of San Jose, Calif., who markets these power supplies under the trademarks RF2000 (100 W) and RF3000 (200 W).
The pump assembly 108 comprises means for introducing a cooling medium into the cooling lumen 152 of the probe 104 via the handle 164. In particular, the pump assembly 108 comprises a tank 180, which contains a cooling medium 182, e.g., cooled saline solution, and a cooling pump 184. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling medium 182 is cooled to a temperature ranging from 5° C. to 10° C. It should be appreciated liquids other than a saline solution can be utilized if desired. Also, the cooling medium 182 with the tank 180 may be maintained at other temperatures, e.g., room temperature. The cooling pump 184 comprises an inlet tubular member 186 in fluid communication with the tank 180 and an outlet tubular member 188 that is connected to the luer connector 174 of the tubular member 170 extending from the handle 164. Thus, it can be appreciated that operation of the cooling pump 184 conveys the cooling medium 182 from the tank 180, through the cooling lumen 152 within the probe shaft 126, and into cavity 136 of the tip electrode 132. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling pump 184 delivers the cooling medium 182 to the probe 104 at a predetermined pressure, as measured by the pressure gauge 190.
In order to reduce the pressure of the cooling medium 182 in the probe 104, the pump assembly 108 further comprises means for withdrawing the cooling medium 182 from the return lumen 154 of the probe 104 via the handle 164. In particular, the pump assembly 108 comprises a return pump 192 with an outlet tubular member 194 in fluid communication with the tank 180 and an inlet tubular member 196 that is connected to the luer connector 176 of the tubular member 172 extending from the handle 164. Thus, it can be appreciated that operation of the return pump 192 conveys the cooling medium 182 (along with the heat absorbed from the tip electrode 132) from the cavity 136 of the tip electrode 132, through the return lumen 154, and back into the tank 180.
Further details on the construction of the tissue ablation system 100, as well as alternative embodiments, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,927, which is fully and expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Having described the structure of the tissue ablation system 100, its operation will now be described with reference to
Next, the tissue ablation probe 104 is mated to the RF generator 106 and the pump assembly 108, which are then operated to ablate tissue within the center of the nucleus pulposus 40, thereby decompressing the disc 12′ (
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that the above discussion is not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages of the invention shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment of the present invention is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments of the present invention even if not so illustrated. Thus, the present invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.