Intervertebral disc device employing looped probe

Abstract

An intervertebral disc device is provided comprising a probe capable of being extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, the probe forming a loop when extended from the distal end of the introducer, the loop having first and second proximal ends external to the introducer which are brought together adjacent the introducer distal end to form the loop by the proximal ends being either attached to or entering the distal end of the introducer; and a proximal handle for externally causing the probe to be extended from the distal end of the introducer and externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc.

1 .- 39 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         40 . An intervertebral device comprising: 
 a sheath configured to be extended into an intervertebral disc from an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of the intervertebral disc, the sheath being predisposed to adopting a bent configuration when extended from the introducer;    a probe adapted to be extended from the sheath; and    a handle coupled to the probe for guiding the probe within the intervertebral disc.    
     
     
         41 . The intervertebral disc device according to  claim 40  wherein: 
 a distal section of the sheath is predisposed to adopting the bent configuration, and  
 the bent distal section of the sheath causes the probe to adopt the same bent configuration.  
 
     
     
         42 . The intervertebral disc device according to  claim 40  wherein the probe is adapted to be extended from a distal end of the sheath.  
     
     
         43 . The intervertebral disc device according to  claim 40  wherein: 
 a section of the sheath is predisposed to adopting the bent configuration, and  
 the sheath causes the probe to adopt the same bent configuration inside of the section when the section has adopted the bent configuration.  
 
     
     
         44 . The intervertebral disc device according to  claim 40  wherein the sheath is mechanically predisposed to adopting the bent configuration inside of the intervertebral disc.  
     
     
         45 . The intervertebral disc device according to  claim 40  further comprising the introducer.  
     
     
         46 . The intervertebral disc device according to  claim 40  wherein the sheath causes the probe to adopt a bent configuration.  
     
     
         47 . An intervertebral disc device according to  claim 40  wherein a distal section of the probe comprising one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other positioned longitudinally along the length of the distal section of the probe, the electrodes being adapted to deliver bipolar electromagnetic energy to tissue within the intervertebral disc.  
     
     
         48 . An intervertebral disc device according to  claim 47  wherein the distal section of the probe is predisposed to forming a loop.  
     
     
         49 . An intervertebral disc device according to  claim 40  wherein a distal section of the probe is predisposed to forming a loop when extended from the distal end of the introducer, the looping portion of the probe comprising an active electrode and a return electrode which are positioned on the probe such that the active and return electrodes are on opposing sides of the probe loop.  
     
     
         50 . An intervertebral disc device comprising: 
 a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising separate active and return electrode elements, the active and return electrode elements having free ends which are predisposed to bending away from each other when extended from the distal end of the introducer; and    a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc.    
     
     
         51 . An intervertebral disc device according to  claim 50  wherein the probe further comprises a flexible neck that causes the probe to bend as the probe is advanced within the intervertebral disc, and the flexible neck is predisposed to bending in opposing directions along a single plane relative to a longitudinal axis of the probe.  
     
     
         52 . An intervertebral disc device according to  claim 50  wherein the probe further comprises a flexible neck that causes the probe to bend as the probe is advanced within the intervertebral disc, and the flexible neck has at least one flat surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the neck.  
     
     
         53 . An intervertebral disc device according to  claim 50  wherein the probe further comprises a distal tip that is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the probe.