Ultrasound device for treatment of a tumor in a region of intervertebral disc tissue

摘要

An ultrasound device and method for the treatment of intervertebral disc tissue for remediation of back pain. An applicator comprises a catheter and/or needle with a distal tip including one or more ultrasound transducer crystals. The crystals produce high-powered ultrasound energy that is transmitted and absorbed in the disc tissue. The resulting temperature elevation of the disc tissue shrinks the collagen fibers in the surrounding tissue, and/or destroying small nerves that may have invaded and innervated the surrounding degenerated tissue, and can provide increased structural integrity and disc support for the fragmented nucleus pulposus to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.

主权项

1. A minimally invasive applicator device for treatment of a tumor in a region of vertebral tissue, comprising:
an insertion device having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the tumor tissue, the insertion device being structurally robust for direct insertion into a targeted area of intervertebral disc tissue without damage or misalignment; an ultrasound transducer device coupled to the distal end of the applicator wherein the ultrasound transducer device includes an array of a plurality of transducer crystals arranged in a straight line defined by an axis enclosed by each of the plurality of transducer crystals disposed sequentially and longitudinally adjacent each other along the axis to form a customized flexible array along the applicator device, thereby enabling ultrasound radiative output treatment outward from the axis of the transducer crystals of an extended region of specific size and shape of the intervertebral disc tissue; and an external RF power generator electrically connected to the ultrasound transducer device, the generator providing power to the ultrasound transducer device, wherein each of the plurality of transducer crystals has a non-circular cross-section.