Abstract: A medical device and method of using the device to reinforce and stabilize a compressed tissue is disclosed. The medical device comprises a shaft with a single blade that is biased with a bend, but is elastic enough to be straightened. The end of a cannula is inserted into a tissue, and the blade and shaft are then inserted into a cannula to straightens the blade and direct it to the tissue site. When the blade reaches the tissue site, the blade naturally returns to its bent biased state, and the shaft and blade are then rotated to pulp a volume of tissue. A binding material is then injected into the pulped tissue without removing the tissue.

Abstract: An integrated catheter shaft with a guidewire and a radio frequency wire is used in a catheter to deliver radio frequency energy to a treatment site. The small entry wound and the long integrated catheter shaft allows a user to thread the shaft along a tortuous route along a spinal canal to reach a treatment site while causing a minimal amount of trauma to the patient.

Abstract: A medical device and method of using the device to reinforce and stabilize a compressed tissue is disclosed. The medical device is inserted into the tissue, typically a vertebral bone, cuts the tissue inside, and then a binding cement is injected into the pulped tissue without removing the tissue. The medical device is designed to disrupt and pulp the tissue without exerting a compressive force against the walls by using thin blades that buckle away from the core, and by rotating the blades while expanding/contracting the blades at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices and medical methods, in particular, devices and methods useful for stabilizing fractures of long bones. In one embodiment, the present invention is a device comprising a housing having a lumen; a plunger having a proximal portion and a distal portion, where the plunger is disposed within the lumen and is movable relative to the housing; a plurality of blades, where the blades can expand radially from the axis of the housing; and a manipulator functionally connected to the plunger, wherein the manipulator is operable to: move the plunger relative to the housing; expand the blades radially from the axis of the housing; and move the blades about the axis of the plunger.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices and medical methods, in particular, devices and methods useful for stabilizing compression fractures of the spine. In one embodiment, the present invention is a device comprising a housing having a lumen; a plunger having a proximal portion and a distal portion, where the plunger is disposed within the lumen and is movable relative to the housing; a plurality of blades, where the blades can expand radially from the axis of the housing; and a manipulator functionally connected to the plunger, wherein the manipulator is operable to: move the plunger relative to the housing; expand the blades radially from the axis of the housing; and move the blades about the axis of the plunger.

Abstract: An integrated catheter shaft with a guidewire and a radio frequency wire is used in a catheter to deliver radio frequency energy to a treatment site. The small entry wound and the long integrated catheter shaft allows a user to thread the shaft along a tortuous route along a spinal canal to reach a treatment site while causing a minimal amount of trauma to the patient.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus includes a hollow needle having an open, sharpened tip at its distal end. A cannula is telescopically disposed within the needle. The cannula has a closed, blunt tip at its distal end, a hollow lumen, and an open proximal end. The cannula is made of a flexible metal material and has an insulating material covering except at its distal portion defining the distal end. A metallic wire capable of transmitting radio frequency (RF) energy is telescopically disposed within the cannula. The cannula lumen has a seating surface for accommodating the distal end of the wire. The cannula distal end is capable of extending beyond the needle so that the blunt tip may be seated in a critical treatment region in a patient's spinal canal without damaging any nerves. A method of treating a patient's pain includes a step of inserting the catheter apparatus into a critical treatment region in the spinal canal of the patient.

Abstract: A medical device and method of using the device to reinforce and stabilize a compressed tissue is disclosed. The medical device comprises a shaft with a single blade that is biased with a bend, but is elastic enough to be straightened. The end of a cannula is inserted into a tissue, and the blade and shaft are then inserted into a cannula to straightens the blade and direct it to the tissue site. When the blade reaches the tissue site, the blade naturally returns to its bent biased state, and the shaft and blade are then rotated to pulp a volume of tissue. A binding material is then injected into the pulped tissue without removing the tissue.

Abstract: An integrated catheter shaft with a guidewire and a radio frequency wire is used in a catheter to deliver radio frequency energy to a treatment site. The small entry wound and the long integrated catheter shaft allows a user to thread the shaft along a tortuous route along a spinal canal to reach a treatment site while causing a minimal amount of trauma to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices and medical methods, in particular, devices and methods useful for stabilizing fractures of long bones. In one embodiment, the present invention is a device comprising a housing having a lumen; a plunger having a proximal portion and a distal portion, where the plunger is disposed within the lumen and is movable relative to the housing; a plurality of blades, where the blades can expand radially from the axis of the housing; and a manipulator functionally connected to the plunger, wherein the manipulator is operable to: move the plunger relative to the housing; expand the blades radially from the axis of the housing; and move the blades about the axis of the plunger.

Abstract: A medical device and method of using the device to reinforce and stabilize a compressed tissue is disclosed. The medical device is inserted into the tissue, typically a vertebral bone, cuts the tissue inside, and then a binding cement is injected into the pulped tissue without removing the tissue. The medical device is designed to disrupt and pulp the tissue without exerting a compressive force against the walls by using thin blades that buckle away from the core, and by rotating the blades while expanding/contracting the blades at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices and medical methods, in particular, devices and methods useful for stabilizing compression fractures of the spine. In one embodiment, the present invention is a device comprising a housing having a lumen; a plunger having a proximal portion and a distal portion, where the plunger is disposed within the lumen and is movable relative to the housing; a plurality of blades, where the blades can expand radially from the axis of the housing; and a manipulator functionally connected to the plunger, wherein the manipulator is operable to: move the plunger relative to the housing; expand the blades radially from the axis of the housing; and move the blades about the axis of the plunger.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus includes a hollow needle having an open, sharpened tip at its distal end. A cannula is telescopically disposed within the needle. The cannula has a closed, blunt tip at its distal end, a hollow lumen, and an open proximal end. The cannula is made of a flexible metal material and has an insulating material covering except at its distal portion defining the distal end. A metallic wire capable of transmitting radio frequency (RF) energy is telescopically disposed within the cannula. The cannula lumen has a seating surface for accommodating the distal end of the wire. The cannula distal end is capable of extending beyond the needle so that the blunt tip may be seated in a critical treatment region in a patient's spinal canal without damaging any nerves. A method of treating a patient's pain includes a step of inserting the catheter apparatus into a critical treatment region in the spinal canal of the patient.