Abstract: A catheter enables real-time light measurements, for example, without limitation, diffuse reflectance, fluorescence, etc., from biological materials, such as tissue (including blood), while performing RF ablation. The catheter tip design isolates illumination and collection paths within the tip electrode such that light for illuminating the tissue of interest (e.g., cardiac tissue or blood) is isolated within the tip electrode from light that returns from the tissue to the catheter tip, and vice versa. Such a design advantageously avoids saturation of the optical detector, and ensures diffusion of the illumination light within the medium of interest. The catheter has a catheter body and a tip electrode with a shell wall and a hollow cavity. The shell wall has at least an illumination opening and a collection opening.

Abstract: A catheter for ablating tissue is provided. The catheter comprises an elongated generally-tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends. An electrode assembly is provided at the distal end of the catheter body. The electrode assembly including a porous electrode arrangement that is generally transverse to the catheter body. The porous electrode arrangement comprises one or more electrodes electrically connected to a suitable energy source and a porous sleeve mounted in surrounding relation to the one or more electrodes and defining an open space between the porous sleeve and the one more electrodes. One or more irrigation openings fluidly connect the open space to a lumen extending through the catheter through which fluid can pass. In use, fluid passes through the lumen in the catheter, through the one or more irrigation openings, into the open space and through the porous sleeve.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for creating channels within bone. One method for treating bone generally includes traversing an elongated member through cancellous bone of a vertebral body along a first generally non-linear path and then retracting the elongated member, thereby leaving a generally non-linear channel. The elongated member then is traversed through the cancellous bone along a second generally non-linear path, which second path does not completely coincide with the first path and then retracted along the second generally nonlinear path, thereby leaving a second generally non-linear channel. Optionally, bone filler material is deployed into the channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for disrupting tissue in the intervertebral disc space that includes a barrier member having a first configuration for insertion into the disc space and a second configuration when deployed within the disc space. The second configuration of the barrier member is adapted to at least partially define a perimeter of a working region within the disc space. The apparatus also includes a tissue disruption tool configured for insertion into the working region.

Abstract: Discectomy or disc preparation system that includes a guide member that is changeable from a deployment configuration for insertion into an intervertebral disc space to a deployed configuration upon being deployed into the intervertebral disc. The system also includes at least one tissue manipulator, such as cutting, scraping and extraction elements, that can be moved or tracked longitudinally along the guide member into and through the intervertebral disc space.

Abstract: A catheter enables real-time light measurements, for example, without limitation, diffuse reflectance, fluorescence, etc., from biological materials, such as tissue (including blood), while performing RF ablation. The catheter tip design isolates illumination and collection paths within the tip electrode such that light for illuminating the tissue of interest (e.g., cardiac tissue or blood) is isolated within the tip electrode from light that returns from the tissue to the catheter tip, and vice versa. Such a design advantageously avoids saturation of the optical detector, and ensures diffusion of the illumination light within the medium of interest. The catheter has a catheter body and a tip electrode with a shell wall and a hollow cavity. The shell wall has at least an illumination opening and a collection opening.

Abstract: A catheter enables real-time light measurements, for example, without limitation, diffuse reflectance, fluorescence, etc., from biological materials, such as tissue (including blood), while performing RF ablation. The catheter tip design isolates illumination and collection paths within the tip electrode such that light for illuminating the tissue of interest (e.g., cardiac tissue or blood) is isolated within the tip electrode from light that returns from the tissue to the catheter tip, and vice versa. Such a design advantageously avoids saturation of the optical detector, and ensures diffusion of the illumination light within the medium of interest. The catheter has a catheter body and a tip electrode with a shell wall and a hollow cavity. The shell wall has at least an illumination opening and a collection opening.

Abstract: A deflectable device, such as a catheter, is provided that includes a hinge that enhances the ability of the device to deflect or bend within a predetermined plane. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A distal segment is provided distal to the distal end of the catheter body. A tubular hinge is provided between the distal end of the catheter body and the proximal end of the distal segment. The hinge has an axis and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The tube includes at least one slot, and preferably a plurality of slots, extending part of the way through the hinge generally transverse to the axis of the hinge.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for creating channels within bone. One method for treating bone generally includes traversing an elongated member through cancellous bone of a vertebral body along a first generally non-linear path and then retracting the elongated member, thereby leaving a generally non-linear channel. The elongated member then is traversed through the cancellous bone along a second generally non-linear path, which second path does not completely coincide with the first path and then retracted along the second generally nonlinear path, thereby leaving a second generally non-linear channel. Optionally, bone filler material is deployed into the channels.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for creating channels within bone. One method for treating bone generally includes traversing an elongated member through cancellous bone of a vertebral body along a first generally non-linear path and then retracting the elongated member, thereby leaving a generally non-linear channel. The elongated member then is traversed through the cancellous bone along a second generally non-linear path, which second path does not completely coincide with the first path and then retracted along the second generally nonlinear path, thereby leaving a second generally non-linear channel. Optionally, bone filler material is deployed into the channels.

Abstract: A deflectable device, such as a catheter, is provided that includes a hinge that enhances the ability of the device to deflect or bend within a predetermined plane. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A distal segment is provided distal to the distal end of the catheter body. A tubular hinge is provided between the distal end of the catheter body and the proximal end of the distal segment. The hinge has an axis and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The tube includes at least one slot, and preferably a plurality of slots, extending part of the way through the hinge generally transverse to the axis of the hinge.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an intravertebral implant into a vertebral body of a vertebra. The apparatus includes a cannula operatively connected to a housing wherein the cannula is adapted for insertion into the vertebral body. The housing includes a drive system for advancing a guide member through the cannula, out of a distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body. Further, the drive system also selectively or simultaneously advances a pushing element that is adapted to push an intravertebral implant along the guide member so that the guide member guides the implant through the cannula, out of the distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body for implantation.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an intravertebral implant into a vertebral body of a vertebra. The apparatus includes a cannula operatively connected to a housing wherein the cannula is adapted for insertion into the vertebral body. The housing includes a drive system for advancing a guide member through the cannula, out of a distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body. Further, the drive system also selectively or simultaneously advances a pushing element that is adapted to push an intravertebral implant along the guide member so that the guide member guides the implant through the cannula, out of the distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body for implantation.

Abstract: A catheter enables real-time light measurements from tissue while performing RF ablation. The tip design isolates illumination and collection paths such that light exits the tip and travels through the tissue before returning to the tip. The catheter has a tip electrode having an exterior shell, an inner layer and a hollow cavity. The inner layer is configured to transmit light outside the tip electrode, and the hollow cavity is configured to receive light. An inner surface of the inner layer has an opaque coating to isolate light injected into the inner layer from light collected in the hollow cavity. A first optical waveguide extends between the catheter body and tip electrode to inject light into the inner layer and illuminate the tissue, and a second optical waveguide extends between the catheter body and tip electrode to collect the recaptured light in the hollow cavity.

Abstract: Discectomy or disc preparation system that includes a guide member that is changeable from a deployment configuration for insertion into an intervertebral disc space to a deployed configuration upon being deployed into the intervertebral disc. The system also includes at least one tissue manipulator, such as cutting, scraping and extraction elements, that can be moved or tracked longitudinally along the guide member into and through the intervertebral disc space.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for creating channels within bone. One method for treating bone generally includes traversing an elongated member through cancellous bone of a vertebral body along a first generally non-linear path and then retracting the elongated member, thereby leaving a generally non-linear channel. The elongated member then is traversed through the cancellous bone along a second generally non-linear path, which second path does not completely coincide with the first path and then retracted along the second generally nonlinear path, thereby leaving a second generally non-linear channel. Optionally, bone filler material is deployed into the channels.

Abstract: A method for treating tissue is provided. The method comprises introducing into a patient the distal end of a catheter. The catheter comprises a catheter shaft comprising an elongated tubing having proximal and distal ends, and a distal shaft comprising a tubing having proximal and distal ends. The distal shaft carries a treatment device along a side of the distal shaft. A hinge is mounted between the distal end of the catheter shaft and the proximal end of the distal shaft. The hinge enhances the ability of the distal shaft to bend relative to the catheter shaft in a single predetermined plane A force is exerted on the distal shaft to cause at least a portion of the treatment device that is along a side of the distal shaft to contact the tissue. The tissue is treated with the treatment device.

Abstract: A catheter for measuring electrical activity and ablating tissue is provided. The catheter comprises an elongated generally-tubular catheter body. A non-retractable electrode assembly is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The electrode assembly comprises a generally tubular ablation electrode formed of a material having shape-memory having a generally straight exposed region and at least one irrigation port in the exposed region through which fluid can pass from the inside to the outside of the ablation electrode. The exposed region is generally transverse to the catheter body. The electrode assembly further comprises a tip at the distal end of the electrode assembly comprising a generally ball-shaped exposed region. First and second distal mapping electrodes are mounted distal to the exposed region of the ablation electrode. At least the first distal mapping electrode, and optionally the second distal mapping electrode, is incorporated into the generally ball-shaped exposed region of the tip.

Abstract: Discectomy or disc preparation system that includes a guide member that is changeable from a deployment configuration for insertion into an intervertebral disc space to a deployed configuration upon being deployed into the intervertebral disc. The system also includes at least one tissue manipulator, such as cutting, scraping and extraction elements, that can be moved or tracked longitudinally along the guide member into and through the intervertebral disc space.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an intravertebral implant into a vertebral body of a vertebra. The apparatus includes a cannula operatively connected to a housing wherein the cannula is adapted for insertion into the vertebral body. The housing includes a drive system for advancing a guide member through the cannula, out of a distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body. Further, the drive system also selectively or simultaneously advances a pushing element that is adapted to push an intravertebral implant along the guide member so that the guide member guides the implant through the cannula, out of the distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body for implantation.