Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removal of materials from a body. The apparatus comprises an elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end. The apparatus further comprises a shaft having at least one outwardly extending projection for conveying tissue through the lumen of the elongate member. The shaft is rotatably disposed within the lumen. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end, and the distal end of the shaft is recessed proximally relative to the aperture of the elongate member when the shaft is fully disposed within the lumen of the elongate member.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for removal of material from a patient's body. The method generally comprises the steps of providing an apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving material. The elongate member defines a lumen and comprises a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end. The apparatus further comprises an elongate tissue removal member for conveying material through the lumen. The tissue removal member is rotatably disposed within the lumen. The method further comprises gathering a sample of said material into said lumen; and conveying with said tissue removal member at least a portion of the material sample proximally along said lumen. The step of gathering may be accomplished by advancing the apparatus through the material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removal of material from a body. The apparatus comprises an elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the elongate member defines an aperture. The apparatus further comprises a tissue removal member. The tissue removal member comprises a shaft rotatably disposed within the lumen of the elongate member. The apparatus further comprises a rigid cannula for inserting the elongate member into a patient's body. The cannula defines a lumen for receiving the elongate member, and has a proximal open end and a distal open end communicating with the lumen of the cannula.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for removal of tumor tissue from a patient's body. The method generally comprises the steps of providing an apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving tissue. The elongate member defines a lumen and comprises a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end. The apparatus further comprises an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through the lumen. The tissue removal member is rotatably disposed within the lumen. The method further comprises gathering a sample of said tissue into said lumen; and conveying with said tissue removal member at least a portion of the tissue sample proximally along said lumen. The step of gathering may be accomplished by advancing the apparatus through the tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for removal of material from a body. The apparatus comprises an elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a proximal end and a distal end defining an aperture. The elongate member defines at least one slot extending proximally from the distal end of the elongate member. The apparatus further comprises a tissue removal member for conveying material through the lumen of the elongate member. The tissue removal member is rotatably disposed within the lumen of the elongate member. The tissue removal member has a proximal end and a distal end, and the distal end is recessed proximally relative to the aperture of the elongate member when the tissue removal member is fully disposed within the lumen of the elongate member.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for introduction of materials into a patient's body. The method generally comprises providing an elongate member for introducing the material. The elongate member definines a lumen and comprises a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end. The method further comprises the steps of positioning the elongate member at a target site of a patient's body; providing a motorized device at least partially disposed within the lumen; and introducing the material through the lumen into the target site using the motorized device.

Abstract: Methods of treating the sacroiliac region of a patient's body by delivering energy are described. In some embodiments, the method comprises the steps of: inserting at least one probe into the sacroiliac region, the probe comprising at least one energy delivery device; positioning the at least one energy delivery device adjacent material to be treated; and delivering energy through the at least one energy delivery device to create a longitudinal strip lesion; wherein the at least one energy delivery device remains in a substantially static position during creation of the strip lesion. In some embodiments, energy may be delivered to treat at least two branches of the sacral nerves or to create an intra-articular lesion.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus comprising an energy source operable to concurrently provide a first signal and a second signal, said first and second signals having different frequencies; and a signal processor operable to receive a third signal from a patient's body, to process said third signal, and to produce an output based on a processing of said third signal; wherein said third signal is an evoked potential generated by said patient's body in response to a delivery of said second signal to said patient's body.

Abstract: A treatment method is disclosed for treating a bodily tissue utilizing one or more steps of removal of material as well as one or more steps of energy delivery in order to effectively treat the bodily tissue. These mechanisms of treatment may beneficially be used to induce separate treatment effects, for example to treat both the symptoms and the underlying cause of a specific pathological condition. In addition, a specific application of the inventive method is described for using the inventive method to treat an intervertebral disc.

Abstract: A novel medical probe assembly, system, and methods for the use thereof to treat tissue are described. The system optionally comprises an energy source, two probe assemblies, and one or more cooling devices to provide cooling to at least one of the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies may be configured in a bipolar mode, whereby current flows preferentially between the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies and system described herein are particularly useful to deliver radio frequency energy to a patient's body. RF energy delivery may be used for various applications, including the treatment of pain, tumor ablation and cardiac ablation.

Abstract: A novel medical probe assembly, system, and methods for the use thereof to treat tissue are described. The system optionally comprises an energy source, two probe assemblies, and one or more cooling devices to provide cooling to at least one of the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies may be configured in a bipolar mode, whereby current flows preferentially between the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies and system described herein are particularly useful to deliver radio frequency energy to a patient's body. RF energy delivery may be used for various applications, including the treatment of pain, tumor ablation and cardiac ablation.

Abstract: A medical probe assembly, system, and methods for the use thereof to treat tissue are described. The system optionally comprises an energy source, two internally-cooled probe assemblies, and one or more cooling devices to provide cooling to at least one of the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies may be configured in a bipolar mode, whereby current flows preferentially between the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies and system described herein are particularly useful to deliver radio frequency energy to a patient's body. RF energy delivery may be used for various applications, including the treatment of pain, tumor ablation and cardiac ablation.

Abstract: An intradiscal lesioning device for percutaneous treatment of a patient's intervertebral disc. An elongate introducer having a longitudinal hollow bore is surgically inserted from the patient's skin to extend through the annulus fibrosus thereby providing external surgical access to the nucleus pulposus through the introducer bore. An elongate probe slides through and flexibly conforms to the bore when longitudinally inserted through the bore of the introducer. The distal portion of the probe is capable of resiliently conforming to the bore in a longitudinally slidably confined configuration and resiliently rebounding to a deployed configuration when released within the nucleus pulposus. The distal portion houses lesioning devices for emitting energy toward the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus when the distal portion is in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: An intradiscal lesioning device for percutaneous treatment of a patient's intervertebral disc. An elongate introducer having a longitudinal hollow bore is surgically inserted from the patient's skin to extend through the annulus fibrosus thereby providing external surgical access to the nucleus pulposus through the introducer bore. An elongate probe slides through and flexibly conforms to the bore when longitudinally inserted through the bore of the introducer. The distal portion of the probe is capable of resiliently conforming to the bore in a longitudinally slidably confined configuration and resiliently rebounding to a deployed configuration when released within the nucleus pulposus. The distal portion houses lesioning devices for emitting energy toward the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus when the distal portion is in the deployed configuration.