Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft and a probe that extends distally from a distal end of the shaft. The probe includes a distal tip configured to puncture a tissue surface to enter a nerve canal of a patient, and an ablation element operable to ablate a nerve located within the nerve canal. The surgical instrument further includes a stop element arranged proximally of the distal tip. The stop element is configured to abut the tissue surface punctured by the distal tip. In some examples, the ablation element may be in the form of an RF electrode operable to ablate the nerve with RF energy. The surgical instrument may further include a navigation sensor operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location of the probe within the patient.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft and a probe that extends distally from a distal end of the shaft. The probe includes a distal tip configured to puncture a tissue surface to enter a nerve canal of a patient, and an ablation element operable to ablate a nerve located within the nerve canal. The surgical instrument further includes a stop element arranged proximally of the distal tip. The stop element is configured to abut the tissue surface punctured by the distal tip. In some examples, the ablation element may be in the form of an RF electrode operable to ablate the nerve with RF energy. The surgical instrument may further include a navigation sensor operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location of the probe within the patient.