Systems, apparatus, and methods for treating spinal tissue and other body
structures in open and endoscopic spine surgery to relieve symptoms, such
as neck or back pain. In particular, the present invention provides
methods for the controlled heating of various tissues in or around the
vertebral column, including various interspinous tissues, such that spinal
ligaments and cartilage surrounding the vertebrae and the facet joints are
shrunk or tightened to stabilize the vertebral column of a patient.
Thermal energy is applied to the target tissue in a subablation mode of an
electrosurgical system to cause shrinkage of the tissue, thereby
stiffening the interspinous tissue and stabilizing the vertebral column.
In an exemplary embodiment, a high frequency RF voltage can be applied
between one or more active electrode(s) and one or more return
electrode(s) to heat a target interspinous tissue to within a temperature
range at which irreversible shrinkage of the tissue occurs.
