Devices, systems and methods are provided for accessing and treating anatomies associated with a variety of conditions while minimizing possible complications and side effects. This is achieved by directly neuromodulating a target anatomy associated with the condition while minimizing or excluding undesired neuromodulation of other anatomies. Typically, this involves stimulating portions of neural tissue of the central nervous system, wherein the central nervous system includes the spinal cord and the pairs of nerves along the spinal cord which are known as spinal nerves. In particular, some embodiments of the present invention are used to selectively stimulate portions of the spinal nerves, particularly one or more dorsal root ganglions (DRGs), to treat chronic pain while causing minimal deleterious side effects such as undesired motor responses.

The implantable nerve blocking intervention involves performing a first subdermal incision on the ventral lateral portion of the patient's thorax. A first end of a tunneling device is inserted through the first subdermal incision. The tunneling device is traversed below the patient's dermal layer towards the mid axillary line. The tunneling device is traversed above the lower section of the rib cage towards the patient's paralumbar line. A longitudinal paramidline incision is performed about 3 inches lateral to the vertebral body and the tunneling device. A needle or trocar tip is inserted through the paramidline incision towards a primitive cluster of nerves and a catheter is placed through the needle or trocar which is removed prior to anchoring the catheter. A catheter tube is inserted through the length of the tunneling device. The catheter tube is coupled to the distal catheter. The tunneling device is retracted over the catheter tube. The catheter tube is coupled to a percutaneous access port.

A portable and passive safety intraosseous device to allow for direct introduction of medications, etc., within the intermedullary space of a subject patient's bone or, if needed, the removal of certain substances from such a subject patient's bone. Such a device permits direct drilling and placement of a cannula within the subject bone with access external to the subject patient's skin, permitting, as well, connection of a tube for such introduction/removal purposes. The ability to provide a passive safety unit allows for facilitated utilization in, for instance, emergency situations with the entire device provided for utilization thereof. The device includes a drilling component with a permanently attached stylet and a removable cannula, a power supply for a single drilling operation, a mechanism to draw the stylet back into the drill component after use and disengagement from the cannula, and an automatic closure that activates with the separation of the cannula.

The present invention teaches apparatuses, systems and methods for performing a variety of medical procedures, including those involving introducing one or more substances into a subject's body. In some embodiments, the invention teaches automatically performing guided injections into a tissue site (e.g. spinal cord) of a subject by using one or more electronically operated components including a cannula, a syringe pump, and a stereotactic device.

An introducer assembly includes an elongate sheath sized for insertion into a blood vessel of a patient and a hub. The hub can be coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath and can include a first hub portion and a second hub portion. The hub can include various features to facilitate breaking apart or separating the introducer assembly from a patient. For example, the first hub portion can have a first notch which can facilitate breaking, splitting, or fracturing the hub. The second hub portion can partially surround the first hub portion and can include two wings and an opening disposed above the first notch. The first hub portion can be formed from a first material and second hub portion can be formed from a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can be stiffer than the first material to facilitate fracturing the hub.

Identifying target anatomic locations in a subject's body, and delivering medicinal substances thereto, following transtissual progression (penetrating, cutting through body tissue) and reaching body tissue with medical device distal tip. Involves acquiring mechanical properties of body tissue. Exemplary medicinal substance is, or includes, a drug (anesthetic agent), and exemplary target anatomic location is epidural space in subject's body. Exemplary system includes: cannular member enclosing cannula lumen; pusher-probe having distal end in cannula lumen and positionable from retracted to protruding positions, wherein pusher-probe distal end protrudes out of cannula distal end; and extending mechanism including cam member, a follower shiftable from first to second stations on cam member, and plunger selectively traveling in cannula lumen while forcing relative motion between cam member and follower, wherein pusher-probe distal end repositions between retracted and protruding positions. Optionally, includes data-information analyzing device having triggering mechanism via a winged hub member and associated components.

A portable and passive safety intraosseous device to allow for direct introduction of medications, etc., within the intermedullary space of a subject patient's bone or, if needed, the removal of certain substances from such a subject patient's bone. Such a device permits direct drilling and placement of a cannula within the subject bone with access external to the subject patient's skin, permitting, as well, connection of a tube for such introduction/removal purposes. The ability to provide a passive safety unit allows for facilitated utilization in, for instance, emergency situations with the entire device provided for utilization thereof. The device includes a drilling component with a permanently attached stylet and a removable cannula, a power supply for a single drilling operation, a mechanism to draw the stylet back into the drill component after use and disengagement from the cannula, and an automatic closure that activates with the separation of the cannula.

A needle that includes an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and an inner wall that defines a through passage, the through passage having a longitudinal central axis. The distal end of the tube includes a bevel having a length and that terminates at a distal tip. The inner wall of the tube has an exposed area in the bevel that is viewable from the top side of the tube. A spiral channel is formed in the inner wall of the tube along at least a portion of the length of the exposed area, the spiral channel having a proximal facing surface configured to reflect ultrasonic waves directed at it.

A spinal treatment method and device are provided. The treatment method includes a catheter introduction step of inserting a balloon catheter into a treatment site between nerves extending from a spine, while being bifurcated, and a lesion area that compresses the nerves; and a treatment step of dilating a balloon, on which anti-inflammatory agent is disposed, of the balloon catheter at the treatment site, and applying the anti-inflammatory agent to the treatment site.

A method for treating spinal nerve compression includes sequential dilation to position an instrument cannula along a patient's spine. Instruments can be delivered through the instrument cannula to remove targeted tissue for a decompression procedure. One of the instruments can be a reamer instrument configured to abrade, cut, or otherwise affect tissue along the patient's spine.