US 12,076,069 B2
Methods and systems for locating and treating nerves with cold therapy
Ann S. Lee, San Francisco, CA (US); Matt Antonelli, Oakland, CA (US); Badier Velji, Mountain View, CA (US); and Jessica Preciado Dummett, Dublin, CA (US)
Assigned to Pacira CryoTech, Inc., Tampa, FL (US)
Filed by Pacira CryoTech, Inc., Parsippany, NJ (US)
Filed on Mar. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/700,036.
Application 17/700,036 is a continuation of application No. 15/594,238, filed on May 12, 2017, granted, now 11,311,327.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/336,241, filed on May 13, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0280218 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 18/02 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/05 (2021.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/0218 (2013.01) [A61B 5/05 (2013.01); A61B 5/4893 (2013.01); A61B 18/02 (2013.01); A61B 18/0206 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0022 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00226 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00434 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00583 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0262 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0293 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cryo-stimulation treatment device, comprising:
a needle having a proximal end and a distal end and a length therebetween, the needle configured to produce a cold zone for focused cold therapy, the needle having a cooling center along the length of the needle that is associated with a center of the cold zone produced by the needle;
an electrically insulated coating disposed about the length of the needle, wherein the needle is electrically conductive and wherein the proximal end of the needle is configured to couple with an electrical nerve stimulation generator that generates an electrical field about the distal end of the needle for electrically stimulating and locating a target nerve;
wherein the cooling center of the needle is uninsulated such that an intensity of the electrical field is co-incident with the center of the cold zone produced by the needle; and
a handle defined by a housing,
wherein the needle is part of a replaceable needle assembly configured for releasable attachment to the handle, wherein the needle assembly incorporates an electrical port that electrically couples with an uninsulated portion of the proximal end of the needle, the electrical port configured to receive an input associated with the electrical nerve stimulation generator to releasably electrically couple the electrical nerve stimulation generator and the needle.