METHODS FOR TREATING THE THORACIC REGION OF A PATIENT'S BODY

1 . A method of treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body, the method comprising:

positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and

cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cooling and the delivering energy cooperate to form a lesion at least substantially distal to the energy delivery portion.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cooling and the delivering energy cooperate to form a lesion at a location at least between the energy delivery portion and the segment of the thoracic vertebra.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the distance between the energy delivery portion and the segment of the thoracic vertebra is about 0.5 mm to about 4 mm.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the energy delivery portion and the segment of the thoracic vertebra is about 2 mm.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrosurgical device is generally upstanding relative to the segment of the thoracic vertebra.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the electrosurgical device is at an angle of about 15° to about 60° relative to an anterior-posterior axis in a substantially cranial direction.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the electrosurgical device is at an an angle of about 45° relative to an anterior-posterior axis in a substantially cranial direction.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the electrosurgical device is at an angle of about 15° relative to an anterior-posterior axis in a substantially cranial direction.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the segment of the thoracic vertebra comprises a superior-lateral aspect of a transverse process.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the energy delivery portion is positioned at a location in the region bounded by

a superior margin of the transverse process,

an inferior margin of a superjacent transverse process,

an anterior margin of the transverse process and an anterior margin of the superjacent transverse process,

a posterior margin of a spinous process of the thoracic vertebra,

an inferior articular process of the thoracic vertebra and a superior articular process of a superjacent thoracic vertebra

a lateral margin of the transverse process and a lateral margin of the superjacent transverse process.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the segment of the thoracic vertebra comprises a centroid region of a transverse process.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the segment of the thoracic vertebra comprises a centroid region of a transverse process the method further comprising:

inserting an introducer apparatus into the patient's body, the apparatus comprising a cannula and an obturator disposed within a lumen of the cannula, the obturator protruding from a distal end of the cannula;

positioning the apparatus such that a distal tip of the obturator abuts a segment of a thoracic vertebra;

removing the obturator from within the cannula; and

inserting an electrosurgical device within the cannula.

14 . The method of claim 12 further comprising positioning the introducer apparatus within an intertransverse space, prior to inserting the electrosurgical device within the cannula.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein positioning the introducer apparatus within the intertransverse space comprises:

moving the apparatus from the centroid region in a substantially cranial direction until the intertransverse space is reached.

16 . The method of claim 14 , the method further comprising:

placing a depth stopper on the cannula adjacent to the surface of the patient's skin and partially withdrawing the apparatus prior to moving the apparatus; and

advancing the apparatus until the depth stopper is adjacent to the patient's skin, after moving the apparatus.

17 . A method of treating a nerve in the thoracic region of a patient's body, the method comprising:

positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a region where the nerve is likely to be found, at a distance from the region, the region being located substantially distal to the energy delivery portion; and

cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy from the energy delivery portion to form a lesion at the nerve.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lesion is formed at least substantially distal to the energy delivery portion.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the nerve innervates a thoracic facet joint.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the nerve is a medial branch of the thoracic dorsal ramus nerve.

21 . A method of treating a thoracic region of a patient's spine, the method comprising:

inserting a first electrosurgical device at a segment of a transverse process of a first thoracic vertebra;

moving the first electrosurgical device in a substantially cranial direction until a distal tip of the first electrosurgical device slips over a superolateral aspect of the transverse process;

inserting a second electrosurgical device at a segment of a second thoracic vertebra adjacent to the first thoracic vertebra;

moving the second electrosurgical device in a substantially caudal direction until a distal tip of the second electrosurgical device slips over the inferiolateral aspect of the transverse process; and

delivering energy between the first electrosurgical device and the second electrosurgical device in a bipolar manner while substantially cooling the first electrosurgical device and the second electrosurgical device.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the cooling and the delivering energy cooperate to form a lesion substantially between the first electrosurgical device and the second electrosurgical device.