Methods of denervating vertebral body using external energy source
Systems and methods are disclosed for treating back pain associated with a vertebral body of a patient. The system may include an external energy source configured to be positioned at a location external to the body of the patient, a linear configured to drive translation of the external source in one or more axes, a computer coupled to the external source and linear drive and programming executable on said computer for determining a target treatment site within or near the vertebral body based on acquired imaging data, positioning a focal point of the external energy source to substantially coincide with the target treatment site, and delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy at said target treatment site, wherein the treatment dose is configured to modulate a nerve within or near the vertebral body.
1. A method for treating back pain of a body of a subject, the method comprising:
positioning a focal point of an external energy source to align with a portion of a nerve that travels within a vertebral body at a location outside the vertebral body,
wherein the external energy source is positioned external to the body of the subject; and
delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy sufficient to denervate the portion of the nerve.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic energy comprises radiation energy.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic energy comprises ultrasonic energy.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the ultrasonic energy comprises high-intensity focused ultrasonic energy.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external energy source comprises a plurality of energy sources.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve is a branch of a sinuvertebral nerve.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertebral body is of a lumbar vertebra.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertebral body is of an S1 vertebra.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the focal point based on imaging.
10. A method for treating back pain of a subject, the method comprising:
positioning a focal point of an external energy source to align with a portion of a nerve that travels within a vertebral body at a location outside the vertebral body,
wherein the external energy source is positioned external to a body of the subject; and
delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy sufficient to permanently block conduction along the portion of the nerve.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the therapeutic energy comprises radiation energy.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic energy comprises ultrasonic energy.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the nerve travels through a basivertebral foramen of the vertebral body.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the nerve is a branch of a sinuvertebral nerve.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the vertebral body is of a lumbar vertebra.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the vertebral body is of a sacral vertebra.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining the focal point based on imaging.
18. A method for treating back pain of a subject, the method comprising:
positioning a focal point of an external energy source to align with a portion of a nerve that travels within a vertebral body through a basivertebral foramen,
wherein the external energy source is positioned external to the body of the subject; and
delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy sufficient to modulate the portion of the nerve.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the treatment dose of therapeutic energy is sufficient to ablate the portion of the nerve.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the nerve is a basivertebral nerve, and wherein the focal point is located at a location within the vertebral body.