Radio frequency catheter to target ligamentum flavum

1. A device for performing a surgical procedure comprising:

an elongated shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end and includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a passageway;

a stylet configured for moveable disposal within the passageway of the elongated shaft and the stylet includes a blunt distal tip configured for disposal outside the distal end of the elongated shaft and to prevent damage to adjacent tissue;

an expandable member including a proximal end and a distal end comprising a ring-shaped member, wherein the expandable member comprises a plurality of elongated strips that are spaced apart from one another, the strips each comprising an inner surface having a proximal end that is fixed to the outer surface of the elongate shaft at the distal end of the elongated shaft and a distal end that engages an outer surface of the ring-shaped member, the ring-shaped member comprising an inner surface defining an opening, the blunt distal tip being positioned within the opening such that the blunt distal tip cannot pass through the opening to connect the expandable member to the stylet; and

at least one electrode disposed with the expandable member.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the expandable member includes a wall defining a thickness and the at least one electrode is disposed within the thickness of the wall.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the expandable member includes an outer surface and the at least one electrode is disposed on the outer surface.

4. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the expandable member includes an inner surface and the at least one electrode is disposed on the inner surface.

5. A device as recited in claim 1 , further including a cooling mechanism in communication with a liquid pumping system and configured for disposal with the expandable member.

6. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode is configured to emit a RF signal to ablate tissue.

7. A device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the RF signal is configured to be maintained at a subablative controlled temperature.

8. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft defines a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft and the stylet is configured to move relative to the elongated shaft in a first direction along the longitudinal axis to expand the expandable member and to move relative to the elongated shaft in an opposite second direction along the longitudinal axis to collapse the expandable member.

9. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the device includes a balloon disposed within the expandable member and configured to distract an interiaminar space.

10. A device for ablating tissue comprising:

a cannula extending between a proximal end and a distal end and includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a passageway;

a stylet configured for moveable disposal within the passageway of the cannula and the stylet includes a blunt distal tip configured for disposal outside the distal end of the cannula and to prevent damage to adjacent tissue;

an expandable cage including a proximal end and a distal end comprising a ring-shaped member, wherein the expandable cage comprises a plurality of elongated strips that are spaced apart from one another, the strips each comprising an inner surface having a proximal end that is fixed to the outer surface of the cannula at the distal end of the cannula and a distal end that engages an outer surface of the ring-shaped member, the ring-shaped member comprising an inner surface defining an opening, the blurt distal tip being positioned within the opening such that the blunt distal tip cannot pass through the opening to connect the expandable cage to the stylet; and

at least one RF electrode disposed with the expandable cage.

11. A device as recited in claim 10 wherein the expandable cage includes a wall defining a thickness and the at least one RF electrode is disposed within the thickness of the wall.

12. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the expandable cage includes an outer surface and the at least one RF electrode is disposed on the outer surface.

13. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the expandable cage includes an inner surface and the at least one RF electrode is disposed on the inner surface.

14. A device as recited in claim 10 , further including a cooling mechanism in communication with a liquid pumping system and configured for disposal with the expandable cage.

15. A device as recited, in claim 10 , wherein a RF signal emitted by the at least one RF electrode is configured to be maintained at a subablative controlled temperature.

16. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the stylet is configured to expand and collapse the expandable cage.

17. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the device includes a balloon disposed within the expandable cage and configured to distract an interlaminar space.

18. A method for ablating tissue at a surgical site comprising:

providing a device comprising:

a cannula extending between a proximal end and a distal end and includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a passageway;

a stylet configured for moveable disposal within the passageway of the cannula and the stylet includes a blunt distal tip configured for disposal outside the distal end of the cannula and to prevent damage to adjacent tissue;

an expandable cage including a proximal end and a distal end comprising a ring-shaped member, wherein the expandable cage comprises a plurality of elongated strips that are spaced apart from one another, the strips each comprising an inner surface having a proximal end that is fixed to the outer surface of the cannula at the distal end of the cannula and a distal end that engages an outer surface of the ring-shaped member, the ring-shaped member comprising an inner surface defining an opening, the blunt distal tip being positioned within the opening such that the blunt distal tip cannot pass through the opening to connect the expandable cage to the stylet; and

at least one RF electrode disposed with the expandable cage; creating an access path to the surgical site;

inserting the expandable cage into the surgical site and extending the stylet to expand the expandable cage; and

emitting RF signals through the at least one RF electrode to thermally ablate tissue.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 , further including manipulating a balloon to move bone and create a void, wherein the balloon is disposed within the expandable cage and configured to distract an interlaminar space.