US 12303166

US Patent 12303166, titled "Methods for accessing nerves within bone," was filed on July 19, 2024, and issued on May 20, 2025. The patent is assigned to Relievant Medsystems Inc., with inventors Richard Pellegrino, Samit Patel, and Harold Carrison.

The abstract describes methods for ablating a basivertebral nerve (BVN) in a patient's lumbar or sacral vertebral body. This involves selecting an introducer and other instruments based on a pre-surgical evaluation, inserting the introducer through a pedicle of the vertebral body to reach the cancellous bone, and then delivering instruments through the introducer's central channel. A deflectable section of the instruments is advanced to a position near the BVN in the posterior midline section of the vertebral body. Finally, an active element is extended, and energy is delivered to it to ablate a portion of the BVN.

The provided patent text outlines several "inventive embodiments" that function as summaries of the patent's core claims. It's important to note that the provided text does not contain a formal "CLAIMS" section with all numbered claims, thus a complete overview of every independent claim cannot be provided with certainty. However, based on the presented "inventive embodiments," the key independent concepts include:

• System for Channeling a Path into Bone (Embodiment 1): This system comprises a trocar with a central channel and a distal opening, and a curved cannula designed to fit within the trocar. The cannula has a deflectable tip with a preformed curve that straightens when inside the trocar but regains its curve upon exiting, thereby creating a curved path in the bone. The cannula also has a central passageway for delivering a treatment device beyond this curved path.
• Method for Channeling a Path into Bone (Embodiment 10): This method involves inserting a trocar into a bone region near a treatment location. A cannula with a deflectable, preformed curved tip is delivered through the trocar. The tip straightens while in the trocar and curves upon exiting, creating a curved path in the bone. A treatment device is then delivered through the cannula to a location beyond this curved path.
• Kit for Channeling a Path into Bone (Another Aspect): This kit includes a trocar and a selection of cannulas. Each cannula has a deflectable distal tip with a preformed curve that straightens when delivered through the trocar and regains its curve upon exiting, creating a curved path. The cannulas have central passageways for treatment devices, and the set offers cannulas with varying preformed curvatures at their distal tips.

As of the patent's fetch date (June 18, 2026), there is ongoing litigation involving US Patent No. 12,303,166. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) affirmed a district court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by Boston Scientific Corp. and Relievant Medsystems, Inc. against Stryker Corporation. This injunction aimed to prevent the launch of Stryker's OptaBlate BVN spinal ablation device. The dispute specifically concerns whether Stryker's product induced infringement of claims 16 and 21 of the '166 patent. The patent generally covers methods for using a radiofrequency probe to ablate the basivertebral nerve, which is involved in transmitting pain signals from damaged vertebral endplates.