Doctors Information > Cooled-RF Technologies > ThoraCool™ System
The ThoraCool™ Pain Management System
Thoracic Medial Branch Neurotomy
Medial branch denervation using the ThoraCool™ probe
The “Thoracic Safe Zone” directs the introducer towards the vertebral body.
ThoraCool™ Pain Management System For Thoracic Medial Branch Neurotomy
A major challenge in treating chronic, thoracic facet pain comes from the variable course of the medial branch nerve, particularly in the mid-thoracic levels.
The ThoraCool™ Pain Management System overcomes the challenge of the variable nerve course as follows:
- With the ThoraCool™ Pain Management System, a large-volume lesion is created to ablate the targeted nerves using patent-pending Cooled-Radiofrequency technology.
- Medial branch variability is compensated for by the lesion size and position.
- The lesion shape and size is repeatable.
Straightforward Placement
- Introducer is advanced to the target lesion location under fluoroscopic guidance, using a gun-barrel approach.
- Using an ipsilateral oblique approach, the introducer is advanced toward the “Thoracic Safe Zone” to the target location; the “Thoracic Safe Zone” directs the introducer towards the vertebral body.
- Probe placement is confirmed under fluoroscopy with the radiopaque marker.
- The large, spherical lesions overcome the variability of the medial branch nerve course, disrupting the pain signals.
The ThoraCool™ Probe
- Internally water-cooled radiofrequency (RF) probe allows for the creation of optimal, large-volume, spherical lesions.
- Cooling maintains the desired temperature at all times, and produces the desired lesion shape and size, while eliminating tissue charring at the probe tip.
- The temperature sensor at the end of the probe tip ensures an appropriate thermal gradient in the target tissue.
- A radiopaque marker is located at the proximal end of the active tip. This marker defines the lesion location under fluoroscopy, confirming position and enhancing visualization.