Figure1 Perc DLR SpineWand

Figure1 Perc DLR SpineWand removing tissue in the nucleus of disc

Figure1 Decompressed disc with nerve root compression relieved

Percutaneous Disc Decompression with the Perc™ SpineWand™(DISC Nucleoplasty®)

Percutaneous disc decompression has been shown to treat symptoms caused by contained herniated discs. The Perc SpineWand is the latest scientific advancement in tools to perform disc decompression.

The SpineWand is a minimally invasive probe used to create accurate one-millimeter pathways into the disc.

To perform the procedure, a micro-engineered alloy transmitter is introduced into the disc while the patient is awake, requiring only a topical anesthetic and light sedation. Radio wave signals are sent through the transmitter into the jelly-like nucleus of the herniated disc. The radio waves produce a low-temperature ionized gas that breaks up molecular bonds in the spongy nucleus, removing tissue volume.

When the procedure is complete, the transmitter is withdrawn. The removal of nucleus tissue relieves pressure on the disc shell, typically allowing the bulge to recede so that the disc no longer irritates the adjacent nerve root.

Fast and effective
Normally, the entire procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes, and the patient is ready to walk out of the clinic in about an hour with no hospital stay required. DISC Nucleoplasty, a form of percutaneous disc decompression, is designed to offer a fast-acting option to drug therapies and steroid injections, on the one hand, and a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery, on the other.

Clinically Proven Technology
The Perc SpineWand used in this procedure is an FDA-cleared device, and is a clinically proven treatment with over 45,000 patients treated. The radio wave technology used in DISC Nucleoplasty was developed by ArthroCare, and has been used successfully for years in over 4 million procedures such as knee and shoulder surgery and tonsillectomy.

Using the same proven technology, DISC Nucleoplasty percutaneous disc decompression reduces the volume of the spongy nucleus within the herniated disc. The disc typically returns to a more natural shape, and the source of nerve root irritation is either minimized or eliminated in most cases, allowing the patient to resume their life.

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Patient brochure
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