Doctors Information > TransDiscal™ System


During biacuplasty, two TransDiscal™ Introducers are placed within the disc in a bilateral approach. A TransDiscal™ Probe is inserted through each introducer, placing them into contralateral sides of the posterior intervertebral disc. Once in place, radiofrequency (RF) energy is delivered between the two electrodes in the disc, heating the area between and immediately around the electrodes. RF energy heats the tissue and the internally circulating water cools the tissue in close proximity to the electrodes. This combination creates an ideal heating profile across the posterior disc without excessive heating, lesioning the disc's nociceptors in a controlled fashion.
The TransDiscal™ System uses two electrodes in a bipolar arrangement. The current is concentrated between the two electrodes and creates a “strip” lesion covering the posterior and posterolateral annulus fibrosus. With proper placement, the resulting lesion shape resembles a dumbell.
The internally-cooled TransDiscal™ Probes create large controlled lesions. The cooling allows for greater power to be used while preventing charring of tissue adjacent to the electrode. Thus a large volume of the disc is treated.
Temperature sensors at the electrode tips allow the RF generator to control the power delivery and the rate of electrode cooling.
Placement of the TransDiscal™ Probes is linear and results in minimal disturbance to the disc tissue. The ease of placement of the probes allows for large, reproducible procedures.
The TransDiscal™ System is equipped with optional impedance monitoring that allows for accurate placement of the introducers because impedance varies between different tissue types (i.e. annulus, nucleus). Impedance monitoring, in addition to fluoroscopic imaging and tactile feel allow accurate placement of the electrodes.