title: An assessment of a new navigatable percutaneous disc decompression device (l'DISQ) through histologic evaluation and thermo-mapping in human cadaveric discs.
abstract: METHODS
  This is an in vitro experimental study of the technical capability and safety study of a navigable percutaneous disc decompression device named L'DISQ.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to determine if L'DISQ could adequately reach certain target zones in the disc and to measure the distribution of rises in temperature in the surrounding tissue when the device was used to ablate the disc.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placement of the wand of L'DISQ was attempted into the posterior annulus of the discs of four fresh human cadavers. During disc ablation, thermocouple probes were used to measure the temperature within the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus, on the surface of the annulus, and on the posterior longitudinal ligament. Tissues harvested from around the disc were examined histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tip of the wand could be successfully navigated to the posterolateral or posterocentral annulus at all levels above L5-S1 using a lateral approach. Rises in temperature did not exceed 13.25 ± 0.84°C within the disc, and did not exceed 1°C on the surface of the disc. Histology demonstrated no thermal damage to the surrounding neural tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L'DISQ can be successfully navigated to the target zones, and disc tissue ablated without thermal or structural damage to the adjacent neural tissues.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Derby
authors.forename: Lee R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wolfer
authors.forename: Sang Un
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bong Su
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Nack Hwan
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Seok Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017587:Diskectomy, Percutaneous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods