Nimbus Concepts LLC

The purpose of this study is to document the effectiveness of the Nimbus Multi-tined Expandable Electrode (MEE) Probe in carrying out the heating and ablation (cutting) of the small medial branch nerves that carry pain information from the facet joints. Subjects will be selected, by way of clinical evaluation and response to medial branch blocks, to undergo this procedure of radiofrequency ablation/neurotomies of the medial branches to the specific painful facet joints of the low back in order to relieve pain. This will be carried out with an FDA-approved device using a standard technique that has been accepted throughout the world. The difference in this study is that we will make use of MRIs to image the lesion that is produced and a special EMG study to look at the muscles in the back to document the effectiveness of the device in creating the intended lesion. No other study of this kind has been produced to look at this or any other radiofrequency device in the treatment of low back pain.