Systems and methods for injecting flowable materials into bones

1. A method of treating bone comprising

inserting an insertion device having an axis percutaneously into a vertebral body having a cortical wall enclosing a cancellous bone volume,

inserting a cavity-forming device through the insertion device into an area of the cancellous bone volume in the vertebral body,

manipulating the cavity-forming device to form a cavity in the cancellous bone volume, the cavity being void of cancellous bone,

inserting a tool through the insertion device into the cavity, the tool having a flexible dispensing end devoid of elastic, shape-memory material and being sized and configured for placement within the cavity to dispense a volume of filling material in the cavity,

coupling to the dispensing end a portion of elongated flexible steering structure, the steering structure being devoid of elastic shape-memory material, and

dispensing a volume of filler material into the cavity through the dispensing end including causing deflection of the dispensing end of the tool within the cavity using the steering structure.

2. A method according to claim 1

wherein the filler material is a flowable material capable of setting to a hardened condition.

3. A method according to claim 1

wherein inserting the cavity-forming device comprises providing an expandable structure and inserting the expandable structure through the insertion device in a non-expanded condition into the cancellous bone volume, and

wherein manipulating the cavity-forming device comprises expanding the expandable structure within the cancellous bone volume to form the cavity.

4. A method according to claim 3

wherein the expandable structure comprises a balloon.

5. A method according to claim 3

wherein the expandable structure expands by inflation.

6. A method according to claim 1

wherein manipulating the cavity-forming device comprises compacting cancellous bone to form the cavity.

7. A method according to claim 6

wherein compacting cancellous bone includes exerting a force in the cancellous bone to move fractured cortical bone.

8. A method according to claim 1

wherein manipulating the cavity-forming device includes exerting a force in the cancellous bone volume to move fractured cortical bone.

9. A method according to claim 1

wherein dispensing the volume of filler material into the cavity includes rotating the dispensing end within the cavity.

10. A method according to claim 1

wherein inserting the tool through the insertion device into the cavity includes providing the dispensing end of the tool with at least one radiological marker, and

wherein deflecting the dispensing end of the tool within the cavity includes monitoring deflection of the dispensing end within the cavity by radiologic visualization.

11. A method of treating bone comprising

forming a cavity within cancellous bone enclosed by a cortical wall of a vertebral body,

inserting a flexible dispensing end of a tool into the cavity, the tool having incorporated therein a steering structure having a portion coupled to the dispensing end, the steering structure and the dispensing end being devoid of elastic shape-memory material,

using the steering structure to deflect the dispensing end within the cavity, and

dispensing a volume of filler material into the cavity through the deflected dispensing end therein.

12. A method according to claim 11

wherein the steering structure extends through an interior portion of the dispensing end.

13. A method according to claim 12

wherein the steering structure comprises at least one elongated flexible member fixedly secured to the dispensing end.

14. A method according to claim 13

wherein the at least one elongated flexible member is a wire.