Surgical procedure for inserting a device between anatomical structures
A surgical procedure according to which a member containing a material is inserted between two anatomical structures; and the member is caused to change state and expand into engagement with at least one of the structures.
1 . A surgical procedure comprising:
inserting a member containing a material between two anatomical structures; and
causing the material to change state.
2 . The procedure of claim 1 wherein the change of state causes the material to expand into engagement with at least one of the structures.
3 . The procedure of claim 2 wherein the expansion causes distraction of the structures.
4 . The procedure of claim 1 wherein the material changes from a fluid to a solid material.
5 . The procedure of claim 4 further comprising the step of distracting the structures prior to the step of inserting.
6 . The procedure of claim 1 wherein the material changes state due to a chemical reaction.
7 . The procedure of claim 6 further comprising introducing a reagent into the member that reacts with the fluid to cause the chemical reaction.
8 . The procedure of claim 1 wherein the material is a fluid and the fluid changes state to a solid.
9 . The procedure of claim 8 wherein the step of causing comprises applying a mechanical force to the fluid to cause it to change state.
10 . The procedure of claim 8 wherein the step of causing comprises applying heat to the fluid to cause it to change state.
11 . The procedure of claim 1 wherein the material changes state due to a thermal-mechanical chemical reaction.
12 . The procedure of claim 1 wherein the material changes state due to an external stimuli.
13 . The procedure of claim 12 wherein the external stimuli is an electrical signal.
14 . The procedure of claim 12 wherein the external stimuli is an ultrasonic signal.
15 . The procedure of claim 12 wherein the external stimuli is a mechanical means.
16 . The procedure of claim 12 wherein the external stimuli is electromagnetic waves.
17 . The procedure of claim 12 wherein the external stimuli is a thermal source.
18 . A surgical procedure comprising:
inserting a member containing a solid material between two anatomical structures; and
causing the solid material to change to a gas and expand into engagement with at least one of the structures.
19 . The procedure of claim 18 wherein the solid material changes to a gas due to an external stimuli.
20 . The procedure of claim 18 wherein the solid material changes to a gas due to a chemical reaction.
21 . The procedure of claim 20 further comprising introducing a chemical to the member to cause the chemical reaction.