Method and bone cement substitute kit for stabilizing a collapsed vertebra of a patient

1. A method for stabilizing a collapsed vertebra of a patient, the method comprising:

introducing a supercooled liquid into the collapsed vertebra; and

solidifying the supercooled liquid to form a structure that supports the collapsed vertebra.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the supercooled liquid is microencapsulated within a membrane that is substantially impermeable to body fluids.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the supercooled liquid comprises sodium acetate, sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium sulfate, Glauber's salt, organic salt, eutectic salt or a mixture thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the supercooled liquid includes reinforcing means for increasing strength of the structure.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the supercooled liquid includes a radiopacifier allowing for monitoring the supercooled liquid within the collapsed vertebra during the steps of introducing and solidifying the supercooled liquid.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the supercooled liquid includes a thickener for adjusting viscosity of the supercooled liquid.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of solidifying the supercooled liquid includes introducing a seed crystal to the supercooled liquid.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of solidifying the supercooled liquid includes applying an electrical charge to the supercooled liquid.

9. The method according to claim 1 where in the step of solidifying the supercooled liquid includes applying an energy impulse to the supercooled liquid.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the supercooled liquid forms the structure by crystallization which produces a liquid to solid phase-change of the supercooled liquid.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of solidifying the supercooled liquid to form the structure occurs within a time of about 60 seconds.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of introducing the supercooled liquid includes introducing a balloon into the collapsed vertebra and filling the balloon with the supercooled liquid.

13. A method for stabilizing a collapsed vertebra of a patient, the method comprising:

inserting a needle into the collapsed vertebra;

introducing a supercooled liquid from the needle and into the collapsed vertebra;

filling at least a portion of the collapsed vertebra with the supercooled liquid; and

solidifying the supercooled liquid to form a structure that supports the collapsed vertebra.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising reviewing the collapsed vertebra via fluoroscopy to determine if the collapsed vertebra is sufficiently filled with the supercooled liquid.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising placing a balloon into the collapsed vertebra and the step of filling the collapsed vertebra includes filling the balloon with the supercooled liquid.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising sealing the filled balloon.

17. A method for stabilizing a bone of a patient, the method comprising:

introducing a supercooled liquid into the interior of the bone; and

solidifying the supercooled liquid within the bone to form a structure that internally supports the bone.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the bone has a fracture, and the introducing and the solidifying are at least part of a treatment for the fractured bone.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the bone is a vertebra, and the fracture is a compression fracture.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the introducing and the solidifying are at least part of one of a kyphoplasty procedure and a vertebroplasty procedure.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the supercooled liquid includes a thickener for adjusting viscosity, the thickener being added during the introducing.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the supercooled liquid includes a thickener for adjusting viscosity, the thickener being premixed with the supercooled liquid prior to the introducing.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the supercooled liquid includes a thickener for adjusting viscosity, wherein the thickener does not induce premature nucleation of the supercooled liquid.