Systems and methods for treating a fractured and/or diseased and/or weakened bone
A first tool establishes a percutaneous path into the vertebral body having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. The vertebral body has at least one cortical plate that is depressed due to fracture. A source of bone filling material has a viscosity that resists extravazation into cancellous bone, and a second tool conveys the bone filling material through the percutaneous path to move the fractured cortical plate toward a desired anatomic position. A third tool can be provided that is sized and configured for introduction through the percutaneous path and including an operative element that conditions cancellous bone for the introduction of the bone filling material.
1 . A method comprising
selecting a vertebral body having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone, the vertebral body having at least one cortical plate that is depressed due to fracture,
establishing a percutaneous path into the vertebral body, and
conveying a bone filling material through the percutaneous path to move the fractured cortical plate toward a desired anatomic position, the bone filling material having a viscosity that resists extravazation into cancellous bone.
2 . A method according to claim 1
further including introducing through the percutaneous path a tool that conditions cancellous bone for the introduction of the bone filling material.
3 . A method according to claim 2
wherein the tool comprises an expandable body.
4 . A method according to claim 3
wherein the expandable body expands by inflation.
5 . A method according to claim 3
wherein the expandable body includes an array of elongated bristles.
6 . A method according to claim 2
wherein the tool comprises at least one of a mechanical tamp, reamer, or hole puncher.
7 . A method according to claim 2
wherein the tool compacts cancellous bone.
8 . A method according to claim 2
wherein the tool creates a cavity in cancellous bone.
9 . A method according to claim 1
wherein the bone filling material comprises bone cement.
10 . A method according to claim 1
wherein the bone filling material sets to a hardened condition.
11 . A method according to claim 1
wherein the bone filling material comprises at least one of a bone filler, a bone cement, a synthetic bone substitute, a bone biomaterial, a hydroxyapatite material, a bone mineral material, a thixotropic material, a curable bio-material, allograft tissue, and autograft tissue.
12 . A system comprising
a first tool to establish a percutaneous path into the vertebral body having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone, the vertebral body having at least one cortical plate that is depressed due to fracture,
a source of bone filling material having a viscosity that resists extravazation into cancellous bone, and
a second tool to convey the bone filling material through the percutaneous path to move the fractured cortical plate toward a desired anatomic position.
13 . A system according to claim 12
further including a third tool sized and configured for introduction through the percutaneous path and including an operative element that conditions cancellous bone for the introduction of the bone filling material.
14 . A system according to claim 13
wherein the third tool comprises an expandable body.
15 . A system according to claim 14
wherein the expandable body expands by inflation.
16 . A system according to claim 14
wherein the expandable body includes an array of elongated bristles.
17 . A system according to claim 13
wherein the third tool comprises at least one of a mechanical tamp, reamer, or hole puncher.
18 . A system according to claim 13
wherein the third tool compacts cancellous bone.
19 . A system according to claim 13
wherein the third tool creates a cavity in cancellous bone.
20 . A system according to claim 12
wherein the bone filling material comprises bone cement.
21 . A system according to claim 12
wherein the bone filling material sets to a hardened condition.
22 . A system according to claim 12
wherein the bone filling material comprises at least one of a bone filler, a bone cement, a synthetic bone substitute, a bone biomaterial, a hydroxyapatite material, a bone mineral material, a thixotropic material, a curable bio-material, allograft tissue, and autograft tissue.