CANNULATED SYSTEMS
Access to the interior of the knee portion of the leg may be obtained through a cannula. The cannula may be inserted into a incision. The cannula may stretch the viscoelastic material of tissues forming the knee portion of the leg. Insertion of the cannula into the incision may expand the incision. The cannula may be expanded to facilitate movement of implants through the cannula. The implant may be formed of two or more portions, which may facilitate movement of the implant through the cannula. After the plurality of portions of the implant have been moved through the incision, portions of the implant may be interconnected to form a unitary implant.
1 . A cannulated system for a joint of a body, the system comprising:
a cannulated instrument having a passage and configured to be positionable into and expand a portion of the body;
a cutting tool configured to pass into a portion of the passage in the cannulated instrument and cut a bone of the joint; and
an arthroplasty component configured to be positionable into the cannulated instrument and with respect to the joint.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a cannula.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a retractor.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a pneumatic retractor.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein viscoelastic tissue is expanded.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the joint includes a knee joint.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the joint includes a vertebral joint.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the joint is imaged by an MRI, x-ray, fluoroscopic, arthroscopic, endoscopic, or fiber optic imaging device.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cannulated instrument is malleable.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cannulated instrument is malleable when heated.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a biodegradable material.
12 . A cannulated system for a joint of a body, the system comprising:
a cannulated instrument having a passage and configured to be positionable into and expand a portion of the body;
a cutting tool configured to pass into a portion of passage of the cannulated instrument and cut a bone of the joint;
a first arthroplasty component configured to be positionable with respect to the joint; and
a second arthroplasty component configured to positionable with respect to the joint or the first arthroplasty component;
wherein the first and second arthroplasty components are configured to be connectable in the body.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a cannula.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a retractor.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a pneumatic retractor.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the tissue includes viscoelastic tissue.
17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the joint includes a knee joint.
18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the joint includes a vertebral joint.
19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first or second arthroplasty component is configured to be imaged by an MRI, x-ray, fluoroscopic, arthroscopic, endoscopic, or fiber optic imaging device.
20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cannulated instrument is malleable.
21 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cannulated instrument is malleable when heated.
22 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a biodegradable material.
23 . A cannulated system for a joint of a body, the system comprising:
a cannulated instrument having a passage and configured to be positioned into and expand a portion of the body; and
an arthroplasty component configured to a shape of a surface of the joint and to pass through at least a portion of the cannulated instrument.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a cannula.
25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a refractor.
26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the cannulated instrument includes a pneumatic retractor.
27 . The method of claim 23 , wherein viscoelastic tissue is expanded.