Method for manipulating intervertebral tissue

1. A method of manipulating intervertebral tissue comprising:

inserting at least one abrading member for abrading tissue into an area to be cleared;

expanding at least one expandable member from a first condition to a second condition, wherein the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the second condition is greater than the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the first condition;

pushing with the at least one expandable member against a portion of the at least one abrading member which is not attached to the at least one expandable member by the expansion of the at least one expandable member;

moving the portion of the at least one abrading member from a first position to a second position by the pushing with the at least one expandable member;

manipulating the inserted at least one abrading member to loosen tissue; and

removing the loosened tissue from the area to be cleared.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

inserting comprises inserting the at least one abrading member through a cannula into the area; and

expanding comprises delivering a fluid from a fluid reservoir to the at least one expandable member at a pressure sufficient to expand the at least one expandable member from the first condition to the second condition.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

aspirating the area with the fluid.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing aspiration fluid to the area through a conduit located within a conduit used to provide expansion media to the at least one expandable member.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the inserted at least one abrading member comprises rotating the at least one abrading member from the first position to the second position.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after manipulating the inserted at least one abrading member:

expanding the inserted at least one expandable member from the second condition to a third condition, wherein the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the third condition is greater than the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the second condition;

moving the inserted at least one abrading member from the second position to a third position by the expansion of the at least one expandable member to the third condition;

manipulating the at least one abrading member in the third position to loosen additional tissue; and

removing the additionally loosened tissue from the area to be cleared.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

reducing the at least one expandable member from the second condition to a third condition, wherein the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the second condition is greater than the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the third condition;

moving at least one abrading member from the second position to a fourth position by the reduction of the at least one expandable member; and

removing the reduced at least one expandable member from the area.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

guiding the inserted at least one expandable member to a desired location within the area with a guide rod.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein guiding comprises:

controllably deforming the guide rod between a first shape and a second shape.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the guide rod is controllably deformed prior to insertion within a cannula.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the guide rod is controllably deformed after passing through a cannula.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein expanding comprises:

inserting a segmented media into the at least one expandable member.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the portion of the at least one abrading member from the first position to the second position comprises:

rotating the portion of the at least one abrading member about a hinge portion of the at least one abrading member .

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the portion of the at least one abrading member from the first position to the second position comprises:

rotating the portion of the at least one abrading member away from a longitudinal axis of the expandable member.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the portion of the at least one abrading member from the first position to the second position comprises:

rotating the portion of the at least one abrading member away from a first position whereat a longitudinal axis of the expandable member intersects the portion of the at least one abrading member.

16. A method of manipulating intervertebral tissue comprising:

inserting a plurality of arcuate abrading members for abrading tissue into an area to be cleared;

expanding at least one expandable member from a first condition to a second condition, wherein the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the second condition is greater than the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the first condition;

moving the inserted plurality of arcuate abrading members from a first position whereat the plurality of arcuate abrading members encircle the at least one expandable member to a second position whereat the plurality of arcuate abrading members do not encircle the at least one expandable member by the expansion of the at least one expandable member;

manipulating the inserted at least one abrading member to loosen tissue; and

removing the loosened tissue from the area to be cleared.