Steerable needle assembly for use in vertebral body augmentation

1. A steerable cannula assembly comprising:

an outer cannula having a central lumen extending therethrough, the outer cannula including an articulating portion that curves in response to a force applied to a proximal end of the outer cannula;

an inner cannula having a central lumen extending therethrough, the inner cannula being sized and configured to extend into a portion of the central lumen of the outer cannula, and coupled to a distal end of the outer cannula, wherein a tube-shaped sealing barrier covers at least a portion of an outer surface of the inner cannula;

wherein the steering cannula assembly further includes an opening extending through a wall of the outer cannula and a wall of the inner cannula, the opening configured to provide access to the central lumen of the inner cannula.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner cannula is coupled to the outer cannula at the distal end of the outer cannula by at least one of a chemical bond, a thermal bond, and a mechanical bond.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the force applied to the proximal end of the outer cannula results in movement of the proximal end in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the outer cannula.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the articulating portion includes a plurality of grooves and a plurality of corresponding projections, wherein at least two of the plurality of projections are sized and configured to interlock when the articulating portion is in a fully curved state.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner cannula includes a slot extending along a longitudinal axis of the inner cannula.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the inner cannula includes at least two slots extending along a longitudinal axis of the inner cannula,

wherein a support member is provided between each of the slots, the support member comprising a ring-shaped portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the inner cannula and having a having a central lumen extending therethrough.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a handle operably coupled to the outer cannula and the inner cannula, the handle including:

a body portion fixedly engaged to a proximal end of the inner cannula;

a ratchet assembly for applying the force to the proximate end of the outer cannula and moving the proximal end in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the outer cannula; and

a lever operably coupled to the ratchet assembly.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , further including a first connector coupled to a proximal end of the outer cannula, the first connector having a central lumen extending therethrough, and an outer surface sized and configured to matingly engage a ratchet assembly associated with the handle.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the outer surface of the first connector includes a projection sized and configured to engage an interior surface of the handle.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a second connector coupled to a proximal end of the inner cannula, the second connector including a central lumen extending therethrough.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the outer surface of the second connector includes a recess and a collar sized and configured to engage a body portion of a handle.

12. A method for treating a body using an steerable cannula assembly, the method comprising:

inserting an articulating cannula into an interior body, the articulating cannula including an outer cannula and an inner cannula extending into a central lumen of the outer cannula, the outer cannula coupled to the inner cannula at their distal end, wherein a tube-shaped sealing barrier covers at least a portion of an outer surface of the inner cannula, and further wherein the steerable cannula assembly further includes an opening extending through a wall of the outer cannula and a wall of the inner cannula, the opening configured to provide access to the central lumen of the inner cannula;

selectively adjusting the articulating cannula to cause a portion of the articulating cannula to curve;

augmenting the interior body; and

withdrawing the articulating cannula from the interior body.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting the articulating cannula includes:

maintaining a position of a proximal end of the inner cannula with respect to the steerable cannula assembly; and

applying a force to the outer cannula in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the outer cannula.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting the articulating cannula further includes:

apply the force to the outer cannula such that a width of a plurality of grooves located on the outer cannula is decreased; and

applying the force to the outer cannula such that a plurality of corresponding projections located on the outer cannula interlock when the articulating cannula is in a fully curved position.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting the articulating cannula further includes:

maintaining a position of the proximal end of the inner cannula such that a slot extending along a longitudinal axis of the inner cannula provides a flexation point for the inner cannula.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting the articulating cannula further includes:

coupling a ratchet assembly to the outer cannula such that variable action of the ratchet assembly corresponds to a complimentary force applied to the outer cannula.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing a treatment element through the articulating cannula and into the interior body,

wherein the treatment element comprises at least one of an inflatable body and a filler material, the filler material comprising at least one of a bone cement, bone chips, demineralized bone, or an implant.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

selectively adjusting the articulating cannula to create a cavity in the interior body.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

inserting the articulating cannula through a pedicle of a vertebrae and into a body of the vertebrae.

20. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the articulating cannula is introduced into the interior body via an introducer cannula, such that a distal end of the articulating cannula extends beyond a distal end of the introducer cannula and into the interior body.