Device and method for delivering a curable material into bone

1. A cannula device for delivering a curable material, such as bone cement, into bone as part of a curable material delivery system, the device comprising:

a delivery cannula defining:

an open, proximal end in and extending through a hub;

a proximal length that is longitudinally straight and that defines a longitudinal axis;

a deflectable segment including memory metal material, disposed opposite the proximal end, and terminating in a distal end; and

a delivery cannula lumen extending from the proximal end, at least one distal end region orifice fluidly connected to the lumen,

wherein the deflectable segment forms a curved shape in longitudinal extension and has a shape memory characteristic such that the deflectable segment is configured to assume a substantially longitudinally straightened form generally along the longitudinal axis when subjected to a force and naturally revert to the curved shape upon removal of the force;

where the curved shape of the deflectable segment including memory metal material is temperature-dependent, being configured such that, at a first elevated temperature, greater than an initial temperature at which the deflectable segment including memory metal material is in its substantially longitudinally straightened form, the memory metal is configured such that the distal segment forms a first curved shape having a first degree of curvature out of the longitudinal axis, and at a second elevated temperature, greater than the first elevated temperature, the memory metal is configured such that the distal segment forms a second curved shape having a second degree of curvature out of the longitudinal axis.

2. The system of claim 1 , where the initial temperature is about 15° C. to about 38° C.

3. The system of claim 1 , where the first elevated temperature is about 20° C. to about 23° C.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to provide heat energy to the delivery cannula.

5. The system of claim 4 , where said controller includes indicia corresponding to the temperature and/or curvature desired for the delivery cannula.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least a third elevated temperature, greater than the first and second elevated temperatures, where the memory metal is configured such that the distal segment forms a third curved shape having a third degree of curvature out of the longitudinal axis, greater than the first and second degrees of curvature.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a guide cannula including a guide cannula lumen that receives the delivery cannula and that is sufficiently more rigid that the delivery cannula to exert a restraining force that keeps the delivery cannula in its substantially longitudinally straightened form when the delivery cannula is in the guide cannula.

8. They system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of side orifices generally lengthwise along the deflectable distal length.

9. The system of claim 8 , where the plurality of side orifices is on the outside bend of the curve of the first curved shape in the second state and the second curved shape.

10. A method of delivering curable material into a bone structure with a system according to claim 1 , the method comprising steps of:

locating a distal tip of a guide cannula within the bone structure;

inserting the delivery cannula within the guide cannula lumen;

distally advancing the delivery cannula such that the distal end segment projects distal of the guide cannula distal tip so that the distal end of the delivery cannula extends outside the guide cannula;

heating the delivery cannula to a predetermined elevated temperature, such that the distal deflectable segment curves out of the longitudinal axis substantially defined by the delivery cannula's first state, where the curve, relative to the longitudinal axis is at a predetermined angle desired for targeting delivery to a particular site within the bone structure;

manipulating the delivery cannula such that at least a portion of the distal segment creates one or more voids in soft body tissue within the bone structure; and

delivering the curable material to the particular delivery site wherein the curable material is delivered to the one or more voids in the soft body tissue created by the distal segment.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a step of heating the delivery cannula to a different elevated temperature, such that the distal deflectable segment curves out of the longitudinal axis substantially defined by the delivery cannula's first state at a different angle desired for targeting delivery to a different site within the bone structure.

12. The method of claim 10 , where the step of locating a distal tip of a guide cannula within the bone structure includes directing the distal tip of the guide cannula into a vertebra.

13. The method of claim 12 , where the location for directing the distal tip of the guide cannula into the vertebra is selected with consideration of at least the first curved shape and the second curved shape relative to the particular site within the bone structure.

14. The method of claim 10 , where the step of delivering the curable material includes directing the curable material radially outward through at least one side orifice of the delivery cannula.