Method and apparatus for distracting a joint

1. A method for creating space in a joint formed at the convergence of two bones, the method comprising:

applying force to a body part at a location remote from the joint so as to separate the two bones from one another by a distance which is greater than the distance that they are normally separated from one another when the joint is in a healthy state, whereby to distract the joint and create an intrajoint space;

providing a joint-spacing balloon catheter, the joint-spacing balloon catheter comprising a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and first and second balloons mounted to the distal end of the shaft, the first balloon being disposed distal to, and spaced from, the second balloon, and the portion of the shaft between the first and second balloons being flexible in every plane;

inserting the distal end of the shaft and the first and second balloons into the intrajoint space while the first and second balloons are in a contracted condition;

expanding the first and second balloons within the intrajoint space; and

reducing the force applied to the body part so that the joint is supported on the expanded first and second balloons, with the expanded first and second balloons, and the portion of the shaft extending between the expanded first and second balloons, settling into, and conforming to, the curvature of the joint, and with the two bones remaining separated from one another by a distance which is greater than the distance that they are normally separated from one another when the joint is in a healthy state.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the two bones are separated from one another by a distance of at least approximately 10 millimeters when the force applied to the body part is reduced.

3. A method according to claim 1 including the further step of performing a surgical procedure on the joint after the force applied to the body part has been reduced.

4. A method according to claim 1 including the further step of moving the body part after the force applied to the body part has been reduced, so that the joint articulates on the expanded first and second balloons.

5. A method according to claim 4 including the additional step of performing a surgical procedure on the joint after the joint articulates on the expanded first and second balloons.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of the balloons is approximately 0.39-1.57 inches in diameter, approximately 0.39-1.57 inches in length, and can be inflated up to 100 psi.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the distance between the two balloons is approximately 0.5-1.5 inches.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the joint comprises the hip joint, and further wherein the shaft is disposed in the hip joint so that the balloons are substantially superior to the acetabular fossa.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the joint comprises the hip joint, and further wherein the shaft is disposed in the hip joint so that one balloon is located substantially at the anterior/superior position of the acetabular cup and the other balloon is located substantially in the acetabular fossa.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the shaft located between the balloons bends when the force applied to the body part is reduced.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the shaft located between the balloons is bent before the force applied to the body part is reduced.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the portion of the shaft located between the balloons is bent by steering the distal end of the shaft.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the leg is abducted prior to reducing the force applied to the body part.

14. A method according to claim 1 , the joint-spacing balloon catheter further comprising:

a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the rigidity of the shaft decreases from the proximal end of the shaft to the distal end of the shaft.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the proximal end of shaft is substantially rigid.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the shaft is steerable.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the shaft is steerable to about a 0.5 to 1.5 inch radius.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second balloons has a diameter which is greater than its length.

20. A method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

providing a cannula for providing a corridor to an interior space, the distal end of the cannula comprising a beveled surface.

21. A method for creating space in a joint formed at the convergence of two bones, the method comprising:

applying force to a body part at a location remote from the joint so as to separate the two bones from one another by a distance which is greater than the distance that they are normally separated from one another when the joint is in a healthy state, whereby to distract the joint and create an intrajoint space;

providing a joint-spacing balloon catheter, the joint-spacing balloon catheter comprising:

a shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the distal portion of the shaft is flexible and the proximal portion of the shaft is substantially rigid;

a plurality of balloons mounted to the distal portion of the shaft, the plurality of balloons comprising balloons of different sizes, and the plurality of balloons configured to be inflated to the same pressure; and

a handle attached to the proximal portion of the shaft;

inserting the distal portion of the shaft and the plurality of balloons into the intrajoint space while the plurality of balloons are in a contracted condition;

expanding the plurality of balloons within the intrajoint space to the same pressure; and

reducing the force applied to the body part so that the joint is supported on the expanded plurality of balloons, with the two bones remaining separated from one another by a distance which is greater than the distance that they are normally separated from one another when the joint is in a healthy state.

22. A method for creating space in a joint formed at the convergence of two bones, the method comprising:

applying force to a body part at a location remote from the joint so as to separate the two bones from one another by a distance which is greater than the distance that they are normally separated from one another when the joint is in a healthy state, whereby to distract the joint and create an intrajoint space;

providing a joint-spacing balloon catheter, the joint-spacing balloon catheter comprising:

a shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the distal portion of the shaft is flexible and the proximal portion of the shaft is substantially rigid;

a plurality of balloons mounted to the distal portion of the shaft, the plurality of balloons comprising balloons of the same size, and the plurality of balloons configured to be inflated to different pressures; and

a handle attached to the proximal portion of the shaft;

inserting the distal portion of the shaft and the plurality of balloons into the intrajoint space while the plurality of balloons are in a contracted condition;

expanding the plurality of balloons within the intrajoint space to different pressures; and

reducing the force applied to the body part so that the joint is supported on the expanded plurality of balloons, with the two bones remaining separated from one another by a distance which is greater than the distance that they are normally separated from one another when the joint is in a healthy state.