Vertebral body access cannula with enhanced bending stiffness

1. A cannula for kyphoplasty, the cannula comprising:

a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite first and second end surfaces, the shaft comprising an inner surface defining a lumen, the shaft comprising a first opening that extends through the first end surface and a second opening that extends through the second end surface; and

a scoop comprising opposite first and second side walls each extending from the second end surface, the first side wall including a first top surface, the second side wall including a second top surface, the top surfaces extending parallel to one another along at least a portion of the scoop, the scoop comprising an arcuate inner surface that is continuous with the inner surface of the shaft and an opposite outer surface, the scoop having a maximum width, the maximum width being equal to a maximum width of the shaft, the scoop including a first portion, a second portion and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion including a rib having a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the first portion or the second portion, the rib extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and comprising a concave inner surface that is continuous with the arcuate inner surface and a convex outer surface that is continuous with the outer surface, the rib being spaced apart from the second top surface, the scoop having only one rib, a portion of the arcuate inner surface between the second end surface and the rib having a continuous radius of curvature from the first top surface to the second top surface.

2. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rib is positioned equidistant between the first and second side surfaces.

3. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arcuate inner surface is positioned between the top surfaces.

4. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein the shaft and the scoop comprise super-elastic nitinol.

5. A kyphoplasty kit comprising:

the cannula recited in claim 1 ;

a balloon catheter;

a stylet; and

a position indicator.

6. A kyphoplasty kit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the balloon catheter comprises a tube and a balloon that is coupled to an end of the tube.

7. A kyphoplasty kit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the balloon catheter comprises:

an outer tube;

an inner tube positioned within the outer tube; and

a balloon having a first end that is coupled to the outer tube and a second end that is coupled to the inner tube.

8. A kyphoplasty kit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the balloon catheter includes a tube that is positioned within the lumen and a balloon that is coupled to an end of the tube such that the balloon directly engages the scoop.

9. A kyphoplasty kit as recited in claim 8 , wherein the balloon has a maximum diameter when the balloon is in an inflated orientation that is greater than a maximum diameter of the lumen.

10. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions each have a first thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface and the third portion has a second thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface, the second thickness being equal to the first thickness.

11. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions each have a first thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface and the third portion has a second thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.

12. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions each have a first thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface and the third portion has a second thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface, the second thickness being less than the first thickness.

13. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein the top surfaces lie in a plane, the plane containing the longitudinal axis.

14. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the top surfaces lie in a plane, the plane containing the longitudinal axis; and

the first and second portions each have a first thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface and the third portion has a second thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.

15. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the top surfaces lie in a plane, the plane containing the longitudinal axis; and

the first and second portions each have a first thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface and the third portion has a second thickness defined by a distance from the arcuate inner surface to the outer surface, the second thickness being less than the first thickness.

16. A cannula as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the arcuate inner surface is positioned between the top surfaces; and

the shaft and the scoop comprise super-elastic nitinol.

17. A cannula for kyphoplasty, the cannula comprising:

a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite first and second end surfaces, the shaft comprising an inner surface defining a lumen, the shaft comprising a first opening that extends through the first end surface and a second opening that extends through the second end surface; and

a scoop extending from the second end surface, the scoop comprising an arcuate inner surface that is continuous with the inner surface of the shaft and an opposite outer surface, the scoop including opposite first and second side walls that each extend from the second end surface, the first side wall including a first top surface, the second side wall including a second top surface, the top surfaces lying in a plane, the plane containing the longitudinal axis, the scoop having a maximum width, the maximum width being equal to a maximum width of the shaft, the scoop including only one rib, the rib extending outwardly from the outer surface, the rib extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the rib being positioned equidistant between the first and second top surfaces, the rib being spaced apart from the second top surface, a portion of the arcuate inner surface between the second end surface and the rib having a continuous radius of curvature from the first top surface to the second top surface.

18. A cannula for kyphoplasty, the cannula comprising:

a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite first and second end surfaces, the shaft comprising an inner surface defining a lumen, the shaft comprising a first opening that extends through the first end surface and a second opening that extends through the second end surface; and

a scoop comprising opposite first and second side walls that each extend from the second end surface, the first side wall including a first top surface, the second side wall including a second top surface, the top surfaces extending parallel to one another along at least a portion of the scoop, the scoop comprising an arcuate inner surface that is continuous with the inner surface of the shaft and an opposite outer surface, the arcuate inner surface extending from the first top surface to the second top surface, the first and second side walls each being tapered from the second end surface to a distal end surface of the scoop, the scoop having a maximum width, the maximum width being equal to a maximum width of the shaft, the scoop including only one rib, the rib extending outwardly from the outer surface, the rib extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the rib being positioned equidistant between the first and second side walls, the rib being spaced apart from the second top surface, a portion of the arcuate inner surface between the second end surface and the rib having a continuous radius of curvature from the first top surface to the second top surface.