Method of performing a balloon kyphoplasty procedure using a scoop cannula

1. A method comprising:

identifying tissue of a patient;

inserting a cannula having a shaft and a scoop extending from the shaft into the patient such that an outer surface of the scoop faces the tissue, the shaft comprising a first material and the scoop comprising a second material that is different from the first material;

inserting a balloon into the cannula such that the balloon is positioned entirely within the scoop; and

inflating the balloon such that the balloon engages an inner surface of the scoop and expands away from the inner surface as the balloon is inflated, the balloon being spaced apart from the shaft when the balloon is inflated, a portion of the balloon being positioned distal to a distal tip of the scoop when the balloon is inflated.

2. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein inflating the balloon creates a void in the patient.

3. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein inserting the cannula into the patient comprises positioning the scoop such that the inner surface faces away from the tissue.

4. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the cannula is inserted into the patient such that the outer surface of the scoop directly engages the tissue.

5. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a nerve.

6. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a nerve in a vertebra of the patient.

7. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a ring apophysis of a vertebra of the patient, the outer surface directly engaging the ring apophysis when the cannula is inserted into the patient.

8. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a bone.

9. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a fractured bone.

10. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a bone having bone mineral content and bone mineral density below a selected threshold and is identified using a digital densitometry device.

11. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a first vertebral endplate and the balloon expands toward a second vertebral endplate as the balloon is inflated.

12. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein inserting the cannula into the patient comprises positioning the cannula between first and second endplates of a vertebra, the tissue comprising a lateral wall of the vertebra that extends from the first endplate to the second endplate.

13. A method comprising:

using a digital densitometry device to identify a bone of a patient wherein the bone has bone mineral content below a selected threshold;

inserting a cannula having a shaft and a scoop extending from the shaft into the patient such that an outer surface of the scoop faces the bone, the shaft comprising a rigid material and the scoop comprising a non-rigid material;

inserting a balloon into the cannula such that the balloon is positioned entirely within the scoop; and

inflating the balloon such that the balloon engages an inner surface of the scoop and expands away from the inner surface as the balloon is inflated, the balloon being spaced apart from the shaft when the balloon is inflated, a portion of the balloon being positioned distal to a distal tip of the scoop when the balloon is inflated.

14. The method recited in claim 12 , wherein:

inserting the cannula into the patient comprises positioning the scoop such that the inner surface faces away from the bone; and

the cannula is inserted into the patient such that the outer surface of the scoop directly engages the bone.

15. The method recited in claim 13 , wherein the bone is a first vertebral endplate and the balloon expands toward a second vertebral endplate as the balloon is inflated.

16. The method recited in claim 13 , wherein inserting the cannula into the patient comprises positioning the cannula between first and second endplates of a vertebra, the bone comprising a lateral wall of the vertebra that extends from the first endplate to the second endplate.

17. A method comprising:

using a digital densitometry device to identify a bone of a patient wherein the bone has bone mineral density below a selected threshold;

inserting a cannula having a shaft and a scoop extending from the shaft into the patient such that an outer surface of the scoop faces the bone, the shaft comprising a non-rigid material and the scoop comprising a rigid material;

inserting a tube and a balloon that is coupled to the tube into the cannula such that the tube is positioned within the shaft and the balloon is positioned entirely within the scoop; and

inflating the balloon such that the balloon engages an inner surface of the scoop and expands away from the inner surface as the balloon is inflated, the balloon being spaced apart from the shaft when the balloon is inflated, a portion of the balloon being positioned distal to a distal tip of the scoop when the balloon is inflated,

wherein inserting the cannula into the patient comprises positioning the scoop such that the inner surface faces away from the bone, and

wherein the cannula is inserted into the patient such that the outer surface of the scoop directly engages the bone.

18. The method recited in claim 16 , wherein the bone is a first vertebral endplate and the balloon expands toward a second vertebral endplate as the balloon is inflated.

19. The method recited in claim 16 , wherein inserting the cannula into the patient comprises positioning the cannula between first and second endplates of a vertebra, the bone comprising a lateral wall of the vertebra that extends from the first endplate to the second endplate.

20. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the first material is a rigid material and the second material is a shape memory material.

21. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the first material is a shape memory material and the second material is a rigid material.