System and methods for improved access to vertebral bodies for kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, vertebral body biopsy or screw placement

1. A method for providing access to the interior of a pedicle for a desired transpedicular procedure, comprising:

inserting an awl with a separable guide wire in the pedicle at a predetermined starting point and in a predetermined trajectory to a desired depth, removing the awl from the pedicle and leaving the guide wire therein; positioning a cannulated drill bit over the guide wire and drilling an elongated opening in the pedicle inwardly to the desired depth; removing the drill bit from the opening and the guide wire; inserting a first cannula into the opening over the guide wire with an outer end of the first cannula flush with the adjacent portion of the posterior cortex of the pedicle; and removing the guide wire from the opening; whereby a kyphoplasty balloon catheter, vertebroplasty cannula or vertebral body biopsy needle may be inserted through the first cannula into the interior of the pedicle for the desired procedure;

wherein, before the guide wire is removed from the opening, a second cannula is partially inserted within the first cannula, the second cannula comprising an inner section that is slidabiy received within the first cannula and an enlarged outer section that extends outwardly from the first cannula, the outer section having a generally longitudinal slot extending therethrough from an inner end to an outer end thereof to enable instrument that is straight or angled to be inserted through the slot and through the first and second cannulas into the pedicle without requiring any relative movement between the inner section and the outer section.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the awl and/or the guide wire and/or the drill bit are color banded for recognition of the position thereof and also are formed of radiolucent and radioopaque sections for fluoroscopic imaging.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cannula is radiolucent and has a radioopaque collar at its outer end that engages the posterior cortex, and a radioopaque ring at its inner end.

4. The methods of claim 3 wherein an elongated instrument is inserted through the first cannula into the pedicle, the instrument being color banded for recognition of the position thereof and also having radioopaque and radiolucent sections for fluoroscopic imaging.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second cannulas are constructed to be interlocked when the second cannula is inserted in the first cannula.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cannula is radiolucent and has a radioopaque collar at its outer end that engages the posterior cortex, and a radioopaque ring at the inner end thereof; and the inner section of the second cannula is radiolucent and has radioopaque rings on the inner and outer ends thereof that are aligned respectively with the radioopaque ring and radioopaque collar of the first cannula for fluoroscopic imaging.

7. A method for providing access to the interior of a pedicle for a desired transpedicular procedure, comprising:

inserting an awl with a separable guide wire in the pedicle at a predetermined starting point and in a predetermined trajectory to a desired depth;

removing the awl from the pedicle and leaving the guide wire therein;

positioning a cannulated drill bit over the guide wire and drilling an elongated opening in the pedicle inwardly to the desired depth;

removing the drill bit from the opening and the guide wire;

and inserting a cannula into the opening over the guide wire, the cannula comprising an inner section disposed in the opening and an enlarged outer section extending outwardly from the posterior cortex and having a generally longitudinal slot extending therethrough from an inner end to an outer end thereof to enable an instrument that is straight or angled to be inserted through the slot and through the cannula into the pedicle after the guide wire is removed without requiring any relative movement between the inner section and the outer section.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the inner section of the second cannula is radiolucent and has radioopaque rings on the inner and outer ends thereof for fluoroscopic imaging.