Device for straightening and stabilizing the vertebral column

Abstract

A device for straightening and stabilizing the vertebral column, particularly for stabilizing broken vertebrae, includes a supporting implant which is plastically expandable by internal pressure. The supporting implant can be placed into the interior of a vertebral body which has been fractured under compression or between adjacent vertebral bodies. A pressure balloon to which pressure fluid can be admitted may be arranged in the interior of the supporting implant for producing the internal pressure.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A device for straightening and stabilizing a vertebral column, particularly for stabilizing broken vertebrae, the device comprising a supporting implant which is plastically expandable by internal pressure.  
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting implant is adapted for arrangement in an interior of a vertebral body fractured under compression or for arrangement between adjacent vertebral bodies.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising devices for producing the internal pressure with pressure fluid.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a pressure balloon placed in an interior of the supporting implant, wherein the pressure balloon is connected to the devices for producing the internal pressure.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable supporting implant has a wall formed of expanded material.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the wall has weak points arranged such that the expanded supporting implant has a desired shape.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable supporting implant has a wall folded like bellows.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the wall has folds arranged such that the expanded supporting implant has a desired shape.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable supporting implant has an oblong shape, further comprising a guide sleeve, such that the supporting implant can be moved through the guide sleeve to an implantation location.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the expandable supporting implant is placed so as to surround a pressure line extending through the guide sleeve.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a device for introducing an incompressible pressure fluid through the pressure line, and a device for measuring a supplied quantity of pressure fluid.  
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a control and monitoring device for monitoring changes over time of fluid pressure and of the supplied fluid quantity, such that the pressure application can be stopped when predetermined relative values of the changes are exceeded.