Systems and methods for creating cavities in interior body regions by propagation of energy

Abstract

An energy transmitter is introduced into a bone, e.g., a vertebral body, through a percutaneous path. Energy is propagated into the bone by the energy transmitter to create a cavity in the bone. A material is conveyed into the cavity. The material can be, e.g., a bone cement, allograft material, synthetic bone substitute, a medication, or a flowable material that sets into a hardened condition.

1 . A system comprising 
 an access tool sized and configured to establish an access path through soft tissue to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone, and    a cavity forming tool sized and configured to be introduced through the access path including an energy transmitter sized and configured to form a cavity in cancellous bone by propagation of energy from an energy source, and    a filling device sized to be introduced through a percutaneous access path for conveying a material into the cavity.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein propagation of energy by the energy transmitter cuts cancellous bone to form the cavity.    
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the energy transmitter is sized and configured to propagate ultrasound energy.    
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the energy transmitter is sized and configured to propagate laser energy.    
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the cavity forming tool includes a controller coupled to the energy transmitter to move the energy transmitter between a retracted position housed within the cavity forming tool and at least one extended position outside the cavity forming tool.    
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the cavity forming device includes an elongated shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion carrying the energy transmitter, the shaft including a material capable of transmitting axial and rotational forces from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion in response to manipulation of the proximal end portion.    
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the material conveyed by the filling device into the cavity comprises at least one of a bone cement, allograft material, synthetic bone substitute, a medication, or a flowable material that sets into a hardened condition.    
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the cavity forming tool includes at least one radiopaque marker adjacent the energy transmitter.    
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1   further including a connector to couple the energy transmitter to the energy source.    
     
     
         10 . A method comprising 
 providing a system as defined in  claim 1 ,    introducing the cavity forming tool through the access tool into a cortical bone space occupied at least in part by cancellous bone,    operating the energy transmitter to propagate energy and form a cavity in cancellous bone, and    conveying material through the filling device into the cavity.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10   wherein the material conveyed into the cavity comprises at least one of a bone cement, allograft material, synthetic bone substitute, a medication, or a flowable material that sets into a hardened condition.    
     
     
         12 . A method comprising 
 introducing an energy transmitter into a bone through a percutaneous path,    propagating an energy into the bone through the energy transmitter;    creating a cavity in the bone by the propagation of energy, and    conveying a material into the cavity.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12   wherein the material conveyed into the cavity comprises at least one of a bone cement, allograft material, synthetic bone substitute, a medication, or a flowable material that sets into a hardened condition.    
     
     
         14 . A method comprising 
 selecting a vertebral body for treatment having a cortical wall enclosing a cancellous bone volume,    providing a system as define in  claim 1 ,    introducing the cavity forming tool through the access tool into the cancellous bone volume,    operating the energy transmitter to propagate energy and form a cavity in the cancellous bone volume, and    conveying material through the filling device into the cavity.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14   wherein the material conveyed into the cavity comprises at least one of a bone cement, allograft material, synthetic bone substitute, a medication, or a flowable material that sets into a hardened condition.    
     
     
         16 . A method comprising 
 introducing an energy transmitter into a vertebral body through a percutaneous path,    propagating an energy into the vertebral body through the energy transmitter,    creating a cavity in the vertebral body by the propagation of energy, and    conveying a material into the cavity.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16   wherein the material conveyed into the cavity comprises at least one of a bone cement, allograft material, synthetic bone substitute, a medication, or a flowable material that sets into a hardened condition.