Systems and methods for treating bone using expandable bodies

Abstract

A tool served to convey a bone filling material into a cancellous bone volume. The tool carries an expandable structure, which is sized and configured for expansion within the cancellous bone volume to condition the cancellous bone volume for receiving the bone filling material.

1 . A method comprising:
 establishing a percutaneous path into a tissue in a patient's spine;   introducing an cavity-forming device into the tissue through the percutaneous path, wherein the cavity-forming device comprises a expandable structure having a first volume,   expanding the expandable structure to a second volume larger than the first volume resulting in a cavity being created in the tissue,   contracting the expandable structure to a third volume between the first and second volumes such that a space is created within the cavity that is unoccupied by the expandable structure, and   conveying a filler material to fill the space in the cavity unoccupied by the expandable structure.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising contracting the expandable structure towards the first volume while conveying a filler material to fill the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises a vertebral body. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises a bone cement. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable structure expands by inflation. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable structure comprises a balloon. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 establishing a percutaneous path into a tissue in a patient's spine;   introducing an expandable structure into the tissue through the percutaneous path;   expanding the expandable structure to create a cavity; and   contracting the expandable structure while concurrently filing the cavity with a filler material.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the tissue comprises a vertebral body. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the filler material comprises a bone cement. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the expandable structure expands by inflation. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable structure comprises a balloon. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 establishing a percutaneous path into a tissue in a patient's body;   introducing a balloon on a balloon catheter into the vertebral body through the percutaneous path;   inflating the balloon to create a cavity in the tissue; and   injecting a filler material through the balloon catheter into the cavity while the balloon is at least partially inflated inside the cavity.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the tissue comprises a vertebral body. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the filler material comprises a bone cement. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising
 a source of a bone filling material,   a tool for conveying the bone filling material into a cancellous bone volume, and   an expandable structure carried on the tool sized and configured for expansion within the cancellous bone volume to create a cavity for receiving the bone filling material.   
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15   wherein the bone filling material comprises bone cement.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 15   wherein the expandable structure expands by inflation.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 15   wherein the expandable structure comprises a balloon.   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising
 a source of a bone filling material,   a tool for conveying the bone filling material into a cancellous bone volume, and   an expandable structure carried on the tool sized and configured for expansion within the cancellous bone volume to move fractured cortical bone.   
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19   wherein the bone filling material comprises bone cement.   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 19   wherein the expandable structure expands by inflation.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 19   wherein the expandable structure comprises a balloon.