Systems and methods for treating fractured or diseased bone using expandable bodies

Abstract

Systems and methods treat fractured or diseased bone by deploying more than a single therapeutic tool into the bone. In one arrangement, the systems and methods deploy an expandable body in association with a bone cement nozzle into the bone, such that both occupy the bone interior at the same time. In another arrangement, the systems and methods deploy multiple expandable bodies, which occupy the bone interior volume simultaneously. Expansion of the bodies form cavity or cavities in cancellous bone in the interior bone volume.

1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing a compression structure having an inflatable body portion through the interior of which an elongated member extends;   inserting the compression structure into cancellous bone; and   inflating the body portion of the inserted compression structure to compress the cancellous bone and create a cavity therein.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 deflating the body portion; and   removing the compression structure from the cavity.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 disposing a filler material in the cavity.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein:
 the filler material is a bone cement material.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the elongated member has a hollow tubular configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 the elongated member is a suction tube.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inflatable body portion comprises at least one balloon.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inflatable body portion comprises a plurality of joined balloons.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inflatable body portion is inflatable transverse to the elongated member a distance greater than the distance that the inflatable body portion is inflatable parallel to the elongated member.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inflatable body portion is formed from a flexible, non-expandable material.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the elongated member has opposite end portions, each of which extends outwardly beyond an exterior surface portion of the body portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inflatable body portion is formed from an expandable material.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inflatable body portion has associated therewith a structure for limiting its inflation distance in a selected direction.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inflatable body portion has a flattened configuration and is sized to be operatively inserted into and inflated within cancellous bone within a vertebral body.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the elongated member longitudinally extends substantially completely across the interior of the inflatable body portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inflating step is performed using an inflation tube communicating with the interior of the inflatable body portion, and   the elongated member extends substantially parallel to the inflation tub