Expandable Spinal Rods and Methods of Use

Abstract

A spinal rod includes an elongated tubular member that is inflatable from a first insertion profile to a second enlarged profile. An expandable tubular reinforcement sleeve is concentrically positioned adjacent to the balloon. The balloon may be bonded to the sleeve. The spinal rod may also have longitudinal reinforcement members. A joining member may join two or more of the longitudinal reinforcing members at a discrete point along each. The spinal rod may further include end portions on either side of an inflatable portion.

1 . A spinal rod comprising:
 a non-inflatable first member;   a non-inflatable second member; and   an inflatable member positioned between the first and second members and having an interior cavity to contain a substance, the inflatable member attached to the first member and extending into an interior of the second member away from the interior cavity;   the inflatable member and first and second members each having an elongated shape and being aligned along a longitudinal axis with the second member separate from and spaced away from the first member.   
   
   
       2 . The spinal rod of  claim 1 , further comprising a passage that extends through the interior of the second member and to the interior cavity to insert a substance through the second member and into the interior cavity. 
   
   
       3 . The spinal rod of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second members include a width greater than the inflatable member when the inflatable member is in a deflated state, and less than the inflatable member when the inflatable member is in an inflated state. 
   
   
       4 . The spinal rod of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member includes a balloon and a reinforcing structure. 
   
   
       5 . The spinal rod of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member comprises a plurality of elongated rails oriented along the longitudinal axis and a plurality of joining members that extend between and connect at least two of the plurality of elongated rails. 
   
   
       6 . The spinal rod of  claim 1 , wherein the second member includes a plurality of concentric columns with the inflatable member extending into the second member between two of the plurality of concentric columns. 
   
   
       7 . The spinal rod of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second members terminate at inner faces that face towards each other and are spaced apart by the inflatable member. 
   
   
       8 . A spinal rod comprising:
 a non-expandable distal section;   a non-expandable proximal section; and   an inflatable intermediate section positioned between the distal and proximal sections and isolating the distal section from the proximal section, the intermediate section including a balloon and a reinforcing structure, a portion of the intermediate section including the balloon and the reinforcing structure extending into an interior of the proximal section.   
   
   
       9 . The spinal rod of  claim 8 , further comprising a conduit that extends through the interior of the proximal section and into the intermediate section, the intermediate section being inflatable upon introduction of a substance through the conduit and into the intermediate section. 
   
   
       10 . The spinal rod of  claim 8 , wherein the intermediate section includes a deflated state with a width at a point between the distal and proximal sections that is smaller than the proximal section, and an inflated state with the width being greater than the proximal section. 
   
   
       11 . The spinal rod of  claim 10 , wherein the portion of the intermediate section that extends into the interior of the proximal section includes the same width in both the inflated and deflated orientations. 
   
   
       12 . The spinal rod of  claim 8 , wherein the balloon includes an inner expandable section positioned within an interior of an outer expandable section. 
   
   
       13 . The spinal rod of  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing structure extends around an exterior of the balloon. 
   
   
       14 . The spinal rod of  claim 10 , wherein the distal and proximal sections include discrete lengths each with an inner surface that face towards the intermediate section with the inner surfaces being spaced apart from each other. 
   
   
       15 . The spinal rod of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal section includes a plurality of concentric columns and the intermediate section extends between two of the plurality of columns and into the interior of the proximal section. 
   
   
       16 . A spinal rod comprising:
 elongated first and second sections that are spaced apart by a gap;   an intermediate section positioned in the gap and attached to each of the first and second sections, the intermediate section including a balloon and reinforcing structure that each extend into an interior of the second section and include an interior cavity;   a passage that extends through the interior of the second section and to the interior cavity to insert a substance through the second section and into the interior cavity;   the intermediate section being inflatable from a deflated state to an inflated state upon introduction of the substance through the conduit and into the interior cavity of the intermediate section.   
   
   
       17 . The spinal rod of  claim 16 , wherein the reinforcing structure includes a plurality of rails that run longitudinally along the balloon. 
   
   
       18 . The spinal rod of  claim 16 , wherein the first section is positioned on a distal side of the intermediate section and the second section is positioned on a proximal side of the intermediate section. 
   
   
       19 . The spinal rod of  claim 16 , wherein the second section includes a plurality of concentric columns and the intermediate section extends between two of the plurality of columns and into the interior of the second section. 
   
   
       20 . The spinal rod of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second sections include a width greater than the intermediate section when the intermediate section is in the deflated state, and less than the intermediate section when the intermediate section is in the inflated state.