Catheter deliverable foot implant and method of delivering the same

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating alignment of the foot to treat patients with flat feet, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and metatarsophalangeal joint dysfunction. An inflatable implant is positioned in or about the sinus tarsi and/or first metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the foot. The implant is insertable by minimally invasive means and inflatable through a catheter or needle. Inflation of the implant alters the range of motion in the subtalar or first metatarsal-phalangeal joint and changes the alignment of the foot.

1 . A method for treating a patient, comprising: 
 providing an inflatable subtalar implant;    inserting said implant into the sinus tarsi of a foot; and    inflating said implant with an inflation material.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said material is a fluid.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said material is a solid.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said solid comprises microspheres.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising changing the alignment of the hindfoot.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inserting step is performed through a cannula inserted into said sinus tarsi of said patient.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inserting step is performed over a guidewire inserted into said sinus tarsi of said patient.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising combining multiple agents to form said inflation material.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said combining step is performed before said inflating step.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said combining step is performed during said inflating step.  
     
     
         11 . A method for treating a patient, comprising: 
 providing an inflatable subtalar implant;    identifying a foot having a first range of motion;    inserting said implant into the sinus tarsi of said foot; and    adapting said foot to a second range of motion by inflating said implant.    
     
     
         12 . A method for treating a patient, comprising: 
 providing an inflatable subtalar implant;    identifying a foot having a first weight-bearing alignment;    limiting said foot to a second weight-bearing alignment;    inserting said implant into a sinus tarsi of a foot; and    securing said foot in said second weight-bearing alignment by inflating said implant.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second weight-bearing alignments are defined by the angle between a first line connecting the edges of an articular surface of a talus and a second line connecting the edges of an articular surface of a navicular bone.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second weight-bearing alignments are defined by the angle between a first line along the long axis of a talus and a second line along the long axis of a first metatarsal bone.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second weight-bearing alignments are defined by the angle between a first line between the plantar-most point of a calcaneus of a patient and an most inferior point of the distal articular surface of said calcaneus, and a second line within a horizontal plane of said patient.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second weight-bearing alignments are defined by the angle between a first line along the plantar border of a calcaneus and a second line along a first midpoint in the body of a talus and a second midpoint in the neck of said talus.  
     
     
         17 . A minimally invasive method for treating a patient, comprising: 
 providing an inflatable subtalar implant;    inserting said implant into a sinus tarsi of a foot;    inflating said implant;    changing the range of motion of the subtalar joint of said foot; and    conforming the implant to the shape of the sinus tarsi thereby.    
     
     
         18 . A method for treating a patient, comprising: 
 identifying a cyma line in a foot of a patient;    smoothing said cyma line; and    securing said smoothing by inflating an implant in the sinus tarsi of said foot.    
     
     
         19 . A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 accessing a sinus tarsi of a foot through an access path having a cross sectional diameter of no more than about 0.5 inches, the sinus tarsi having a talus and calcaneus spaced apart by a first minimum distance;    increasing the space between the talus and calcaneus to a second minimum distance; and    restraining the talus and calcaneus at said second minimum distance.    
     
     
         20 . A method for treating a patient, comprising: 
 providing an inflatable first metatarsal-phalangeal joint implant;    inserting said implant into a first metatarsal-phalangeal joint of a foot; and    inflating said implant with a fluid.    
     
     
         21 . A subtalar joint implant, comprising: 
 an inflatable balloon adapted for positioning in the sinus tarsi of a foot.    
     
     
         22 . A foot implant, comprising: 
 an inflatable balloon, wherein said inflatable balloon is adapted for extra-articular positioning in the sinus tarsi of the foot.