Methods for treating a fractured and/or diseased and/or weakened bone

Abstract

An elongated shaft is sized and configured to establish an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. The elongated shaft includes a distal end portion having a side opening. A first tool is sized and configured to be carried by the shaft and includes a region that is capable of being controllably advanced by a user through the side opening to project outside the distal end portion and contact cancellous bone. Contact between the region and cancellous bone can modify cancellous bone for introduction of bone filling material, e.g., by creating at least one flow path for the bone filling material.

1 . A system comprising 
 an elongated shaft sized and configured to establish an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone, the elongated shaft including a distal end portion having a side opening, and    a first tool sized and configured to be carried by the shaft and including a region that is capable of being controllably advanced by a user through the side opening to project outside the distal end portion and contact cancellous bone.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein contact between the region and cancellous bone modifies cancellous bone for introduction of bone filling material.    
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein contact between the region and cancellous bone creates at least one flow path for bone filling material.    
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region is capable of expansion into contact with cancellous bone.    
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region is capable of inflation into contact with cancellous bone.    
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein contact with cancellous bone creates a cavity in the cancellous bone.    
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region is sized and configured to move fractured cortical bone.    
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1   further including a second tool to convey a volume of bone filling material into cancellous bone contacted by the region.    
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8   wherein the bone filling material comprises bone cement.    
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region projecting outside the distal end portion includes a curved surface.    
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region forms into a curved surface during advancement through the side opening.    
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the elongated shaft and the first tool are sized and configured to be mutually manipulated as a unit within cancellous bone.    
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region is capable of being controllably withdrawn by a user through the side opening back into the shaft.    
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the first tool secured within the shaft.    
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the shaft comprises a cannula.    
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the shaft comprises a rigid material.    
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the shaft comprises a metal material.    
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the shaft comprises a plastic material.    
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region comprises a material that is more prone to flexure than the shaft.    
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region comprises a plastic material.    
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the region comprises a metal material.    
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the shaft includes a proximal end comprising a handle assembly.    
     
     
         23 . A method comprising 
 establishing an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone by placing within the cancellous bone an elongated shaft including a distal end portion having a side opening, and    modifying cancellous bone for introduction of bone filling material by advancing a tool through the side opening to project outside the distal end portion to contact cancellous bone.    
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23   further including conveying bone filling material into cancellous bone contacted by the tool.    
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23   wherein the tool projecting outside the distal end portion includes a curved surface.    
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 23   further including withdrawing the tool through the side opening back into the shaft.    
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 23   further including conveying bone filling material into cancellous bone through the shaft.    
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 23   wherein the bone comprises a vertebral body.    
     
     
         29 . A method comprising 
 establishing an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone by placing within the cancellous bone an elongated shaft including a distal end portion having a side opening, and    creating at least one flow path for a bone filling material in the cancellous bone by advancing a tool through the side opening to project outside the distal end portion to contact cancellous bone.    
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29   further including conveying bone filling material into cancellous bone contacted by the tool.    
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 29   wherein the tool projecting outside the distal end portion includes a curved surface.    
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 29   further including withdrawing the tool through the side opening back into the shaft.    
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 29   further including conveying bone filling material into cancellous bone through the shaft.    
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 29   wherein the bone comprises a vertebral body.