Formed in Place Corpectomy Device

Abstract

An inflatable corpectomy device comprises a balloon, which defines a cavity for receiving a hardenable media. The device can be inserted in an un-inflated form into a space formerly occupied by a diseased or damaged vertebrae bone. When inflated with a hardenable material, the device expands and fills the space. Various bone anchors or plates can be used in combination with the inflatable device to bridge the space and stabilize the spine while the device hardens.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A kit for use in a minimally invasive corpectomy procedure, the kit comprising:
 a bone graft sized for positioning in a space between a first vertebra and a non-adjacent second vertebra, the bone graft having outer surface, an opposing inner surface defining a bore, and an opening extending between the outer surface and the inner surface;   a balloon having a deflated configuration sized for minimally invasive insertion through the opening and into the bore of the bone graft while the bone graft is positioned in the space between the first and second vertebrae and an inflated configuration sized to fill the bore;   a hardenable media configured to be injected into the balloon while the balloon is positioned within the bore of the bone graft in order to inflate the balloon from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration; and   a deployment catheter configured to insert the balloon into the bone graft and inject the hardenable media into the balloon.   
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , further comprising a stabilizing support structure sized to extend between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of bone engaging components for anchoring the stabilizing support structure to the first and second vertebrae. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the hardenable media has a modulus of elasticity between about 10-200 GPa after hardening. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon has a height between about 20-40 millimeters in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 25 , wherein the balloon has a length between about 20-40 millimeters in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon comprises a self-sealing valve for receiving the hardenable media. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon comprises a reinforcement element. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises a resistive heating element. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 30 , wherein the balloon and heating element are configured to heat the hardenable media received within the balloon to a temperature of at least about 50° C. while maintaining an outer surface of the balloon at a temperature less than about 45° C. 
     
     
         32 . A corpectomy prosthesis system, comprising:
 a bone graft sized for positioning in a space between a first vertebra and a non-adjacent second vertebra, the bone graft having outer surface, an opposing inner surface defining a bore, and an opening extending between the outer surface and the inner surface;   a balloon having a deflated configuration sized for minimally invasive insertion through the opening and into the bore of the bone graft while the bone graft is positioned in the space between the first and second vertebrae and an inflated configuration sized to fill the bore; and   a hardenable media configured to be injected into the balloon while the balloon is   positioned within the bore of the bone graft in order to inflate the balloon from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration.   
     
     
         33 . The corpectomy prosthesis system of  claim 32 , further comprising a stabilizing support structure sized to extend between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. 
     
     
         34 . The corpectomy prosthesis system of  claim 33 , further comprising a plurality of bone engaging components for anchoring the stabilizing support structure to the first and second vertebrae. 
     
     
         35 . The corpectomy prosthesis system of  claim 32 , wherein the balloon has a height between about 20-40 millimeters in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
         36 . The corpectomy prosthesis system of  claim 32 , wherein the balloon comprises a reinforcement element. 
     
     
         37 . The corpectomy prosthesis system of  claim 36 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises a resistive heating element. 
     
     
         38 . The corpectomy prosthesis system of  claim 37 , wherein the balloon and resistive heating element are configured to heat the hardenable media received within the balloon to a temperature of at least about 50° C. while maintaining an outer surface of the balloon at a temperature less than about 45° C. 
     
     
         39 . A kit for use in a minimally invasive corpectomy procedure, the kit comprising:
 a balloon sized for positioning in a space between a first vertebra and a non-adjacent second vertebra, the balloon having a deflated configuration sized for minimally invasive insertion into the space between the first and second vertebrae and an inflated configuration sized to fill the space between the first and second vertebrae;   a hardenable media configured to be injected into the balloon while the balloon is positioned within the space between the first and second vertebrae in order to inflate the balloon from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration; and   a deployment catheter configured to minimally invasively insert the balloon into the space and inject the hardenable media into the balloon to inflate the balloon from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration.   
     
     
         40 . The kit of  claim 39 , further comprising a heating element disposed within the balloon for heating the hardenable media to a temperature of at least about 50° C.; and
 wherein the balloon is formed of a material that provides insulation to surrounding tissue such that an outer surface of the balloon is maintained at a temperature less than about 45° C. when the hardenable media is heated to the temperature of at least about 50° C.