Surgical instrumentation and method for treatment of the spine

Abstract

Instrumentation for treatment of the spine, including an elongate member having a deformable distal end portion at least partially formed of a flexible and preferably elastic material. The distal end portion has an initial configuration for placement adjacent a vertebral body and a deformed configuration defining at least one outwardly extending projection for displacement of at least a portion of the vertebral body. The elongate member preferably comprises a rod member, a sleeve member and an actuator mechanism for imparting relative linear displacement between the rod and sleeve members to effect outward deformation of the distal end portion of the sleeve member. In one embodiment, the instrumentation is used to compact cancellous bone to form a cavity within a vertebral body. In another embodiment, the instrumentation is used to reduce a compression fracture. In yet another embodiment, the instrumentation is used to distract a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 224,491, filed Aug.11, 2000 and entitled Vertebral Plasty Reduction Device, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of surgical instrumentation and methods for treatment of the spine, and more particularly relates to instrumentation and methods for transversely displacing structures associated with the spine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Various instruments and methods for the treatment of compression-type bone fractures and other osteoporotic and / or non-osteoporotic conditions have been developed. Such methods generally include a series of steps performed by a surgeon to correct and stabilize the compression fracture. A cavity is typically formed in the bone to be treated, followed by the insertion of an inflatable balloon-like dev...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] It is one object of the present invention to provide improv

Problems solved by technology

Inflation of the balloon-like device causes a compaction of the cancellous bone and / or bone marrow against the inner cortical wall of the bone, thereby resulting in enlargement of the bone cavity and / or reduction of the compression fracture.

While the above-described instruments and methods provide an adequate protocol for the treatment and fixation of compression-type bone fractures, it has been found that expansion of the balloon-like device is not controllable.

As a result, the direction of compaction of the cancellous bone and / or reduction of the compression fracture is not controllable, and expansion occurs in multiple directions and along multiple axes.

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