Steerable curvable vertebroplasty drill

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a steerable, curvable drill that can be used for various applications including vertebroplasty. The drill can include an elongate, tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough; a deflectable zone on the distal end of the tubular body, deflectable through an angular range; a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body; and a deflection control on the handle; a drill control on the handle; a drive shaft within the elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; and a boring element on the distal end of the device for creating a cavity within bone. The boring element can be operably connected to the distal end of the drive shaft, The drive shaft can be configured to move axially within the tubular body when the deflectable zone deflects through an angular range. Systems and methods involving the drill are also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation ten million Americans have osteoporosis, and an estimated 34 million with low bone mass are at risk of developing osteoporosis (http: / / www.nof.org / osteoporosis / diseasefacts.htm). Called the “silent disease,” OSP develops slowly over a number of years without symptoms. Eighty percent of those affected are women, particularly petite Caucasian and Asian women, although older men and women of all races and ethnicities are at significant risk.[0002]In the United States, 700,000 people are diagnosed with vertebral compression fractures as a result of OSP each year. Morbidity associated with vertebral fractures includes severe back pain, loss of height and deformity, all of which negatively affect quality of life.[0003]Once microfracture of the vertebra begins, there is little the clinician can do except palliative medical treatment using analgesics, bed rest and / or restriction of activity. With time, the mi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]In some embodiments, the operator can control the angle of deflection of the boring element, the distal end of the elongate body, and the portion of the drive shaft therein, relative to that of the proximal end of the elongate body and handle. The deflection of the distal end can be controlled by turning a portion of the handle that is threadably engaged with a second portion of the handle. The rotation of these two parts of the handle separates these components, thereby increasing the overall length of the handle as well as the overall length of the device itself. This increase in the length of the device increases the tension exerted by a pull wire that is proximally affixed near the proximal portion of the handle, and distally affixed near the distal end of the elongate body. As the tension exerted by this pull wire on the flexible distal end of the elongate body increases, the distal end can be deflected, and the angle of actuation of the boring element adjusted. In some embodiments, the distal end of the elongate body can passively return to a coaxial configuration relative to the proximal end of the elongate body when the tension on the pull wire is reduced by rotating the handle in the other direction and thereby reducing the overall length of the handle.

[0012]In some embodiments, the drive shaft is capable of a degree of axial motion so as to keep the drive shaft operably coupled with the crank, handle, motor or other source of power despite the changes in the length of the handle.

Problems solved by technology

Eighty percent of those affected are women, particularly petite Caucasian and Asian women, although older men and women of all races and ethnicities are at significant risk.

Morbidity associated with vertebral fractures includes severe back pain, loss of height and deformity, all of which negatively affect quality of life.

Such a revision, however, can only be applied to total joint replacement failures.

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