Bone treatment systems and methods

• US 20060106459A1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dfine Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dfine Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shadduck, John H., Truckai, Csaba
• Application Number:
  US11/215,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106459A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7095 the filler comprising unlinked macroscopic particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7098 wherein the implant is permeable or has openings, e.g. fenestrated screw hollow surgical screws A61B17/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8836 for heating, cooling or curing of bone cement or fluid fillers

Abstract

A system for treating an abnormal vertebral body such as a compression fracture. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a biocompatible flow-through implant structure configured with a three-dimensional interior web that defines flow openings therein for cooperating with a two-part hardenable bone cement. The flow-through structure is capable of compacted and extended shapes and in one embodiment provides a gradient in flow openings for controlling flow parameters of a bone cement injected under high pressure into the interior thereof. The flow-through implant structure is configured for transducing cement injection forces into a selected direction for moving apart cortical endplates of a vertebra to reduce a fracture. In one embodiment, the flow-through implant structure is coupled to an Rf source for applying Rf energy to a two-part bone cement to accelerate curing of the cement to thereby allow on-demand alterations of cement viscosity. The Rf system allows for control of bone cement polymerization globally or regionally to prevent cement extravasion and to direct forces applied to a vertebra to reduce a fracture.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A bone treatment system comprising:

a deformable structure configured for introduction into a bone, the structure including an interior web of elements that define flow openings therebetween, the flow openings defining a gradient between larger interior flow openings and smaller exterior flow openings;

a bone fill material for introduction into the interior of the deformable structure.

35. The bone treatment system of claim 34 wherein the deformable structure is at least one of a knit structure, woven structure, braided structure and foam structure.

36. The bone treatment system of claim 34 wherein the interior web is fabricated of at least one of metal filaments, polymer filaments, and polymer foam.

37. The bone treatment system of claim 34 wherein the deformable structure is fabricated of an electrically conductive material.

38. The bone treatment system of claim 37 further comprising an electrical energy source coupled to the deformable structure.

39. The bone treatment system of claim 34 wherein the deformable structure is capable of deformation between a compacted condition and an extended condition.

40. The bone treatment system of claim 34 wherein the bone fill material includes bone cement having a liquid component and a non-liquid component.

41. The bone treatment system of claim 40 wherein the non-liquid component includes substantially spherical beads.

42. The bone treatment system of claim 41 wherein the spherical beads have at least one selected diameter for cooperating with the flow openings.

43. The bone treatment system of claim 41 wherein the spherical beads are pre-polymerized PMMA.

44. A method of treating an abnormal vertebra comprising the steps of:

introducing a deformable structure into the interior of a vertebra, the implant structure including an interior web of elements that define flow openings therebetween, the flow openings defining a gradient between larger interior flow openings and smaller exterior flow openings; and

flowing a fill material into the interior of the deformable structure wherein the fill material includes a liquid component and non-liquid component and the flow openings at least partly control flow parameters of the fill material.

45. The method of treating an abnormal vertebra of claim 44 wherein flowing the fill material reduces a fracture.

46. The method of treating an abnormal vertebra of claim 44 wherein flowing the fill material moves at least one of cancellous bone and cortical bone.

47. The method of treating an abnormal vertebra of claim 44 wherein the non-liquid component at least partly aggregates in selected flow openings.

48. The method of treating an abnormal vertebra of claim 44 wherein flowing the fill material deforms the deformable structure from a compacted shape to a selected extended shape.

50. A bone treatment system comprising:

a deformable structure including a web of conductive elements that define flow openings therebetween;

a radiofrequency (Rf) energy source operatively coupled to the conductive elements; and

a fill material for introduction into the interior of the deformable structure.

51. The bone treatment system of claim 50 wherein the conductive elements are coupled to a single pole of the Rf source for operating in a mono-polar manner in cooperation with a remote return electrode.

52. The bone treatment system of claim 50 wherein the conductive elements have first and second opposing polarity portions coupled to opposing poles of the Rf source for operating in a bi-polar manner.

53. The bone treatment system of claim 50 wherein the deformable structure is at least one of a knit structure, woven structure and braided structure.