Bone treatment systems and methods

• US 20060149268A1
• Filed: 11/19/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dfine Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dfine Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shadduck, John H., Truckai, Csaba
• Granted Patent: US 8,562,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1615 Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1617 with mobile or detachable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1642 for producing a curved bore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/842 rotating continuously rotating surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32002

Abstract

The invention provides instruments and methods for prophylactic treatment of an osteoporotic vertebral body or for treating a vertebral compression fracture (VCF). In one exemplary method, a probe system uses a high speed rotational cutter for abrading or cutting a plane within vertebral cancellous bone. Optional irrigation and aspiration sources are included in the probe system for removing abraded bone debris. In one embodiment, the high speed cutter uses a tissue-selective abrading surface that abrades or cuts bone but does not cut soft tissue. After the creation of a weakened cut plane in the bone, reduction of the fracture requires reduced forces.

Claims

1. A method of reducing a vertebral fracture, comprising:

introducing a cutting system into a vertebra;

cutting a substantially horizontal plane in at least one of cancellous bone and cortical bone thereby creating a weakened plane; and

applying forces substantially perpendicular to the weakened plane to reduce the vertebral fracture.

2. The method of claim 1, including cutting the plane with a rotating abrasion member.

3. The method of claim 1, including cutting the plane with an elastomeric, rotating cutting member.

4. The method of claim 1, including cutting the plane with a tissue-selective cutting member.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein cutting the plane is accomplished at from 500 to 400,000 rpm.

6. The method of claim 1, including cutting the plane with an expandable cutting member.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising flowing a fluid into the vertebra.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising aspirating the fluid and bone debris from the vertebra.

9. A bone treatment device, comprising:

an elongated assembly having a working end carrying at least one flexible rotatable member having an abrasive surface, the least one flexible member moveable between a first linear shape and a second curved shape;

a rotation mechanism operatively coupled to rotatable member.

10. The bone treatment device of claim 9 further comprising an actuation mechanism for moving the flexible member between the first linear shape and the second curved shape.

11. The bone treatment device of claim 9 wherein the rotation mechanism is capable of rotating the flexible member at from 500 rpm to 400,000 rpm.

12. The bone treatment device of claim 9 further comprising a fluid source coupled to a lumen in the elongated assembly.

13. The bone treatment device of claim 9 further comprising an aspiration source coupled to a lumen in the elongated assembly.

14. The bone treatment device of claim 9 further comprising a controller for controlling the rotation of the at least one flexible member.