Selectively-expandable bone scaffold

• US 20060264945A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orthophoenix, LLC (Marathon Patent Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Edidin, Avram Allan, Markworth, Aaron D., Ferdinand, Arthur E., Ico, Cesar A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,187,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/16 Bone cutting, breaking or removal means other than saws, e.g. Osteoclasts; Drills or chisels for bones; Trepans arthroscopic bone cutters A61B17/320016; dental implant drills potentially for other surgical use A61C8/0089; bone grinders A61F2/4644, A22C17/06; A61B17/1662 takes precedence over all other subgroups except A61B17/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8858 laterally or radially expansible inflatable A61B17/8855
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30581 having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 for adjusting thickness

Abstract

An apparatus includes a scaffold configured to be disposed in a bone. The scaffold is configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration. The scaffold in the second configuration is expanded from the first configuration. A selectively-expandable actuator is configured to be removably disposed within the scaffold. The selectively-expandable actuator is configured to move at least a portion of the scaffold to the second configuration when the selectively-expandable actuator is moved to an expanded configuration. A shape of the selectively-expandable actuator is substantially the same as a shape of the scaffold when the selectively-expandable actuator and the scaffold are in the second configuration. The selectively-expandable actuator configured to be removed from the scaffold when in a collapsed configuration. The scaffold is configured to remain substantially in the second configuration after the scaffold has been expanded by the actuator.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a scaffold configured to be disposed in a bone, the scaffold configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration, the scaffold in the second configuration being expanded from the first configuration; and

a selectively-expandable actuator configured to be removably disposed within the scaffold, the selectively-expandable actuator configured to move at least a portion of the scaffold to the second configuration when the selectively-expandable actuator is moved to an expanded configuration, the selectively-expandable actuator configured to be removed from the scaffold when in a collapsed configuration, a shape of the selectively-expandable actuator being substantially the same as a shape of the scaffold when the selectively-expandable actuator is in the expanded configuration and the scaffold is in the second configuration,

the scaffold configured to remain substantially in the second configuration after the scaffold has been expanded by the actuator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is plastically deformed in the second configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is configured to expand a volume within cancellous bone of a vertebra.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold defines a plurality of slots, a shape of each slot from the plurality of slots configured to determine a shape of the scaffold associated with the second configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold defines a plurality of circumferentially disposed slots, a location of each slot from the plurality of circumferentially disposed slots being symmetrical about the scaffold, and

the selectively-expandable actuator includes an expandable balloon, the expandable balloon being symmetrically expandable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold defines a plurality of circumferentially disposed slots, a location of each slot from the plurality of circumferentially disposed slots being asymmetrical about the scaffold, and

the selectively-expandable actuator includes an expandable balloon, the expandable balloon being symmetrically expandable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold defines a plurality of circumferentially disposed slots, a location of each slot from the plurality of circumferentially disposed slots being asymmetrical about the scaffold, and

the selectively-expandable actuator includes an expandable balloon, the expandable balloon being asymmetrically expandable.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold defines a plurality of circumferentially disposed slots, a location of each slot from the plurality of circumferentially disposed slots being symmetrical about the scaffold, and

the selectively-expandable actuator includes an expandable balloon, the expandable balloon being asymmetrically expandable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selectively-expandable actuator is a balloon configured to be expanded using at least one of a gas and a liquid.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold includes a first semi-cylindrical portion and a second semi-cylindrical portion different from the first semi-cylindrical portion, the first semi-cylindrical portion configured to contact the second semi-cylindrical portion while the scaffold is in the first configuration, the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion configured to be spaced apart while the scaffold is in the second configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shaft removably coupled to the scaffold.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is configured to cut cancellous bone.

13. A method, comprising:

inserting a scaffold into a vertebra, the scaffold configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration, the scaffold in the second configuration being expanded from the first configuration; and

moving the scaffold to the second configuration using an actuator disposed within the scaffold, a shape of the actuator being substantially the same as a shape of the scaffold when the actuator is in the expanded configuration and the scaffold is in the second configuration; and

removing the actuator from the scaffold when the actuator is in a collapsed configuration, the scaffold configured to remain substantially in the second configuration after the scaffold has been expanded by the actuator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving the scaffold to the second configuration includes plastically deforming the scaffold.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising expanding a volume within cancellous bone of a vertebra.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving the scaffold to the second configuration includes expanding a balloon within the scaffold, the balloon configured to be expanded using at least one of gas and liquid.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving the scaffold to the second configuration includes expanding a mechanical actuator within the scaffold, the mechanical actuator configured to substantially engage the scaffold.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving the scaffold to the second configuration includes moving a first portion of the scaffold from a position contacting a second portion of the scaffold to a position spaced apart from the second portion of the scaffold.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the scaffold to cut cancellous bone.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a scaffold configured to be disposed in a bone, the scaffold configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration, at least a portion of the scaffold in the second configuration being expanded from the first configuration, the scaffold being configured to expand a volume within cancellous bone of a vertebra; and

a selectively-expandable actuator configured to be removably disposed within the scaffold, the selectively-expandable actuator configured to move at least a portion of the scaffold to the second configuration when the selectively-expandable actuator is moved to an expanded configuration, the selectively-expandable actuator configured to be removed from the scaffold when the selectively-expandable actuator is in a collapsed configuration, a shape of the selectively-expandable actuator being substantially the same as a shape of the scaffold when the selectively-expandable actuator is in the expanded configuration and the scaffold is in the second configuration,

the scaffold configured to remain substantially in the second configuration after the scaffold has been expanded by the actuator.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the scaffold is plastically deformed in the second configuration.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the actuator includes an expandable balloon, the expandable balloon being one of uniformly expandable and non-uniformly expandable.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the scaffold has a spiral configuration.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a scaffold having a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion, the first portion and the second portion being movable between a first position and a second position, the first portion contacting the second portion while the scaffold is in the first position and being spaced apart from the second portion while the scaffold is in the second position;

an actuator removably coupled to the scaffold, the actuator configured to move the scaffold from the first configuration to the second configuration; and

a substantially elastic sleeve disposed around the scaffold, the substantially elastic sleeve configured to bias the first portion of the scaffold towards the second portion of the scaffold.