Bone probe apparatus and method of use

• US 20070049849A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Layne, Richard, Leung, Andrea, Schwardt, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/438,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049849A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• 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 17/8855 inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a probe configured to be percutaneously deployed within an interior portion of a bone structure. At least a portion of the probe is configured to contact a portion of the interior portion of the bone structure when the probe is actuated within the interior portion of the bone structure. The apparatus also includes a pressure indicator that is configured to provide pressure data associated with a pressure externally exerted on the probe when the probe is actuated within the interior portion of the bone structure. In some embodiments, the probe includes an expandable member. In some embodiments, the probe includes an expandable low-compliance balloon.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

inserting a probe into an interior portion of a bone structure of a patient;

actuating the probe such that at least a portion of the probe contacts a portion of the interior portion of the bone structure; and

providing pressure data associated with a pressure externally exerted on the probe while the probe is within the interior portion of the bone structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a medical device from a plurality of medical devices based on the pressure data, the selected medical device configured to perform a procedure within the interior portion of the bone structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe includes a balloon, the pressure indicator being coupled to the balloon, the actuating includes inflating the balloon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the probe includes a body and an actuating tip movably coupled to the body;

the pressure indicator being disposed at the actuating tip; and

the actuating includes actuating the actuating tip.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a medical device from a plurality of medical devices based on the pressure data, the selected medical device configured to perform a procedure within the interior portion of the bone structure, the medical device including an expandable member;

disposing the expandable member within the interior portion of the bone structure; and

expanding the expandable member such that the expandable member exerts pressure on at least a portion of the interior portion of the bone structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone structure is a vertebral body.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuating the probe includes actuating the probe in a plurality of locations within the interior portion of the bone structure, the method further comprising:

determining a profile of the interior portion of the bone structure based on the pressure data associated with the plurality of locations.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a medical device from a plurality of medical devices based on the pressure data, the selected medical device configured to perform a procedure within the interior portion of the bone structure, the medical device including an expandable member;

disposing the expandable member within the interior portion of the bone structure; and

expanding the expandable member, the expandable member having an expanded size greater than a size of the probe.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a hardness of the interior portion of the bone structure based on the pressure data.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a probe configured to be percutaneously deployed within an interior portion of a bone structure, at least a portion of the probe configured to contact a portion of the interior portion of the bone structure when the probe is actuated within the interior portion of the bone structure; and

a pressure indicator configured to provide pressure data associated with a pressure externally exerted on the probe when the probe is actuated within the interior portion of the bone structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the probe includes an expandable member, the pressure indicator being coupled to the expandable member.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the probe includes a low-compliance balloon, the pressure indicator being coupled to the low-compliance balloon.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the probe includes a body and an actuating tip movably coupled to the body; and

the pressure indictor being disposed at the actuating tip.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bone structure is a vertebral body.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pressure data is used to identify a profile of the interior portion of the bone structure.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pressure indicator is a first pressure indicator, the apparatus further comprising:

a second pressure indicator, the first pressure indicator and the second pressure indicator each configured to contact a different portion of the interior portion of the bone structure when the probe is actuated within the interior portion of the bone structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pressure indicator is configured to provide pressure data exerted on the expandable member when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the probe includes a low-compliance balloon configured to be expanded to a maximum volume associated with a compressive strength of the bone structure in which the balloon is disposed.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

an elongate body;

an expandable member coupled to the elongate body, the expandable member having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the expandable member configured to be inserted into an interior portion of a bone structure while the expandable member is in the collapsed configuration; and

a pressure indicator coupled to the expandable member, the pressure indicator configured to contact at least a portion of the interior portion of the bone structure when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration, the pressure indicator configured to transmit pressure data to a location external to the bone structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the pressure indicator is configured to detect pressure exerted on the expandable member when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the pressure indicator is a first pressure indicator, the apparatus includes a second pressure indicator, the first pressure indicator and the second pressure indicator each configured to contact a different portion of the interior portion of the bone structure when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration within the interior portion of the bone structure.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the expandable member includes a low-compliance balloon.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the expandable member includes a body and an actuating tip movably coupled to the body; and

the pressure indicator is disposed at the actuating tip.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the bone structure is a vertebral body.