Expandable preformed structures for deployment in interior body regions
DCFirst Claim
1. A device for compacting cancellous bone comprisinga wall made from a flexible material, the wall peripherally defining an interior space and including an expandable region preformed with a normally expanded shape outside bone, the expandable region having proximal and distal ends, the expandable region further having a first expanded section having an interior cross-sectional area adjacent the proximal end, a second expanded section having an interior cross-sectional area adjacent the distal end, and a third section having an interior cross-sectional area located between the first and second expanded sections, the interior cross-sectional area of the third section being less than the interior cross-sectional area of either the first or second expanded sections, and the first expanded section, the second expanded section, and the third expanded section further having, respectively, a first average wall thickness, a second average wall thickness, and a third average wall thickness, and the third average wall thickness being greater than either the first average wall thickness or the second average wall thickness, the expandable region, when expanded beyond its normally expanded shape to reach a given inflation volume, presenting a maximum diameter less than a sphere expanded to an equal inflation volume.
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Abstract
An expandable structure made from an elastomer material is preformed to a desired geometry by exposure to heat and pressure. The structure undergoes controlled expansion and further distention in cancellous bone, with controlled deformation and without failure.
415 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device for compacting cancellous bone comprising
a wall made from a flexible material, the wall peripherally defining an interior space and including an expandable region preformed with a normally expanded shape outside bone, the expandable region having proximal and distal ends, the expandable region further having a first expanded section having an interior cross-sectional area adjacent the proximal end, a second expanded section having an interior cross-sectional area adjacent the distal end, and a third section having an interior cross-sectional area located between the first and second expanded sections, the interior cross-sectional area of the third section being less than the interior cross-sectional area of either the first or second expanded sections, and the first expanded section, the second expanded section, and the third expanded section further having, respectively, a first average wall thickness, a second average wall thickness, and a third average wall thickness, and the third average wall thickness being greater than either the first average wall thickness or the second average wall thickness, the expandable region, when expanded beyond its normally expanded shape to reach a given inflation volume, presenting a maximum diameter less than a sphere expanded to an equal inflation volume.
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7. A method for manipulating bone comprising the steps of
deploying into bone an expandable structure having a wall material peripherally defining an interior space, the structure having a proximal and a distal end, the structure further having a first expandable region located near the distal end and a second expandable region located proximally of the first expandable region, the first and second expandable regions separated by a third region of the structure, the third region having a reduced cross-sectional area as compared to the cross-sectional areas of the first and second regions, and the first expandable region, the second expandable region, and the third expandable region further having, respectively, a first average wall thickness, a second average wall thickness, and a third average wall thickness, and the third average wall thickness being greater than either the first average wall thickness or the second average wall thickness, and expanding the device in bone to manipulate bone.
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10. A method for compacting cancellous bone comprising the steps of
deploying into bone a device having a wall made from a flexible material, the wall peripherally defining an interior space and including an expandable region, the expandable region having proximal and distal ends, the expandable region further having a first expanded section adjacent the distal end, a second expanded section located proximally of the first expanded section, and a third section located between the first and second expanded sections, wherein the average outer diameter of the third section is less than the average outer diameter of either of the first or second expanded sections, and the first expandable region, the second expandable region, and the third expandable region further having, respectively, a first average wall thickness, a second average wall thickness, and a third average wall thickness, and the third average wall thickness being greater than either the first average wall thickness or the second average wall thickness, and expanding the device inside bone to compact cancellous bone.
Specification