Systems and methods for treating vertebral bodies

• US 6,641,587 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orthophoenix, LLC (Marathon Patent Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kyphon Incorporated
• Inventors: Scribner, Robert M., Reo, Michael L., Boucher, Ryan P, Reiley, Mark A., Sand, Paul M
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/905,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 606/92, 606/93, 606/94, 604/207, 604/208, 604/211, 604/218, 604/222, 604/224, 604/226, 604/264
• US Class Current: 606/93
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1662 for particular parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7095 the filler comprising unlinked macroscopic particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8816 characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by conduit connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8855 inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0065 Peelable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3933 Liquid markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 : Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/33 : Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 : for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 : for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 : for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 : Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 : Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30581 : having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4662 : for measuring penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4685 : by means of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00353 : Bone cement, e.g. polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA

Abstract

A filler instrument comprises a first chamber section having a first cross sectional area and a second chamber section having a second cross sectional area less than the first cross sectional area. The second chamber section communicates with the first chamber section. The first chamber section includes an inlet for receiving a material into the filler instrument, and the second chamber section includes an outlet for discharging the material from the filler instrument. A first plunger is sized to pass through the first chamber section and not the second chamber section. A second plunger is sized to pass through an interior bore of the first plunger and into the second chamber section. In use, the first plunger displaces material residing in the first chamber section through the second chamber section toward the outlet, and the second plunger displaces material residing in the second chamber section through the outlet.

Claims

1. A system for introducing material into bone comprising

a filler instrument comprising a first chamber section having a first cross sectional area and a second chamber section having a second cross sectional area less than the first cross sectional area, the second chamber section communicating with the first chamber section, the first chamber section including an inlet for receiving a material into the filler instrument, and the second chamber section including an outlet for discharging the material from the filler instrument,

a first plunger sized to pass through the first chamber section and not the second chamber section, the first plunger including an interior bore, and

a second plunger sized to pass through the interior bore of the first plunger and into the second chamber section,

a retaining member releasably securing the second plunger within the interior bore of the first plunger, and

whereby the first plunger displaces material residing in the first chamber section through the second chamber section toward the outlet, and the second plunger displaces material residing in the second chamber section through the outlet.

2. A system for introducing material into bone comprising

a filler instrument comprising a first substantially hollow section having a first proximal end, a first distal end, a first interior cross sectional area and a first interior volume;

and a second substantially hollow section having a second proximal end, a second distal end, a second interior cross sectional area and a second interior volume;

the first substantially hollow section being in fluid communication with the second substantially hollow section;

the first interior volume being larger than the second interior volume;

The first interior cross sectional area being larger than the second interior cross sectional area;

a first ram instrument having a distal tip and being sized to pass through the first interior cross sectional area,

a lumen extending through the first ram instrument, and

a check valve located on the distal tip of the first ram instrument preventing fluid flow into the lumen and permitting passage of a second ram instrument through the lumen of the first ram instrument and into the second cross sectional area.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first ram instrument is too large to pass through the second interior cross sectional area.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first interior cross sectional area is substantially constant along a longitudinal axis of the first substantially hollow section.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a second ram instrument sized to pass through the second cross sectional area.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second ram instrument is sized to pass through a lumen extending through the first ram instrument.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the first interior cross sectional area is substantially constant throughout the first substantially hollow section.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the second interior cross sectional area is substantially constant throughout the second substantially hollow section.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the first interior cross sectional area varies throughout the first substantially hollow section.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the second interior cross sectional area varies throughout the second substantially hollow section.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the first ram instrument further comprises a seal positioned approximate a distal end of the first ram instrument.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the seal comprises Teflon.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the seal comprises natural rubber.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the seal comprises an o-ring seal.