Bone treatment systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for reducing a vertebral fracture, comprising:
- a knit structure comprising a plurality of filaments, the knit structure configured for expandable extension within the interior of an injected volume of bone cement;
an introducer for introducing the knit structure and bone cement into a vertebra; and
an electrical or electromagnetic energy source configured to couple to the knit structure such that at least a portion of the plurality of filaments is electrically coupled to the electrical or electromagnetic energy source to apply energy from the electrical or electromagnetic energy source to the volume of bone cement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and instruments for treating an osteoporotic vertebral body or for treating a vertebral compression fracture. An exemplary method includes introducing an open knit structure together with a bone cement into a bone wherein the knit structure extends substantially throughout the interior of the cement volume. In one aspect of the invention, the bone cement volumes cures with the filament structure reinforcing the cement. In another aspect of the invention, the open knit structure is configured to direct flows of bone cement to apply forces for reducing a vertebral compression fracture. In another aspect of the invention, the system provides bone cement flows that extend through the knit structure thus allowing the cement to fully interdigitate with the cancellous bone.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for reducing a vertebral fracture, comprising:
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a knit structure comprising a plurality of filaments, the knit structure configured for expandable extension within the interior of an injected volume of bone cement; an introducer for introducing the knit structure and bone cement into a vertebra; and an electrical or electromagnetic energy source configured to couple to the knit structure such that at least a portion of the plurality of filaments is electrically coupled to the electrical or electromagnetic energy source to apply energy from the electrical or electromagnetic energy source to the volume of bone cement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for treating a bone, comprising:
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an open knit structure at least partly of conductive filaments configured for extension in cross section by the flow of bone cement therethrough; and an electrical radiofrequency source coupled to the conductive filaments of the open knit structure and configured to apply electrical energy to the conductive filaments and thereby to apply energy to the bone cement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a knit structure configured to reinforce a volume of bone cement, wherein the knit structure extends substantially uniformly across a cross-section of the volume of bone cement, the knit structure comprising a plurality of filaments joined by technical knitting and forming a plurality of openings throughout the knit structure, wherein the bone cement is configured to flow into and through the openings; and an electrical or electromagnetic energy source coupled to the knit structure and configured to apply electrical or electromagnetic energy to at least some of the plurality of filaments of the knit structure to thereby apply energy to the bone cement; wherein the size of the openings forms a gradient that extends from the openings at a central region of the knit structure to openings at lateral surfaces, with smaller mean opening dimensions at the lateral surfaces, and greater mean opening dimensions in the central region and in a top and bottom central surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for reducing a vertebral fracture, comprising:
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a knit structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart conductive filaments separated by a plurality of non-conductive filaments, wherein the knit structure is configured for expandable extension substantially throughout the interior of an injected volume of bone cement; and an electrical energy source configured to couple to the knit structure such that the plurality of conductive filaments are electrically coupled to the electrical energy source; wherein the plurality of conductive filaments are configured to function as opposing polarity electrodes to thereby act in a bipolar manner to apply energy from the electrical energy source to the volume of bone cement. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification