Treatment of the vertebral column
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a vertebral body comprising:
- positioning a tubular member to access a selected region in the interior of the vertebral body, the tubular member extending along an axis;
providing an elongated steerable member having an open distal end;
longitudinally moving the steerable member through the tubular member and outwardly through an end thereof into the selected region in the interior of the vertebral body; and
causing the open distal end of the steerable member to laterally deflect, without appreciably rotating the steerable member relative to the tubular member, through at least one selectively variable path extending along a curved axis laterally offset from the tubular member axis within the vertebral body and thereby create a void area within bone in the selected region in the interior of the vertebral body;
the degree of lateral deflection of the open distal end of the steerable member within the selected region of the interior of the vertebral body relative to the tubular member axis being selectively adjustable without creating relative longitudinal movement between the tubular member and the steerable member; and
introducing a biologically active component into the void area.
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Abstract
A method is provided for treating a spinal condition. The method includes introducing a biological treatment into an area of a vertebral column, and mechanically unloading the treated area by applying a load-bearing device to the anterior region, the anterior column region, the posterior region, or the spinous process region of the vertebral column.
257 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of treating a vertebral body comprising:
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positioning a tubular member to access a selected region in the interior of the vertebral body, the tubular member extending along an axis; providing an elongated steerable member having an open distal end; longitudinally moving the steerable member through the tubular member and outwardly through an end thereof into the selected region in the interior of the vertebral body; and causing the open distal end of the steerable member to laterally deflect, without appreciably rotating the steerable member relative to the tubular member, through at least one selectively variable path extending along a curved axis laterally offset from the tubular member axis within the vertebral body and thereby create a void area within bone in the selected region in the interior of the vertebral body; the degree of lateral deflection of the open distal end of the steerable member within the selected region of the interior of the vertebral body relative to the tubular member axis being selectively adjustable without creating relative longitudinal movement between the tubular member and the steerable member; and introducing a biologically active component into the void area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of treating a vertebral body comprising:
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positioning a tubular member to access a selected region of the vertebral body, the tubular member extending along an axis; providing a first elongated steerable member having an open distal end; longitudinally moving the first steerable member at least once through the tubular member and outwardly through an end thereof into the selected region of the vertebral body; causing the open distal end of the first steerable member to laterally deflect, without appreciably rotating the first steerable member with respect to the tubular member, through at least one selectively variable path extending along a curved axis laterally offset from the tubular member axis within the vertebral body and thereby create a void area within the selected region of the interior of the vertebral body, the degree of lateral deflection of the open distal end of the first steerable member within the selected region of the interior of the vertebral body relative to the tubular member axis being selectively adjustable without creating relative longitudinal movement between the tubular member and the steerable member; removing the first steerable member from the tubular member; providing a second elongated steerable member having an open distal end; longitudinally moving the second steerable member through the tubular member and into the void area within the selected region of the interior of the vertebral body; and introducing a biological treatment through the second steerable member into the void area.
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Specification