Methods of distracting tissue layers of the human spine
First Claim
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1. A method of treating the human spine, comprising:
- inserting a flexible elongated guide between tissue layers of the human spine;
inserting a flexible one-piece elongated member along and constrained by the guide between tissue layers of the human spine, said one-piece elongated member being inserted in a first generally linear configuration between the tissue layers;
curving the elongated member into a second helical configuration in which the elongated member defines a plurality of windings coiled around a vertical axis extending generally in the longitudinal direction of the spine and defining an inner space, the elongated member in the helical configuration separating and/or supporting the tissue layers; and
introducing flowable material including bone cement into the inner space of the helical configuration.
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Abstract
Methods of separating and/or supporting layers of tissue in the human spine. Such methods generally comprise inserting at least a distal end portion of a guide member between layers of tissue in the human spine wherein the distal end portion defines a predetermined shape. A distraction device is advanced over at least the distal end portion of the guide member so that the distraction device substantially assumes the predetermined shape of the distal end portion of the guide member to form a support structure between the tissue layers that separates and/or supports the tissue layers.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of treating the human spine, comprising:
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inserting a flexible elongated guide between tissue layers of the human spine; inserting a flexible one-piece elongated member along and constrained by the guide between tissue layers of the human spine, said one-piece elongated member being inserted in a first generally linear configuration between the tissue layers; curving the elongated member into a second helical configuration in which the elongated member defines a plurality of windings coiled around a vertical axis extending generally in the longitudinal direction of the spine and defining an inner space, the elongated member in the helical configuration separating and/or supporting the tissue layers; and introducing flowable material including bone cement into the inner space of the helical configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for treating a vertebral body having an upper endplate and a lower endplate, the method comprising:
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introducing a flexible elongated guide into a vertebral body; introducing an elongated flexible implant into the vertebral body along and constrained by guide, the implant being introduced in a first generally linear shape; curving the elongated implant as it advances in the vertebral body so that it extends more than 360 degrees about an axis that intersects the upper and lower endplates of the vertebral body to define a second shape within the vertebral body that is generally helical and comprises a plurality of windings about the axis, the helical implant separating and/or supporting the endplates of the vertebral body; and introducing flowable material comprising bone cement into the vertebral body. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for treating a vertebral body having an upper endplate and a lower endplate, the method comprising:
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introducing a flexible elongated guide into a vertebral body; introducing an elongated flexible implant into the vertebral body along and constrained by guide, the implant being introduced in a first generally linear shape; curving the elongated implant as it advances in the vertebral body so that it extends more than 360 degrees about an axis that intersects the upper and lower endplates of the vertebral body to define a second shape within the vertebral body that is generally helical and comprises a plurality of windings about the axis, the helical implant separating and/or supporting the endplates of the vertebral body, and the implant including surfaces that resist lateral shifting between adjacent windings; and introducing flowable material comprising bone cement into an area containing cancellous bone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for treating a vertebral body having an upper endplate and a lower endplate, the method comprising:
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introducing a flexible elongated guide into a vertebral body; introducing an elongated flexible implant into the vertebral body along and constrained by guide, the implant being introduced in a first generally linear shape; curving the elongated implant as it advances in the vertebral body so that it extends more than 360 degrees about axis that intersects the upper and lower endplates of the vertebral body to define a second shape within the vertebral body that is generally helical and comprises a plurality of windings about the axis, the helical implant separating and/or supporting the endplates of the vertebral body, and the implant including surfaces that resist lateral shifting between adjacent windings; and introducing flowable material comprising bone cement into the vertebral body. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification