Apparatus and methods for use of expandable members in surgical applications
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- coupling, to an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis, an expandable member configured to displace a first portion of a spine relative to a second portion of the spine when moving between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
disposing an outer sheath about the expandable member such that the outer sheath covers a distal end portion of the elongated member extending transverse to the longitudinal axis; and
placing a clamp about a portion of the outer sheath to couple the outer sheath to the expandable member.
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Abstract
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an elongated member, an expandable member coupled to the elongated member, and an outer sheath. The outer sheath, which can be constructed from a different material than the expandable member, is disposed about the expandable member such that an outer surface of the expandable member is in discontinuous contact with an inner surface of the outer sheath. The expandable member and the outer sheath are configured to cooperatively displace a bone structure when moving between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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coupling, to an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis, an expandable member configured to displace a first portion of a spine relative to a second portion of the spine when moving between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; disposing an outer sheath about the expandable member such that the outer sheath covers a distal end portion of the elongated member extending transverse to the longitudinal axis; and placing a clamp about a portion of the outer sheath to couple the outer sheath to the expandable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising:
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inserting an expandable member into an interior portion of a bone structure, the expandable member including a first layer and a second layer disposed about the first layer such that an outer surface of the first layer is in discontinuous contact with an inner surface of the second layer, the first layer constructed from a first polymer having a molecular structure, the second layer constructed from a second polymer having a molecular structure more amorphous than the molecular structure of the first polymer, the expandable member being coupled to an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis such that the second layer covers a distal end portion of the elongated member that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis; and expanding the expandable member while the expandable member is disposed within the interior portion of the bone structure such that the expandable member exerts a force sufficient to cause a first portion of the bone structure to move relative to a second portion of the bone structure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification