Devices and Methods for Correcting a Spinal Deformity

• US 20080114402A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Betz, Randal, Molz, Fred J.
• Application Number:
  US11/558,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114402A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7095 the filler comprising unlinked macroscopic particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8858 laterally or radially expansible inflatable A61B17/8855
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004

Abstract

The present application is directed to devices and methods for correcting a spinal deformity. One exemplary method comprises initially inserting a device into an interior of a vertebral member. The device may be a deformable material, or may be a mechanical apparatus. The device is then expanded in size such that it contacts against the interior of the vertebral member. The expanded device applies a force on the interior of the vertebral member that causes the member to expand from a first size to a second size. The process may include insertion into a single vertebral member, or multiple vertebral members along the spine.

Claims

1. A method of correcting a spinal deformity comprising the steps of:

inserting a device into an interior of a vertebral member;

expanding a size of the device and contacting the device against the interior of the vertebral member; and

applying an intraosseous expansile force on the vertebral member and causing the vertebral member to expand from a first size to a second size.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the device into the interior of the vertebral member comprises positioning the device at a concave side of the vertebral member.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a void within the interior of the vertebral member and inserting the device into the void.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the device into the interior of the vertebral member comprises positioning the device within a cortical rim of the vertebral member.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of causing the vertebral member to expand from the first size to the second size comprises increasing a height of a concave side of the vertebral member.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an activation event to the device and expanding the size of the device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a second device within the interior of the vertebral member and expanding the second device and applying a second intraosseous expansile force.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the device into the interior of the vertebral member comprises inserting an expandable material into the interior while the material is in a first reduced state.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising weakening a portion of the vertebral member and causing the weakened portion to increase from a first height to a second height.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising weakening a concave side of the vertebral member and causing the concave side to increase from a first height to a second height.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein after the step of inserting the device into the interior of the vertebral member, percutaneously accessing the device and inserting additional material into the device.

12. A method of correcting a spinal deformity comprising the steps of:

forming a void within a concave side of an interior of a vertebral member;

inserting a device into the void;

expanding the device and contacting the device against superior and inferior sections of the void;

applying an intraosseous expansile force against the superior and inferior sections of the void; and

causing the concave side of the vertebral member to expand from a first height measured between inferior and superior endplates to a second greater height.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of forming the void within the concave side of the vertebral member comprises accessing the vertebral member from a posterior approach and forming an opening through a pedicle and into the interior of the vertebral member.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of inserting the device into the void comprises inserting an expandable material into the void while the material is in a first reduced state.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of inserting the device into the void comprises inserting an expandable mechanical device into the void while the mechanical device is in a first reduced state.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising weakening the concave side of the vertebral member to allow expansion from the first height to the second height.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising inserting a second device into the void and expanding the second device and applying a second intraosseous expansile force against the superior and inferior sections of the void.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising expanding the device and applying the intraosseous expansile force against the superior and inferior sections of the void prior to expanding the second device.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming a second void within the interior of the vertebral member and inserting a second device into the second void and expanding the second device to apply a second intraosseous expansile force within the interior of the vertebral member.

20. A method of correcting a spinal deformity comprising the steps of:

forming a void within a concave side of an interior of the vertebral member;

inserting a device into the void while the device is in a first state;

activating the device;

expanding the device within the void from the first state to a second state and applying an intraosseous expansile force to the vertebral member; and

causing the concave side of the vertebral member to expand from a first height measured between inferior and superior endplates to a second greater height.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of inserting the device into the void comprises inserting an expandable material into the void while the material is in the first state.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising inserting a support into the void and expanding the device within the void to contact the support and apply the intraosseous expansile force against the support.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of inserting the device into the void comprises inserting a mechanical device into the void while the device is in a first reduced size.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising fracturing the vertebral member and allowing the concave side of the vertebral member to grow to the second height.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising cutting the concave side of the vertebral member prior to causing the concave side of the vertebral member to expand to the second height.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising maintaining the device in the second state after the concave side expands to the second height.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising inserting a second device into a second vertebral member and causing the second vertebral member to expand to an enlarged size.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein after the step of expanding the device within the void from the first state to a second state and applying an intraosseous expansile force to the vertebral member, adding material into the device an increasing the intraosseous expansile force.

29. A method of correcting a spinal deformity comprising the steps of:

forming a void within a concave side of an interior of the vertebral member;

inserting a material into the void while in a first state;

exposing the material to an activation event;

expanding the material within the void from the first state to a second state and applying an intraosseous expansile force to the vertebral member; and

causing the concave side of the vertebral member to expand from a first height measured between inferior and superior endplates to a second height.