Abstract: A handle releasably attaches to a surgical instrument. The handle permits a physician to fit a selected instrument to the handle tactilely, without need of visual confirmation. At the same time, the handle makes possible the reliable transmission, with increased mechanical advantage, of both torsional and longitudinal loads by the physician to the selected instrument. The handle also permits quick detachment of the selected instrument from the handle, without sticking or inordinate force.

Abstract: Tools carry structures that are deployed inside bone and, when manipulated, cut cancellous bone to form a cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for the fixation of osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic long bones, especially Colles' fractures. A cannula having a circumferential opening is inserted into cancellous bone and directed such that the circumferential opening faces the fracture. The cannula is further adapted to receive an expandable structure, the expandable structure being inserted through the cannula until it is in registration with the circumferential opening. The expandable structure is expanded through the circumferential opening into cancellous bone and toward the fracture. The expansion of the expandable structure through the circumferential opening toward the fracture causes compression of cancellous bone and moves fractured cortical bone, thus creating a cavity proximal to the fracture. The cavity is then filled with a flowable bone filling material and the material allowed to harden.

Abstract: A filler instrument comprises a first chamber section having a first cross sectional area and a second chamber section having a second cross sectional area less than the first cross sectional area. The second chamber section communicates with the first chamber section. The first chamber section includes an inlet for receiving a material into the filler instrument, and the second chamber section includes an outlet for discharging the material from the filler instrument. A first plunger is sized to pass through the first chamber section and not the second chamber section. A second plunger is sized to pass through an interior bore of the first plunger and into the second chamber section. In use, the first plunger displaces material residing in the first chamber section through the second chamber section toward the outlet, and the second plunger displaces material residing in the second chamber section through the outlet.

Abstract: A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone) against the inner cortex of bones whether the bones are fractured or not. The balloon comprises an inflatable, non-expandable balloon body for insertion into said bone. The body has a shape and size to compress at least a portion of the cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone and to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon is prevented from applying excessive pressure to the outer cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of all the bone marrow. The balloon is able to be folded so that it can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. The main purpose of the balloon is the forming or enlarging of a cavity or passage in a bone, especially in, but not limited to, vertebral bodies.

Abstract: A tube body includes an interior bore to carry a material flow into bone. The tube body includes a dispensing end having an opening communicating with the bore to dispense the material flow. One embodiment provides a cutting element, which extends in the opening to permit passage of the material flow and to sever the material flow in response to rotation of the tube body. Another embodiment deflects the dispensing end from the main axis of the tube body, to facilitate targeted introduction of flowable material, even when the access path does not align the tube body along the natural geometric axes of the treatment site. Another embodiment provides a connector having a rotating fitting, which releasably connects the tube body to a cement injecting tool. The rotating fitting allows the physician to rotate the injection nozzle assembly to control orientation and position in the treatment site, without rotating the associated injection tool itself.

Abstract: Systems and methods insert an expandable body in a collapsed configuration into a space defined between cortical bone surfaces. The space can, e.g., comprise a fracture or an intervertebral space. The systems and methods cause expansion of the expandable body within the space, thereby pushing apart the cortical bone surfaces to, e.g., reduce the fracture or push apart adjacent vertebral bodies as part of a therapeutic procedure.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide greater control over the placement of cement and other flowable liquids into bone.

Abstract: This invention relates to devices, such as cannulas or needles, which are used for inserting expandable structures, such as medical balloons, into interior regions of a human or animal body, as well as methods for their use. In various embodiments, insertion devices described herein are capable of flaring at their tip to ease insertion and removal of expandable structures and reduce the risk of damaging such expandable structures during their insertion, inflation and removal. In other embodiments, insertion devices described herein are capable of directionally guiding and/or inhibiting expansion of an expandable structure within an interior region of an animal or human body to create optimally placed cavities for repair, augmentation and/or treatment of fractured and/or diseased bone.

Abstract: Devices intended for deployment into interior body regions employ a catheter tube, which carries an expandable structure. The catheter tube extends along a first axis, while the expanded geometry of the structure is oriented about a second axis, which is not aligned with the first axis. The asymmetry between the two axes permits deployment of the expandable structure in a symmetric fashion with respect to the natural axis of a targeted interior body region, even when the targeted interior body region is either asymmetric in geometry or otherwise requires access along a path that is not aligned with the natural axis. The structure can include spaced apart end regions, which provide a non-conical diameter transition between the diameter of the catheter tube and the larger diameter of the expanded structure.

Abstract: A structure adapted to assume an expanded geometry having a desired configuration when used in bone includes material that limits the expanded geometry. The structure undergoes stress when expanded during its first use in bone. As a result, the structure can not be relied upon to reach its desired configuration during subsequent use in bone. Accordingly, the structure is packaged in a sterile kit, which verifies to the physician or user that the device packaged within it is sterile and has not be subjected to prior use. The physician or user is thereby assured that the expandable structure meets established performance and sterility specifications, and will have the desired configuration when expanded for use.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering material into bone deploy a cannula through soft tissue to establish a subcutaneous path into bone. A material is introduced into bone through the cannula. The systems and methods advance a tamping instrument through the cannula to urge material residing in the cannula into bone. The introducing step delivers material at a pressure no greater than about 360 psi.

Abstract: A method for treating bone employs a tool comprising an outer catheter tube having a distal end and an inner catheter tube extending within the outer catheter tube and having a distal end region that extends beyond the distal end of the outer catheter tube. The tool includes an expandable structure having a proximal end secured to the distal end of the outer catheter tube and a distal end secured to the distal end region of the inner catheter tube. Thus, the distal end region of the inner catheter tube is enclosed within the expandable structure. The method manipulates the tool to introduce the expandable structure into bone while in a generally collapsed geometry. The method causes the expandable structure to assume an expanded geometry inside bone.

Abstract: A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone) against the inner cortex of bones whether the bones are fractured or not. The balloon comprises an inflatable, non-expandable balloon body for insertion into said bone. The body has a shape and size to compress at least a portion of the cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone and to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon is prevented from applying excessive pressure to the outer cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of all the bone marrow. The balloon is able to be folded so that it can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. The main purpose of the balloon is the forming or enlarging of a cavity or passage in a bone, especially in, but not limited to, vertebral bodies.

Abstract: Systems and methods treat fractured or diseased bone by deploying more than a single therapeutic tool into the bone. In one arrangement, the systems and methods deploy an expandable body in association with a bone cement nozzle into the bone, such that both occupy the bone interior at the same time. In another arrangement, the systems and methods deploy multiple expandable bodies, which occupy the bone interior volume simultaneously. Expansion of the bodies form cavity or cavities in cancellous bone in the interior bone volume.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering material into bone deploy a cannula through soft tissue to establish a subcutaneous path into bone. A material is introduced into bone through the cannula. The systems and methods advance a tamping instrument through the cannula to urge material residing in the cannula into bone. The introducing step delivers material at a pressure no greater than about 360 psi.

Abstract: A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone) against the inner cortex of bones whether the bones are fractured or not. The balloon comprises an inflatable, non-expandable balloon body for insertion into said bone. The body has a shape and size to compress at least a portion of the cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone and to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon is prevented from applying excessive pressure to the outer cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of all the bone marrow. The balloon is able to be folded so that it can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. The main purpose of the balloon is the forming or enlarging of a cavity or passage in a bone, especially in, but not limited to, vertebral bodies.

Abstract: A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone) against the inner cortex of bones whether the bones are fractured or not. The balloon comprises an inflatable, non-expandable balloon body for insertion into said bone. The body has a shape and size to compress at least a portion of the cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone and to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon is prevented from applying excessive pressure to the outer cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of all the bone marrow. The balloon is able to be folded so that it can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. The main purpose of the balloon is the forming or enlarging of a cavity or passage in a bone, especially in, but not limited to, vertebral bodies.