Abstract: A posterior percutaneous path is established into a bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone. An expandable structure is introduced into the cancellous bone by deployment of a tool through the posterior percutaneous path into the cancellous bone. The expandable structure is expanded by introducing a filler material into the structure within the cancellous bone. The tool is withdrawn through the posterior percutaneous access path, leaving the structure and filler material inside the cancellous bone.

Abstract: A vertebral body is selected having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. A tool is manipulated to create a cavity in cancellous bone. A bone filling material is conveyed into the cavity. At least one additional cavity is created in cancellous bone.

Abstract: A cannula is sized and configured to establish an access path through soft tissue to bone having a cancellous bone volume. A bone treatment tool is sized and configured to be introduced through the cannula into the cancellous bone volume. The bone treatment tool carries an operative structure that is capable of being enlarged in situ to contact a region of the cancellous bone volume. A nozzle is sized and configured to be introduced through the cannula into the cancellous bone volume. The nozzle includes a connector element that releasably couples to a dispenser of filling material to deliver filling material into the region of cancellous bone contacted by the operative structure.

Abstract: A cannula establishes a subcutaneous path into bone. A tamping instrument can be manipulated independent of the cannula to enable insertion of the tamping instrument into the cannula, advancement of the tamping terminus in the cannula to urge material residing in the cannula into bone, and withdrawal of the tamping terminus from the cannula. The tamping instrument includes at least one marking to visually gauge the advancement of a terminus of the tamping instrument relative to a distal end of the cannula.

Abstract: A cannula establishes a subcutaneous path into bone. A tamping instrument having a tamping terminus is sized and configured for manipulation independent of the cannula to enable insertion of the tamping instrument into the cannula, advancement of the tamping terminus in the cannula to urge material residing in the cannula into bone, and withdrawal of the tamping terminus from the cannula.

Abstract: A cannula establishes a subcutaneous path into bone. The cannula includes at least one predetermined marking. A tamping instrument is advanced through the cannula to deliver material into the bone by grasping an enlarged handle portion formed on the tamping instrument. The advancement is visually gauged by observing at least one predetermined marking on the tamping instrument to determine a position of a terminus of the tamping instrument relative to a distal end of the cannula.

Abstract: A cannula establishes a subcutaneous path into bone. The cannula includes at least one radiopaque marker. A tamping instrument having a tamping terminus is sized and configured for manipulation independent of the cannula to enable insertion of the tamping instrument into the cannula, advancement of the tamping terminus in the cannula to urge material residing in the cannula into bone, and withdrawal of the tamping terminus from the cannula.

Abstract: An elongated shaft is sized and configured to establish an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. The elongated shaft includes a distal end portion having a side opening. A first tool is sized and configured to be carried by the shaft and includes a region that is capable of being controllably advanced by a user through the side opening to project outside the distal end portion and contact cancellous bone. Contact between the region and cancellous bone can modify cancellous bone for introduction of bone filling material, e.g., by creating at least one flow path for the bone filling material.

Abstract: An expandable structure carried at the end of a catheter tube assembly can be contracted and/or wrapped to present a reduced profile during deployment and/or removal from a targeted tissue site.

Abstract: A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone). The balloon comprises an inflatable 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/or to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon desirably incorporates restraints which inhibit the balloon from applying excessive pressure to various regions of the cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation of the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of the bone marrow. The balloon can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. The balloon can be used to form and/or enlarge a cavity or passage in a bone, especially in, but not limited to, vertebral bodies.

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: Devices, systems and methods employ magnetic force to resist tissue collapse in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit during sleep.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods employ magnetic force to resist tissue collapse in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit during sleep.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods employ magnetic force to resist tissue collapse in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit during sleep.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods employ magnetic force to resist tissue collapse in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit during sleep.

Abstract: An implant system places magnetic structures in or on tissue that develop a magnetic repelling force between a soft palate a posterior pharyngeal wall. The magnetic repelling force has a magnitude F-mag, where F-mag=f (F-sep, F-nat), and where F-sep is a force required to separate soft palate tissue from pharyngeal wall tissue during sleep, and F-nat is a force exerted by native muscle on the soft palate during swallowing and/or drinking and/or speech. In another embodiment, a palate implant uses attractive magnetic force to keep the airway open.

Abstract: A percutaneous path is created into a bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone, e.g., a vertebral body. An expandable bio-absorbable structure is introduced into the cancellous bone by deployment of a tool through the percutaneous path into the cancellous bone. The expandable bio-absorbable structure is expanded and the tool withdrawn, leaving the expandable bio-absorbable structure expanded inside the cancellous bone. Expansion of the expandable bio-absorbable structure within cancellous bone can, e.g., compact cancellous bone, and/or create a cavity in cancellous bone, and/or move fractured cortical bone.

Abstract: Systems and methods resist posterior movement of both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. The systems and methods employ first, second, and third structures. The first structure is sized and configured for placement in or on a tongue. The second structure is sized and configured for placement in or on a region of a soft palate or uvula. The third structure is sized and configured for placement in or on tissue in a desired relationship. anterior of the first and second structures. The first and second structures each includes a ferromagnetic material. The third structure includes a magnetic material that magnetically interacts with both the first and second ferromagnetic materials by attracting both the first and second ferromagnetic materials, thereby resisting posterior movement of both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula.

Abstract: A magnetic force system uses a magnetic implant sized and configured to be inserted in the pharynx and another magnetic implant sized and configured to be inserted in the tongue, palate, or pharynx. The system establishes different regions of magnetic interaction between the two implants across the airway, attracting and repelling, such that attractive interaction in one region of the implants combines with repelling interaction in another region of the implants, to provide a “hinge” structure. Alternatively, a magnetic force system that uses three magnetic implants sized and configured to be inserted in the tongue, pharynx, and palate, respectively. The tongue implant is attracted to the palatal implant, and repels the pharyngeal implant, forming a modified “hinge” structure. Forces of magnetic attracting bring tissue together to form a magnetic hinge joint, providing an anchor to stabilize the regions where repelling forces work to separate tissue to keep the airway open.

Abstract: Systems and methods prevent magnetic implant migration and extrusion in the upper airway. The systems and methods relate both to surgical techniques as well as structural features to address the problem of magnetic implant migration.