Abstract: An expanding device for expanding the spacing between bones is provided. The expanding device includes a spacer configured to be expandable and disposed between the bones, a catheter provided with the spacer at a distal end thereof and adapted to introduce a filler into the spacer, and a sheath having a lumen through which the catheter is inserted and in which the spacer before expansion can be housed. The spacer includes a spacer body configured to be expandable, an introduction section through which a filler is introduced into a rear-end-side expansion section of the spacer body, and a bypass passage through which part of the filler in the introduction section is introduced into a distal-end-side expansion section of the spacer body.

Abstract: A puncture assisting tool for assisting in a puncturing operation by a puncture tool that is used to insert and place a spacer between bones and includes an arc-shaped needle includes a base section configured to be in contact with a skin of a patient; and a guide unit configured to be fixed with respect to the base section. The guide unit has a curvature that is approximately the same as a curvature of an arc shape of the puncture tool. The guide unit is configured such that an outer arc-shaped surface of the puncture tool can be placed in contact with the guide unit to guide the puncture tool in an arc trajectory while the puncture tool is being inserted into the patient.

Abstract: A filling material which enables a user to visually confirm the state of the filling material while it is injected into a flexible container based on an X-ray image, and a method of confirming the injection state of the filling material. The filling material configured to be injected into the flexible container includes a first contrast substance that is flowable, and a second contrast substance that is mixed into the first contrast substance and is insoluble in the first contrast substance. The second contrast substance possesses higher contrast X-ray contrast properties than the X-ray contrast properties of the first contrast substance.

Abstract: A puncture assisting tool for assisting in a puncturing operation by a puncture tool that is used to insert and place a spacer between bones and includes an arc-shaped needle includes a base section configured to be in contact with a skin of a patient; and a guide unit configured to be fixed with respect to the base section. The guide unit has a curvature that is approximately the same as a curvature of an arc shape of the puncture tool. The guide unit is configured such that an outer arc-shaped surface of the puncture tool can be placed in contact with the guide unit to guide the puncture tool in an arc trajectory while the puncture tool is being inserted into the patient.

Abstract: An expanding device for expanding the spacing between bones is provided. The expanding device includes a spacer configured to be expandable and disposed between the bones, a catheter provided with the spacer at a distal end thereof and adapted to introduce a filler into the spacer, and a sheath having a lumen through which the catheter is inserted and in which the spacer before expansion can be housed. The spacer includes a spacer body configured to be expandable, an introduction section through which a filler is introduced into a rear-end-side expansion section of the spacer body, and a bypass passage through which part of the filler in the introduction section is introduced into a distal-end-side expansion section of the spacer body.