Abstract:
Cephalad and caudal vertebral facet joint prostheses and methods of use are provided. A pair of fixation elements are adapted to be secured within a vertebra in an orientation that best assures a secure and durable attachment to cortical and/or cancellous bone. Artificial facet joint surfaces are mounted on the fixation elements, either directly or with the aid of a support. The artificial facet joint structure may be carried by an arm. The artificial facet joint structure is adapted for articulation with a complementary natural or artificial facet joint structure. Bilateral prostheses may by coupled by a brace to further secure and stabilize the prostheses.
Abstract:
Surgically installed prostheses replace either the caudal portion of a natural facet joint, the cephalad portion of a natural facet joint, or both. The prostheses are readily attached to the pedicles of a vertebral body and support at least one element that defines an artificial facet joint structure. The caudal facet joint structure is sized and located to articulate with the cephalad facet joint structure. Together, the prostheses form a total facet replacement system. The system is suitable for use in virtually all levels of the spine.
Abstract:
A prosthesis is installed in a cavity that traverses a joint between a talus and a calcaneus. The cavity is established by intramedullary guidance with respect to the major axis of the tibia by access through the calcaneus.
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 vertebral body is selected for treatment. The vertebral body has a cortical wall enclosing a cancellous bone volume. The vertebral body has at least one cortical plate that is depressed due to fracture. At least one maximum dimension for the cancellous bone volume is ascertained. An expandable device is provided having an expanded configuration and an unexpanded configuration. The expandable device has a predefined dimension when substantially expanded that is less than the maximum dimension. The expandable device is introduced into the vertebral body through a percutaneous access path while in the unexpanded condition. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume from the unexpanded configuration toward the expanded configuration to create a cavity that occupies less than the cancellous bone volume.
Abstract:
An expandable device is introduced into a cancellous bone volume of a vertebral body through a percutaneous access path. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume to create a cavity. A filling material including a biomaterial is placed within the cavity.
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 vertebral body is selected for treatment. The vertebral body has a cortical wall enclosing a cancellous bone volume. At least one maximum dimension for the cancellous bone volume is ascertained, and an expandable device is provided that has a predefined dimension when substantially expanded that is less than the maximum dimension. The expandable device is introduced into the vertebral body through a percutaneous access path while in an unexpanded condition. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume from the unexpanded configuration toward the expanded configuration. An expansion barrier is provided in association with the expandable device that directs expansion of the expandable device in a desired direction to create a cavity in the cancellous bone volume.
Abstract:
A method of installing an ankle prosthesis system provides an artificial talar joint surface and a family of talar stem components having different physical characteristics. Each talar stem component in the family is sized and configured to be attached to the artificial talar joint surface. The method selects an ankle region to be treated and analyzes the morphology of the ankle region. The method selects among the family one of the talar stem components having a desired physical characteristic based upon the analysis. The method forms a prosthesis-receiving cavity that traverses the joint between the talus and a calcaneus and installs the selected one of the talar stem components in the prosthesis-receiving cavity to prevent movement of the joint. The method attaches the artificial talar joint surface to the selected one of the talar stem components.
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. Various additional embodiments facilitate directionally biasing the inflation of the balloon.