Patent ID: 7955339
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: inserting a probe comprising a pressure indicator into an interior portion of a vertebral bone structure of a vertebral body to identify a region of sclerotic bone tissue; inserting an expandable member while in a collapsed configuration into the interior portion of a vertebral bone structure of a vertebral body, along a longitudinal axis; positioning the expandable member adjacent to the region of sclerotic bone tissue; expanding the expandable member while inserted in the interior portion of the vertebral bone structure such that the expandable member expands to an unfolded configuration; and expanding the expandable member while inserted in the interior portion of the vertebral bone structure such that the expandable member moves from the unfolded configuration to an expanded configuration and such that the expandable member exerts a pressure in a vertical direction on the sclerotic bone tissue while constraining the expansion of the expandable member in a lateral direction to prevent undesired pressure exertion in the lateral direction on a second portion of the bone structure in contact with the expandable member, the pressure exerted against the region of sclerotic bone tissue being greater than the pressure exerted against the second portion of the vertebral bone structure of the vertebral body in the lateral direction; penetrating the region of sclerotic bone tissue within an interior portion of the vertebral bone structure of the vertebral body with the expandable member.