Patent ID: 7670375
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of limiting or directing the movement of flowable material introduced into a human vertebral body having an interior region defined by a superior endplate, an inferior endplate and a cortical rim, the method comprising: inserting at least a distal end portion of an elongated guide member in a pre-deployed configuration into the vertebral body; changing the configuration of the distal end portion of the guide member into a deployed configuration to define a pre-determined shape within the interior region of the vertebral body; slidably advancing an elongated intravertebral implant distally along the distal end portion of the guide member, the intravertebral implant having a guide lumen extending therethrough for slidably receiving the guide member so that the intravertebral implant may be longitudinally slidable along the guide member, the intravertebral implant being sufficiently flexible to substantially assume the pre-determined shape of the distal end portion of the guide member to form a structure defining a resident volume; introducing flowable material into the resident volume; and blocking the movement of flowable material out the resident volume with the structure.