Patent ID: 7744637
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of restoring height to a damaged or diseased vertebral body in a spine, said vertebral body comprising spaced opposing superior and inferior endplates and cancellous bone therewithin, comprising the steps of: placing an access channel into said cancellous bone between said opposing endplates; introducing through said access channel a non-inflatable expandable structure into said cancellous bone between said opposing endplates; then expanding said expandable structure in substantially only the direction of the axis of the spine to distract and support said endplates restoring height to said vertebral body; and then, introducing bone filler through said access channel into said cancellous bone at a location exteriorly of, adjacent to and in contact with said expanded structure such that said bone filler interdigitates with said cancellous bone and cooperates with said expanded structure to stabilize said vertebral body.