Patent Publication Number: US-7717918-B2

Title: Bone treatment systems and methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/165,652, filed Jun. 24, 2005 titled Bone Treatment Systems and Methods, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/633,509, filed Dec. 6, 2004, titled Bone Fill Materials and Methods of Use for Treating Vertebral Fractures the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference and should be considered a part of this specification. This application is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/196,045, filed Aug. 2, 2005. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/165,651, filed Jun. 24, 2005, titled Bone Treatment Systems and Methods, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference and should be considered a part of this specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in certain embodiments to medical devices for treating osteoplasty procedures such as vertebral compression fractures. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to instruments and methods for controllably restoring vertebral body height by controlling the geometry of bone cement introduced into cancellous bone. An exemplary system utilizes Rf energy in combination a conductive bone cement and a controller for controlling cement inflow parameters and energy delivery parameters for selectively polymerizing the cement inflow plume to control the geometry of the fill material and the application of force caused by inflows of cement. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Osteoporotic fractures are prevalent in the elderly, with an annual estimate of 1.5 million fractures in the United States alone. These include 750,000 vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) and 250,000 hip fractures. The annual cost of osteoporotic fractures in the United States has been estimated at $13.8 billion. The prevalence of VCFs in women age 50 and older has been estimated at 26%. The prevalence increases with age, reaching 40% among 80-year-old women. Medical advances aimed at slowing or arresting bone loss from aging have not provided solutions to this problem. Further, the population affected will grow steadily as life expectancy increases. Osteoporosis affects the entire skeleton but most commonly causes fractures in the spine and hip. Spinal or vertebral fractures also cause other serious side effects, with patients suffering from loss of height, deformity and persistent pain which can significantly impair mobility and quality of life. Fracture pain usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks, with intense pain at the fracture site. Chronic pain often occurs when one vertebral level is greatly collapsed or multiple levels are collapsed. 
     Postmenopausal women are predisposed to fractures, such as in the vertebrae, due to a decrease in bone mineral density that accompanies postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a pathologic state that literally means “porous bones”. Skeletal bones are made up of a thick cortical shell and a strong inner meshwork, or cancellous bone, of collagen, calcium salts and other minerals. Cancellous bone is similar to a honeycomb, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the spaces. Osteoporosis describes a condition of decreased bone mass that leads to fragile bones which are at an increased risk for fractures. In an osteoporosis bone, the sponge-like cancellous bone has pores or voids that increase in dimension making the bone very fragile. In young, healthy bone tissue, bone breakdown occurs continually as the result of osteoclast activity, but the breakdown is balanced by new bone formation by osteoblasts. In an elderly patient, bone resorption can surpass bone formation thus resulting in deterioration of bone density. Osteoporosis occurs largely without symptoms until a fracture occurs. 
     Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are recently developed techniques for treating vertebral compression fractures. Percutaneous vertebroplasty was first reported by a French group in 1987 for the treatment of painful hemangiomas. In the 1990&#39;s, percutaneous vertebroplasty was extended to indications including osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, traumatic compression fractures, and painful vertebral metastasis. Vertebroplasty is the percutaneous injection of PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) into a fractured vertebral body via a trocar and cannula. The targeted vertebra is identified under fluoroscopy. A needle is introduced into the vertebral under fluoroscopic control, to allow direct visualization. A bilateral transpedicular (through the pedicle of the vertebra) approach is typical but the procedure can be done unilaterally. The bilateral transpedicular approach allows for more uniform PMMA infill of the vertebra. 
     In a bilateral approach, approximately 1 to 4 ml of PMMA is used on each side of the vertebra. Since the PMMA needs to be flush forced into the cancellous bone, the techniques require high pressures and fairly low viscosity cement. Since the cortical bone of the targeted vertebra may have a recent fracture, there is the potential of PMMA leakage. The PMMA cement contains radiopaque materials so that when injected under live fluoroscopy, cement localization and leakage can be observed. The visualization of PMMA injection and extravasation are critical to the technique—and the physician terminates PMMA injection when leakage is evident. The cement is injected using syringes to allow the physician manual control of injection pressure. 
     Kyphoplasty is a modification of percutaneous vertebroplasty. Kyphoplasty involves a preliminary step consisting of the percutaneous placement of an inflatable balloon tamp in the vertebral body. Inflation of the balloon creates a cavity in the bone prior to cement injection. The proponents of percutaneous kyphoplasty have suggested that high pressure balloon-tamp inflation can at least partially restore vertebral body height. In kyphoplasty, some physicians state that PMMA can be injected at a lower pressure into the collapsed vertebra since a cavity exists, when compared to conventional vertebroplasty. 
     The principal indications for any form of vertebroplasty are osteoporotic vertebral collapse with debilitating pain. Radiography and computed tomography must be performed in the days preceding treatment to determine the extent of vertebral collapse, the presence of epidural or foraminal stenosis caused by bone fragment retropulsion, the presence of cortical destruction or fracture and the visibility and degree of involvement of the pedicles. 
     Leakage of PMMA during vertebroplasty can result in very serious complications including compression of adjacent structures that necessitate emergency decompressive surgery. See “Anatomical and Pathological Considerations in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty: A Reappraisal of the Vertebral Venous System”, Groen, R. et al, Spine Vol. 29, No. 13, pp 1465-1471 2004. Leakage or extravasion of PMMA is a critical issue and can be divided into paravertebral leakage, venous infiltration, epidural leakage and intradiscal leakage. The exothermic reaction of PMMA carries potential catastrophic consequences if thermal damage were to extend to the dural sac, cord, and nerve roots. Surgical evacuation of leaked cement in the spinal canal has been reported. It has been found that leakage of PMMA is related to various clinical factors such as the vertebral compression pattern, and the extent of the cortical fracture, bone mineral density, the interval from injury to operation, the amount of PMMA injected and the location of the injector tip. In one recent study, close to 50% of vertebroplasty cases resulted in leakage of PMMA from the vertebral bodies. See Hyun-Woo Do et al, “The Analysis of Polymethylmethacrylate Leakage after Vertebroplasty for Vertebral Body Compression Fractures”, Jour. of Korean Neurosurg. Soc. Vol. 35, No. 5 (May 2004) pp. 478-82, (http://www.jkns.or.kr/htm/abstract.asp?no=0042004086). 
     Another recent study was directed to the incidence of new VCFs adjacent to the vertebral bodies that were initially treated. Vertebroplasty patients often return with new pain caused by a new vertebral body fracture. Leakage of cement into an adjacent disc space during vertebroplasty increases the risk of a new fracture of adjacent vertebral bodies. See Am. J. Neuroradiol. 2004 February; 25(2):175-80. The study found that 58% of vertebral bodies adjacent to a disc with cement leakage fractured during the follow-up period compared with 12% of vertebral bodies adjacent to a disc without cement leakage. 
     Another life-threatening complication of vertebroplasty is pulmonary embolism. See Bernhard, J. et al, “Asymptomatic diffuse pulmonary embolism caused by acrylic cement: an unusual complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty”, Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2003; 62:85-86. The vapors from PMMA preparation and injection also are cause for concern. See Kirby, B, et al., “Acute bronchospasm due to exposure to polymethylmethacrylate vapors during percutaneous vertebroplasty”, Am. J. Roentgenol. 2003; 180:543-544. 
     In both higher pressure cement injection (vertebroplasty) and balloon-tamped cementing procedures (kyphoplasty), the methods do not provide for well controlled augmentation of vertebral body height. The direct injection of bone cement simply follows the path of least resistance within the fractured bone. The expansion of a balloon applies also compacting forces along lines of least resistance in the collapsed cancellous bone. Thus, the reduction of a vertebral compression fracture is not optimized or controlled in high pressure balloons as forces of balloon expansion occur in multiple directions. 
     In a kyphoplasty procedure, the physician often uses very high pressures (e.g., up to 200 or 300 psi) to inflate the balloon which crushes and compacts cancellous bone. Expansion of the balloon under high pressures close to cortical bone can fracture the cortical bone, typically the endplates, which can cause regional damage to the cortical bone with the risk of cortical bone necrosis. Such cortical bone damage is highly undesirable as the endplate and adjacent structures provide nutrients for the disc. 
     Kyphoplasty also does not provide a distraction mechanism capable of 100% vertebral height restoration. Further, the kyphoplasty balloons under very high pressure typically apply forces to vertebral endplates within a central region of the cortical bone that may be weak, rather than distributing forces over the endplate. 
     There is a general need to provide bone cements and methods for use in treatment of vertebral compression fractures that provide a greater degree of control over introduction of cement and that provide better outcomes. The present invention meets this need and provides several other advantages in a novel and nonobvious manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for utilizing Rf energy in combination with a bone cement that carries an electrically conductive filler. A computer controller controls cement inflow parameters and energy delivery parameters for selectively polymerizing the cement inflow plume to thereby control the direction of flow and the ultimate geometry of a flowable, in-situ hardenable cement composite. The system and method further includes means for sealing tissue in the interior of a vertebra to prevent migration of monomers, fat or emboli into the patient&#39;s bloodstream. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following drawings and specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to better understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, some preferred embodiments are next described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments in the attached drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a spine segment showing a vertebra with a compression fracture and an introducer, in accordance with one embodiment disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic perspective view of a system for treating bone, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic perspective sectional view of a working end of the introducer taken along line  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic perspective view of a working end of a probe, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic perspective view of a working end of a probe, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 3C  is a schematic perspective view of a working end of a probe, in accordance with yet another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional side view of one embodiment of a working end of a probe, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic side view of a probe inserted into a vertebral body and injecting flowable fill material into the vertebral body. 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic side view of the probe in  FIG. 5A  injecting a relatively high viscosity volume of flowable fill material into the vertebral body, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of a system for treating bone, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic sectional view of a fill material, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic sectional view of a fill material, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 8A  is a schematic perspective view of a system for treating bone, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 8B  is a schematic perspective view of the system in  FIG. 8A , injecting an additional volume of fill material into a vertebral body. 
         FIG. 9A  is a schematic sectional view of one step in a method for treating bone, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9B  is a schematic sectional view of another step in a method for treating bone, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9C  is a schematic sectional view of still another step in a method for treating bone, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10A  is a schematic sectional view of a step in a method for treating bone, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 10B  is a schematic sectional view of another step in a method for treating bone, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 11A  is a schematic perspective view of a system for treating bone, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 11B  is a schematic perspective view of the system in  FIG. 11A , applying energy to a fill material. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic perspective view of a system for treating bone, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view of another embodiment of a bone cement delivery system together with an aspiration source a working end of an introducer, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 14A  is a sectional view of a working end of an introducer as in  FIG. 13  showing the orientation of a cement injection port in a vertebra. 
         FIG. 14B  is a sectional view of the working end of  FIG. 14A  showing an initial inflow of bone cement. 
         FIG. 14C  is a sectional view of the working end of  FIG. 14B  showing an additional inflow of bone cement to reduces a vertebral fracture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the invention for treating a spine segment in which a vertebral body  90  has a wedge compression fracture indicated at  94 . In one embodiment, the systems and methods of the invention are directed to safely introducing a bone fill material into cancellous bone of the vertebra without extravasion of fill material in unwanted directions (i) to prevent micromotion in the fracture for eliminating pain, and (ii) to support the vertebra and increase vertebral body height. Further, the invention includes systems and methods for sealing cancellous bone (e.g., blood vessels, fatty tissues etc.) in order to prevent monomers, fat, fill material and other emboli from entering the venous system during treatment. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a fractured vertebra and bone infill system  100  which includes a probe  105  having a handle end  106  extending to an elongated introducer  110 A and a working end  115 A, shown in  FIG. 2A . The introducer is shown introduced through pedicle  118  of the vertebra for accessing the osteoporotic cancellous bone  122  (See  FIG. 2A ). The initial aspects of the procedure are similar to conventional percutaneous vertebroplasty wherein the patient is placed in a prone position on an operating table. The patient is typically under conscious sedation, although general anesthesia is an alternative. The physician injects a local anesthetic (e.g., 1% Lidocaine) into the region overlying the targeted pedicle or pedicles as well as the periosteum of the pedicle(s). Thereafter, the physician uses a scalpel to make a 1 to 5 mm skin incision over each targeted pedicle. Thereafter, the introducer  110 A is advanced through the pedicle into the anterior region of the vertebral body, which typically is the region of greatest compression and fracture. The physician confirms the introducer path posterior to the pedicle, through the pedicle and within the vertebral body by anteroposterior and lateral X-Ray projection fluoroscopic views. The introduction of infill material as described below can be imaged several times, or continuously, during the treatment depending on the imaging method. 
     It should be appreciated that the introducer  110 A also can be introduced into the vertebra from other angles, for example, along axis  113  through the wall of the vertebral body  114  as in  FIG. 1  or in an anterior approach (not shown). Further, first and second cooperating introducers can be used in a bilateral transpedicular approach. Additionally, any mechanism known in the art for creating an access opening into the interior of the vertebral body  90  can be used, including open surgical procedures. 
     DEFINITIONS 
     “Bone fill material, infill material or composition” includes its ordinary meaning and is defined as any material for infilling a bone that includes an in-situ hardenable material. The fill material also can include other “fillers” such as filaments, microspheres, powders, granular elements, flakes, chips, tubules and the like, autograft or allograft materials, as well as other chemicals, pharmacological agents or other bioactive agents. 
     “Flowable material” includes its ordinary meaning and is defined as a material continuum that is unable to withstand a static shear stress and responds with an irrecoverable flow (a fluid)—unlike an elastic material or elastomer that responds to shear stress with a recoverable deformation. Flowable material includes fill material or composites that include a fluid (first) component and an elastic or inelastic material (second) component that responds to stress with a flow, no matter the proportions of the first and second component, and wherein the above shear test does not apply to the second component alone. 
     An “elastomer” includes its ordinary meaning and is defined as material having to some extent the elastic properties of natural rubber wherein the material resumes or moves toward an original shape when a deforming force is removed. 
     “Substantially” or “substantial” mean largely but not entirely. For example, substantially may mean about 10% to about 99.999%, about 25% to about 99.999% or about 50% to about 99.999%. 
     “Osteoplasty” includes its ordinary meaning and means any procedure wherein fill material is delivered into the interior of a bone. 
     “Vertebroplasty” includes its ordinary meaning and means any procedure wherein fill material is delivered into the interior of a vertebra. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the end of introducer  110 A is shown schematically after being introduced into cancellous bone  122  with an inflow of fill material indicated at  120 . The cancellous bone can be in any bone, for example in a vertebra. It can be seen that the introducer  110 A and working end  115 A comprise a sleeve or shaft that is preferably fabricated of a metal having a flow channel  118  extending therethrough from the proximal handle end  106  (see  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, the introducer shaft is a stainless steel tube  123  having an outside diameter ranging between about 3.5 and 4.5 mm, but other dimensions are possible. As can be seen in  FIGS. 2A and 3A , the flow channel  118  can terminate in a single distal open termination or outlet  124   a  in the working end  115 A, or there can be a plurality of flow outlets or ports  124   b  configured angularly about the radially outward surfaces of the working end  115 A of  FIG. 3B . The outlets in the working end thus allow for distal or radial ejection of fill material, or a working end can have a combination of radial and distal end outlets. As can be seen in  FIG. 3C , the distal end of working end  115 A also can provide an angled distal end outlet  124   c  for directing the flow of fill material from the outlet by rotating the working end. 
     In  FIGS. 2A and 2B , it can be seen that system  100  includes a remote energy source  125 A and controller  125 B that are operatively coupled to an energy emitter  128  in working end  115 A for applying energy to fill material  120  contemporaneous with and subsequent to ejection of the fill material from the working end. As shown in  FIG. 2A , a preferred energy source  125 A is a radiofrequency (Rf) source known in the art that is connected to at least one electrode ( 132   a  and  132   b  in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) in contact with injected fill material  120  that carries a radiosensitive composition therein. It is equally possible to use other remote energy sources and emitters  128  in the working end which fall within the scope of the invention, such as (i) an electrical source coupled to a resistive heating element in the working end, (ii) a light energy source (coherent or broadband) coupled to an optical fiber or other light channel terminating in the working end; (iii) an ultrasound source coupled to an emitter in the working end; or (iv) a microwave source coupled to an antenna in the working end. In still another embodiment, the energy source can be a magnetic source. The fill material is configured with an energy-absorbing material or an energy-transmitting material that cooperates with energy delivery from a selected energy source. For example, the energy-absorbing or energy-transmitting material can be a radiosensitive or conductive material for cooperating with an Rf source, chromophores for cooperating with a light source, ferromagnetic particles for cooperating with a magnetic source, and the like. In one embodiment, the fill material  120  can include a composition having an energy-absorbing property and an energy-transmitting property for cooperating with the remote energy source  125 A. For example, the composition can absorb energy from the remote energy source  125 A for polymerizing the composite or transmit energy for heating tissue adjacent to the composite. 
     As can be understood from  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the exemplary introducer  110 A is operatively coupleable to a source  145  of bone fill material  120  together with a pressure source or mechanism  150  that operates on the source of fill material to deliver the fill material  120  through the introducer  110 A into a bone (see arrows). The pressure source  150  can comprise any type of pump mechanism, such as a piston pump, screw pump or other hydraulic pump mechanism. In  FIG. 2B , the pump mechanism is shown as a piston or plunger  152  that is slidable in channel  118  of introducer  110 A. In one embodiment, the pressure source  150  includes a controller  150 B that controls the pressure applied by the pressure source  150 . For example, where the pressure source  150  is a piston pump or screw pump that is motor driven, the controller  150 B can adjust the motor speed to vary the pressure applied by the pressure source  150  to the inflow of the bone fill material  120 . In one embodiment, the controller  150 B also controls the volume of the bone fill material  120  that is introduced to a bone portion. In another embodiment, the controller  150 B, or a separate controller, can also control the volume of bone fill material  120  introduced into the bone portion. For example, the controller  150 B can operate a valve associated with the bone fill source  145  to selectively vary the valve opening, thus varying the volume of bone fill material  120  introduced to the bone portion. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the introducer  110 A preferably has an electrically and thermally insulative interior sleeve  154  that defines interior flow channel  118 . The sleeve can be any suitable polymer known in the art such as PEEK, Teflon™ or a polyimide. As can be seen in  FIG. 2B , interior sleeve  154  carries conductive surfaces that function as energy emitter  128 , and more particularly comprise spaced apart opposing polarity electrodes  132   a  and  132   b . The electrodes  132   a  and  132   b  can have any spaced apart configuration and are disposed about the distal termination of channel  118  or about the surfaces of outlet  124   a . The electrode configuration alternatively can include a first electrode in the interior of channel  118  and a second electrode on an exterior of introducer  110 A. For example, the metallic sleeve  123  or a distal portion thereof can comprise one electrode. In a preferred embodiment, the electrodes  132   a  and  132   b  are connected to Rf energy source  125 A and controller  125 B by electrical cable  156  with (+) and (−) electrical leads  158   a  and  158   b  therein that extend through the insulative sleeve  154  to the opposing polarity electrodes. In one embodiment, the electrical cable  156  is detachably coupled to the handle end  106  of probe  105  by male-female plug (not shown). The electrodes  132   a  and  132   b  can be fabricated of any suitable materials known to those skilled in the art, such as stainless steels, nickel-titanium alloys and alloys of gold, silver platinum and the like. 
     In one embodiment, not shown, the working end  115 A can also carry any suitable thermocouple or temperature sensor for providing data to controller  125 B relating to the temperature of the fill material  120  during energy delivery. One or more thermocouples may be positioned at the distal tip of the introducer, or along an outer surface of the introducer and spaced from the distal end, in order to provide temperature readings at different locations within the bone. The thermocouple may also be slideable along the length of the introducer. In another embodiment, the working end can have at least one side port (not shown) in communication with a coolant source, the port configured to provide the coolant (e.g., saline) therethrough into the cancellous bone  122  to cool the cancellous bone in response to a temperature reading from the temperature sensor. 
     Now turning to  FIG. 4 , the sectional view of working end  115 A illustrates the application of energy to fill material  120  as it is being ejected from outlet  124   a . The fill material  120  in the proximal portion of channel  118  can be a low viscosity flowable material such as a two-part curable polymer that has been mixed (e.g. PMMA) but without any polymerization, for example, having a viscosity of less than about 50,000 cps. Such a low viscosity fill material allows for simplified lower pressure injection through introducer  110 A. Further, the system allows the use of a low viscosity fill material  120  which can save a great deal of time for the physician. 
     In a preferred embodiment, it is no longer necessary to wait for the bone cement to partly polymerize before injection. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , energy delivery at selected parameters from electrodes  132   a  and  132   b  to fill material  120  contemporaneous with its ejection from outlet  124   a  selectively alters a property of fill material indicated at  120 ′. In one embodiment, the altered flow property is viscosity. For example, the viscosity of the fill material  120 ′ can be increased to a higher viscosity ranging from about 100,000 cps or more, 1,000,000 cps or more, to 2,000,000 cps or more. In another embodiment, the flow property is Young&#39;s modulus. For example, the Young&#39;s modulus of the fill material  120 ′ can be altered to be between about 10 kPa and about 10 GPa. In still another embodiment, the flow property can be one of durometer, hardness and compliance. 
     Preferably, the fill material carries a radiosensitive composition for cooperating with the Rf source  125 A, as further described below. At a predetermined fill material flow rate and at selected Rf energy delivery parameters, the altered fill material  120 ′ after ejection can comprise an increased viscosity material or an elastomer. At yet another predetermined fill material flow rate and at other Rf energy delivery parameters, the altered fill material  120 ′ after ejection can comprise a substantially solid material. In the system embodiment utilized for vertebroplasty as depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 5B , the controller is adapted for delivering Rf energy contemporaneous with the selected flow rate of fill material to provide a substantially high viscosity fill material that is still capable of permeating cancellous bone. In other osteoplasty procedures such as treating necrosis of a bone, the system controller  125 B can be adapted to provide much harder fill material  120 ′ upon ejection from outlet  124   a . Further, the system can be adapted to apply Rf energy to the fill material continuously, or in a pulse mode or in any selected intervals based on flow rate, presets, or in response to feedback from temperature sensors, impedance measurements or other suitable signals known to those skilled in the art. 
     In one embodiment, the controller  125 B includes algorithms for adjusting power delivery applied by the energy source  125 A. For example, in one embodiment the controller  125 B includes algorithms for adjusting power delivery based on impedance measurements of the fill material  120 ′ introduced to the bone portion. In another embodiment, the controller  125 B includes algorithms for adjusting power delivery based on the volume of bone fill material  120  delivered to the bone portion. In still another embodiment, the controller  125 B includes algorithms for adjusting power delivery based on the temperature of the bone fill material  120 ′ introduced to the bone portion. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are views of a vertebra  90  that are useful for explaining relevant aspects of one embodiment of the invention wherein working end  110 A is advanced into the region of fracture  94  in cancellous bone  122 .  FIG. 5A  indicates system  100  being used to inject flow material  120  into the vertebra with the flow material having a viscosity similar to conventional vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, for example having the consistency of toothpaste.  FIG. 5A  depicts the situation wherein high pressure injection of a low viscosity material can simply follow paths of least resistance along a recent fracture plane  160  to migrate anteriorly in an uncontrolled manner. The migration of fill material could be any direction, including posteriorly toward the spinal canal or into the disc space depending on the nature of the fracture. 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates system  100  including actuation of Rf source  125 A by controller  125 B to contemporaneously heat the fill material to eject altered fill material  120 ′ with a selected higher viscosity into cancellous bone  122 , such as the viscosities described above. With a selected higher viscosity,  FIG. 5B  depicts the ability of the system to prevent extravasion of fill material and to controllably permeate and interdigitate with cancellous bone  122 , rather than displacing cancellous bone, with a plume  165  that engages cortical bone vertebral endplates  166   a  and  166   b . The fill material broadly engages surfaces of the cortical endplates to distribute pressures over the endplates. In a preferred embodiment, the fill material controllably permeates cancellous bone  122  and is ejected at a viscosity adequate to interdigitate with the cancellous bone  122 . Fill material with a viscosity in the range of about 100,000 cps to 2,000,000 cps may be ejected, though even lower or higher viscosities may also be sufficient. The Rf source may selectively increase the viscosity of the fill material by about 10% or more as it is ejected from the introducer  115 A. In other embodiments, the viscosity may be increased by about 20%, 50%, 100%, 500% or 1000% or more. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5B , it can be understood that continued inflows of high viscosity fill material  120 ′ and the resultant expansion of plume  165  will apply forces on endplates  166   a  and  166   b  to at least partially restore vertebral height. It should be appreciated that the working end  115 A can be translated axially between about the anterior third of the vertebral body and the posterior third of the vertebral body during the injection of fill material  120 ′, as well as rotating the working end  115 A which can be any of the types described above ( FIGS. 3A-3C ). 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of system  100  wherein Rf source  125 A and controller  125 B are configured to multiplex energy delivery to provide additional functionality. In one mode of operation, the system functions as described above and depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5B  to alter flow properties of flowable fill material  120 ′ as it is ejected from working end  115 A. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the system further includes a return electrode or ground pad indicated at  170 . Thus the system can be operated in a second mode of operation wherein electrodes  132   a  and  132   b  are switched to a common polarity (or the distal portion of sleeve  123  can comprise such an electrode) to function in a mono-polar manner in conjunction with ground pad  170 . This second mode of operation advantageously creates high energy densities about the surface of plume  165  to thereby ohmically heat tissue at the interface of the plume  165  and the body structure. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the ohmically heated tissue is indicated at  172 , wherein the tissue effect is coagulation of blood vessels, shrinkage of collagenous tissue and generally the sealing and ablation of bone marrow, vasculature and fat within the cancellous bone. The Rf energy levels can be set at a sufficiently high level to coagulate, seal or ablate tissue, with the controller delivering power based, for example, on impedance feedback which will vary with the surface area of plume  165 . Of particular interest, the surface of plume  165  is used as an electrode with an expanding wavefront within cancellous bone  122 . Thus, the vasculature within the vertebral body can be sealed by controlled ohmic heating at the same time that fill material  120 ′ is permeating the cancellous bone. Within the vertebral body are the basivertebral (intravertebral) veins which are paired valveless veins connecting with numerous venous channels within the vertebra (pars spongiosa/red bone marrow). These basivertebral veins drain directly into the external vertebral venous plexus (EVVP) and the superior and inferior vena cava. The sealing of vasculature and the basivertebral veins is particularly important since bone cement and monomer embolism has been frequently observed in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty cases (see “Anatomical and Pathological Considerations in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty: A Reappraisal of the Vertebral Venous System”, Groen, R. et al, Spine Vol. 29, No. 13, pp 1465-1471 2004). It can be thus understood that the method of using the system  100  creates and expands a “wavefront” of coagulum that expands as the plume  165  of fill material expands. The expandable coagulum layer  172 , besides sealing the tissue from emboli, contains and distributes pressures of the volume of infill material  120 ′ about the plume surface. 
     The method depicted in  FIG. 6  provides an effective means for sealing tissue via ohmic (Joule) heating. It has been found that passive heat transfer from the exothermic reaction of a bone cement does not adequately heat tissue to the needed depth or temperature to seal intravertebral vasculature. In use, the mode of operation of the system  100  in a mono-polar manner for ohmically heating and sealing tissue can be performed in selected intervals alone or in combination with the bi-polar mode of operation for controlling the viscosity of the injected fill material. 
     In general, one aspect of the vertebroplasty or osteoplasty method in accordance with one of the embodiments disclosed herein allows for in-situ control of flows of a flowable fill material, and more particularly comprises introducing a working end of an introducer sleeve into cancellous bone, ejecting a volume of flowable fill material having a selected viscosity and contemporaneously applying energy (e.g., Rf energy) to the fill material from an external source to thereby increase the viscosity of at least portion of the volume to prevent fill extravasion. In a preferred embodiment, the system increases the viscosity by about 20% or more. In another preferred embodiment, the system increases the viscosity by about 50% or more. 
     In another aspect of one embodiment of a vertebroplasty method, the system  100  provides means for ohmically heating a body structure about the surface of the expanding plume  165  of fill material to effectively seal intravertebral vasculature to prevent emboli from entering the venous system. The method further provides an expandable layer of coagulum about the infill material to contain inflow pressures and distribute further expansion forces over the vertebral endplates. In a preferred embodiment, the coagulum expands together with at least a portion of the infill material to engage and apply forces to endplates of the vertebra. 
     Of particular interest, one embodiment of fill material  120  as used in the systems described herein (see  FIGS. 2A ,  4 ,  5 A- 5 B and  6 ) is a composite comprising an in-situ hardenable or polymerizable cement component  174  and an electrically conductive filler component  175  in a sufficient volume to enable the composite to function as a dispersable electrode ( FIG. 6 ). In one type of composite, the conductive filler component is any biocompatible conductive metal. In another type of composite, the conductive filler component is a form of carbon. The biocompatible metal can include at least one of titanium, tantalum, stainless steel, silver, gold, platinum, nickel, tin, nickel titanium alloy, palladium, magnesium, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, zirconium, zinc, cobalt or chromium and alloys thereof. The conductive filler component has the form of at least one of filaments, particles, microspheres, spheres, powders, grains, flakes, granules, crystals, rods, tubules, nanotubes, scaffolds and the like. In one embodiment, the conductive filler includes carbon nanotubes. Such conductive filler components can be at least one of rigid, non-rigid, solid, porous or hollow, with conductive filaments  176   a  illustrated in  FIG. 7A  and conductive particles  176   b  depicted in  FIG. 7B . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the conductive filler comprises chopped microfilaments or ribbons of a metal as in  FIG. 7A  that have a diameter or a cross-section dimension across a major axis ranging between about 0.0005″ and 0.01″. The lengths of the microfilaments or ribbons range from about 0.01″ to 0.50″. The microfilaments or ribbons are of stainless steel or titanium and are optionally coated with a thin gold layer or silver layer that can be deposited by electroless plating methods. Of particular interest, the fill material  120  of  FIG. 7A  has an in situ hardenable cement component  174  than has a first low viscosity and the addition of the elongated microfilament conductive filler component  175  causes the composite  120  to have a substantially high apparent viscosity due to the high surface area of the microfilaments and its interaction with the cement component  174 . In one embodiment, the microfilaments are made of stainless steel, plated with gold, and have a diameter of about 12 microns and a length of about 6 mm. The other dimensions provided above and below may also be utilized for these microfilaments. 
     In another embodiment of bone fill material  120 , the conductive filler component comprises elements that have a non-conductive core portion with a conductive cladding portion for providing electrosurgical functionality. The non-conductive core portions are selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramic or polymer materials. The cladding can be any suitable conductive metal as described above that can be deposited by electroless plating methods. 
     In any embodiment of bone fill material that uses particles, microspheres, spheres, powders, grains, flakes, granules, crystals or the like, such elements can have a mean dimension across a principal axis ranging from about 0.5 micron to 2000 microns. More preferably, the mean dimension across a principal axis range from about 50 microns to 1000 microns. It has been found that metal microspheres having a diameter of about 800 microns are useful for creating conductive bone cement that can function as an electrode. 
     In one embodiment, a conductive filler comprising elongated microfilaments wherein the fill material has from about 0.5% to 20% microfilaments by weight. More preferably, the filaments are from about 1% to 10% by weight of the fill material. In other embodiments wherein the conductive filler comprises particles or spheres, the conductive filler can comprise from about 5% of the total weight to about 80% of the weight of the material. 
     In an exemplary fill material  120 , the hardenable component can be any in-situ hardenable composition such as at least one of PMMA, monocalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate or hydroxyapatite. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , an alternative method is shown wherein the system  100  and method are configured for creating asymmetries in properties of the infill material and thereby in the application of forces in a vertebroplasty. In  FIG. 8A , the pressure mechanism  150  is actuated to cause injection of an initial volume or aliquot of fill material  120 ′ that typically is altered in viscosity in working end  110 A as described above—but the method encompasses flows of fill material having any suitable viscosity. The fill material is depicted in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  as being delivered in a unilateral transpedicular approach, but any extrapedicular posterior approach is possible as well as any bilateral posterior approach. The system in  FIGS. 8A-8B  again illustrates a vertical plane through the fill material  120 ′ that flows under pressure into cancellous bone  122  with expanding plume or periphery indicated at  165 . The plume  165  has a three dimensional configuration as can be seen in  FIG. 8B , wherein the pressurized flow may first tend to flow more horizontally that vertically. One embodiment of the method of the invention includes the physician translating the working end slightly and/or rotating the working end so that flow outlets  124   a  are provided in a selected radial orientation. In a preferred embodiment, the physician intermittently monitors the flows under fluoroscopic imaging as described above. 
       FIG. 8B  depicts a contemporaneous or subsequent energy-delivery step of the method wherein the physician actuates Rf electrical source  125 A and controller  125 B to cause Rf current delivery from at least one electrode emitter  128  to cause ohmic (Joule) heating of tissue as well as internal heating of the inflowing fill material  120 ′. In this embodiment, the exterior surface of sleeve  123  is indicated as electrode or emitter  128  with the proximal portion of introducer  110 A having an insulator coating  178 . The Rf energy is preferably applied in an amount and for a duration that coagulates tissue as well as alters a flowability property of surface portions  180  of the initial volume of fill material proximate the highest energy densities in tissue. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the fill material  120  is particularly designed to create a gradient in the distribution of conductive filler with an increase in volume of material injected under high pressure into cancellous bone  122 . This aspect of the method in turn can be used advantageously to create asymmetric internal heating of the fill volume. In this embodiment, the fill material  120  includes a conductive filler of elongated conductive microfilaments  176   a  ( FIG. 7A ). The filaments are from about 2% to 5% by weight of the fill material, with the filaments having a mean diameter or mean sectional dimension across a minor axis ranging between about 0.001″ and 0.010″ and a length ranging from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, more preferably about 1 mm to 5 mm. In another embodiment, the filaments have a mean diameter or a mean dimension across a minor axis ranging between about 1 micron and 500 microns, more preferably between about 1 micron and 50 microns, even more preferably between about 1 micron and 20 microns. It has been found that elongated conductive microfilaments  176   a  result in resistance to flows thereabout which causes such microfilaments to aggregate away from the most active media flows that are concentrated in the center of the vertebra proximate to outlet  124   a . Thus, the conductive microfilaments  176   a  attain a higher concentration in the peripheral or surface portion  180  of the plume which in turn will result in greater internal heating of the fill portions having such higher concentrations of conductive filaments. The active flows also are controlled by rotation of introducer  110 A to eject the material preferentially, for example laterally as depicted in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  rather that vertically. The handle  106  of the probe  105  preferably has markings to indicate the rotational orientation of the outlets  124   b.    
       FIG. 8A  depicts the application of Rf energy in a monopolar manner between electrode emitter  128  and ground pad  170 , which thus causes asymmetric heating wherein surface portion  180  heating results in greater polymerization therein. As can be seen in  FIG. 8A , the volume of fill material thus exhibits a gradient in a flowability property, for example with surface region  180  having a higher viscosity than inflowing material  120 ′ as it is ejected from outlet  124   a . In one embodiment, the gradient is continuous. Such heating at the plume periphery  165  can create an altered, highly viscous surface region  180 . This step of the method can transform the fill material to have a gradient in flowability in an interval of about 5 seconds to 500 seconds with surface portion  180  being either a highly viscous, flowable layer or an elastomer that is expandable. In preferred embodiments, the interval of energy delivery required less than about 120 seconds to alter fill material to a selected asymmetric condition. In another aspect of the invention, the Rf energy application for creating the gradient in flowability also can be optimized for coagulating and sealing adjacent tissue. 
     The combination of the viscous surface portion  180  and the tissue coagulum  172  may function as an in-situ created stretchable, but substantially flow-impervious, layer to contain subsequent high pressure inflows of fill material. Thus, the next step of the method of the invention is depicted in  FIG. 8B  which includes injecting additional fill material  120 ′ under high pressure into the interior of the initial volume of fill material  120  that then has a highly viscous, expandable surface. The viscous, expandable surface desirably surrounds cancellous bone. By this means, the subsequent injection of fill material can expand the fill volume to apply retraction forces on the vertebra endplates  166   a  and  166   b  to provide vertical jacking forces, distracting cortical bone, for restoring vertebral height, as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 8B . The system can generate forces capable of breaking callus in cortical bone about a vertebral compression fracture when the fracture is less than completely healed. 
     In one embodiment, the method includes applying Rf energy to create highly viscous regions in a volume of fill material and thereafter injecting additional fill material  120  to controllably expand the fill volume and control the direction of force application. The scope of the method further includes applying Rf energy in multiple intervals or contemporaneous with a continuous flow of fill material. The scope of the method also includes applying Rf in conjunction with imaging means to prevent unwanted flows of the fill material. The scope of the invention also includes applying Rf energy to polymerize and accelerate hardening of the entire fill volume after the desired amount of fill material has been injected into a bone. 
     In another embodiment, the method includes creating Rf current densities in selected portions of the volume of fill material  120  to create asymmetric fill properties based on particular characteristics of the vertebral body. For example, the impedance variances in cancellous bone and cortical bone can be used to create varied Rf energy densities in fill material  120  to create asymmetric properties therein. Continued injection of fill material  120  are thus induced to apply asymmetric retraction forces against cortical endplates  166   a  and  166   b , wherein the flow direction is toward movement or deformation of the lower viscosity portions and away from the higher viscosity portions. In  FIGS. 9A-9C , it can be seen that in a vertebroplasty, the application of Rf energy in a mono-polar manner as in  FIG. 6  naturally and preferentially creates more highly viscous, deeper “altered” properties in surfaces of the lateral peripheral fill volumes indicated at  185  and  185 ′ and less viscous, thinner altered surfaces in the superior and inferior regions  186  and  186 ′ of fill material  120 . This effect occurs since Rf current density is localized about paths of least resistance which are predominantly in locations proximate to highly conductive cancellous bone  122   a  and  122   b . The Rf current density is less in locations proximate to less conductive cortical bone indicated at  166   a  and  166   b . Thus, it can be seen in  FIG. 9B  that the lateral peripheral portions  185  and  185 ′ of the first flows of fill material  120  are more viscous and resistant to flow and expansion than the thinner superior and inferior regions. In  FIG. 9C , the asymmetrical properties of the initial flows of fill material  120  allows the continued flows to apply retraction forces in substantially vertical directions to reduce the vertebral fracture and increase vertebral height, for example from VH ( FIG. 9B ) to VH′ in  FIG. 9C . 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are schematic views that further depict a method corresponding to  FIGS. 9B and 9C  that comprises expanding cancellous bone for applying retraction forces against cortical bone, e.g., endplates of a vertebra in a vertebroplasty. As can be seen in  FIG. 10A , an initial volume of flowable fill material  120  is injected into cancellous bone wherein surface region  180  is altered as described above to be highly viscous or to comprise and elastomer that is substantially impermeable to interior flows but still be expandable. The surface region  180  surrounds subsequent flows of fill material  120 ′ which interdigitate with cancellous bone. Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 10B , continued high pressure inflow into the interior of the fill material thereby expands the cancellous bone  122  together with the interdigitated fill material  120 ′. As can be seen in  FIG. 10B , the expansion of cancellous bone  122  and fill material  120 ′ thus applies retraction forces to move cortical bone endplates  166   a  and  166   b . The method of expanding cancellous bone can be used to reduce a bone fracture such as a vertebral compression fracture and can augment or restore the height of a fractured vertebra. The system thus can be used to support retract and support cortical bone, and cancellous bone. The method can also restore the shape of an abnormal vertebra, such as one damaged by a tumor. 
     After utilizing system  100  to introduce, alter and optionally harden fill material  120  as depicted in  FIGS. 9A-9C  and  10 A- 10 B, the introducer  110 A can be withdrawn from the bone. Alternatively, the introducer  110 A can have a release or detachment structure indicated at  190  for de-mating the working end from the proximal introducer portion as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/130,843, filed May 16, 2005, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Another system embodiment  200  for controlling flow directions and for creating asymmetric properties is shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , wherein first and second introducers  110 A and  110 B similar to those described above are used to introduce first and second independent volumes  202   a  and  202   b  of fill material  120  in a bilateral approach. In this embodiment, the two fill volumes function as opposing polarity electrodes in contact with electrodes  205   a  and  205   b  of the working ends. Current flow between the electrodes thus operates in a bi-polar manner with the positive and negative polarities indicated by the (+) and (−) symbols. In this method, it also can be seen that the highest current density occurs in the three dimensional surfaces of volumes  202   a  and  202   b  that face one another. This results in creating the thickest, high viscosity surfaces  208  in the medial, anterior and posterior regions and the least “altered” surfaces in the laterally outward regions. This method is well suited for preventing posterior and anterior flows and directing retraction forces superiorly and inferiorly since lateral flow are contained by the cortical bone at lateral aspects of the vertebra. The system can further be adapted to switch ohmic heating effects between the bi-polar manner and the mono-polar manner described previously. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 12 , another embodiment is shown wherein a translatable member  210  that functions as an electrode is carried by introducer  110 A. In a preferred embodiment, the member  210  is a superelastic nickel titanium shape memory wire that has a curved memory shape. The member  210  can have a bare electrode tip  212  with a radiopaque marking and is otherwise covered by a thin insulator coating. In  FIG. 12 , it can be seen that the introducer can be rotated and the member can be advanced from a port  214  in the working end  115 A under imaging. By moving the electrode tip  212  to a desired location and then actuating RF current, it is possible to create a local viscous or hardened region  216  of fill material  120 . For example, if imaging indicates that fill material  120  is flowing in an undesired direction, then injection can be stopped and Rf energy can be applied to harden the selected location. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates another embodiment of the introducer  110 A which includes a transition in cross-sectional dimension to allow for decreased pressure requirements for introducing bone cement through the length of the introducer. In the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , the proximal handle end  106  is coupled to introducer  110 A that has a larger diameter proximal end portion  218   a  that transitions to a smaller diameter distal end portion  218   b  configured for insertion into a vertebral body. The distal end portion  218   b  includes exterior threads  222  for helical advancement and engagement in bone to prevent the introducer from moving proximally when cement is injected into a vertebral body or other bone, for example to augment vertebral height when treating a VCF. The bore that extends through the introducer  110 A similarly transitions from larger diameter bore portion  224   a  to smaller diameter bore portion  224   b . The embodiment of  FIG. 13  utilizes a bore termination or slot  225  in a sidewall of the working end  115 A for ejecting bone cement at a selected radial angle from the axis  226  of the introducer for directing cement outflows within a vertebral body. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 13 , the introducer  110 A is coupled to bone cement source  145  and pressure source  150  as described previously that is controlled by controller  125 B. Further, an energy source  125 A (e.g., Rf source) is coupled to an energy delivery mechanism in the working end  115 A for applying energy to a cement flow within bore  224   b . In the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , the introducer can be fabricated of a strong reinforced plastic such a polymide composite with a sleeve electrode  228  in bore  224   a  and inward of the bore termination slot  225 , similar to electrode  128  depicted in  FIG. 3A . The electrode  228  in  FIG. 13  is coupled to Rf source  125 A for operating in a mono-polar manner in cooperation with a return ground pad indicated at  170 . The controller  125 B again is operatively connected to Rf source  125 A to adjust energy delivery parameters in response to feedback from a thermocouple  235  in the bore  124   a  or in response to measuring impedance of the cement flow. In  FIG. 13 , the controller  125 B further is operationally connected to an aspiration source  240  that is coupled to a needle-like introducer sleeve  242  that can be inserted into a bone to apply suction forces to the interior of vertebra for relieving pressure in the vertebra and/or extracting fluids, bone marrow and the like that could migrate into the venous system. The use of such an aspiration system will be described further below. 
     In  FIG. 13 , the introducer  110 A has a larger diameter bore  224   a  that ranges from about 4 mm. to 10 mm. and preferably is in the range of about 5 mm to 6 mm. The smaller diameter bore  224   b  can range from about 1 mm. to 3 mm. and preferably is in the range of about 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. The exterior threads  222  can be any suitable height with single or dual flights configured for gripping cancellous bone. The thread height and length of the reduced diameter section  218   b  are configured for insertion into a vertebra so that the port  225  can be anteriorly or centrally located in the vertebral body. The working end  115 A further carries a radiopaque marking  244  for orienting the radial angle of the introducer and bore termination port  225 . In  FIG. 13 , the radiopaque marking  244  is elongated and surrounds port  225  in the introducer sidewall. The handle  106  also carries a marking  245  for indicating the radial angle of port  225  to allow the physician to orient the port by observation of the handle. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 14A-14C , the working end  115 A of the introducer of  FIG. 13  is shown after being introduced into cancellous bone  122  in vertebra  90 .  FIG. 14A  illustrates a horizontal sectional view of vertebra  90  wherein the bore termination port  225  is oriented superiorly to direct cement inflows to apply forces against cancellous bone  122  and the superior cortical endplate  248  of the vertebra. A method of the invention comprises providing a flow source  250  (the pressure source  150  and cement source  145 , in combination, are identified as flow source  250  in  FIG. 13 ) for bone cement inflows and a controller  125 B for control of the bone cement inflows, and inflowing the bone cement into a vertebral body wherein the controller adjusts an inflow parameter in response to a measured characteristic of the cement. In one method, the measured characteristic is temperature of the bone cement measured by thermocouple  235  in the working end  115 A. The controller  125 B can be any custom computerized controller. In one embodiment, the system can utilize a commercially available controller manufactured by EFD Inc., East Providence, R.I. 02914, USA for flow control, wherein either a positive displacement dispensing system or an air-powered dispensing system can coupled to the flow source  250 . In response to feedback from thermocouple  235  that is read by the controller  125 B, any inflow parameter of the bone cement flow can be adjusted, for example cement injection pressure, the inflow rate or velocity of the bone cement flows or the acceleration of a bone cement flow. The controller  125 B also can vary any inflow parameter with time, for example, in pulsing cement inflows to thereby reduce a vertebral fracture, or move cancellous or cortical bone (see  FIGS. 14A-14B ). The cement  120  can be introduced in suitable volumes and geometries to treat fractures or to prophylactically treat a vertebra. 
     In another method corresponding to the invention, the flow source  250 , controller  125 B and Rf energy source  125 A are provided as shown in  FIG. 13 . The controller  125 B again is capable of adjusting any bone cement delivery parameter in response to impedance and/or temperature. The controller  125 B adjusts at least one cement delivery parameter selected from cement volume, pressure, velocity and acceleration of the inflowing cement. The controller  125 B also can vary pressure of the inflowing cement or pulse the cement inflows. In this embodiment, the controller  125 B also is capable of adjusting energy delivered from Rf energy source  125 A to the inflowing cement  120  in response to impedance, temperature, cement viscosity feedback or cement flow parameters to alter cement viscosity as described above. Cement viscosity can be calculated by the controller  125 B from temperature and pressure signals. The controller  125 B also is capable of being programmed with algorithms to ramp-up and ramp down power in one or more steps, or can be programmed to pulse power delivery to the bone cement  120  (FIGS.  14 A- 14 BA). 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 14B and 14C , the inflowing cement  120  can be directed to apply forces against cancellous bone  122  and the superior cortical endplate  248  of the vertebra, or the working end can be rotated to introduce cement  120  and apply forces in other directions. In this embodiment, the extension of the working end  115 A in cancellous bone serves as a support for causing expansion pressures to be directed substantially in the direction of cement flows. The method of treating the vertebra includes translating (by helical advancement) and rotating the introducer  110 A to thereby alter the direction of cement introduction. In another embodiment (not shown), the introducer  110 A can comprise an assembly of first and second concentric sleeves wherein the outer sleeve has threads  222  for locking the assembly in bone and the inner sleeve is rotatable to adjust the angular direction of port  225  wherein the sleeves are locked together axially. This embodiment can be used to intermittently angularly adjust the direction of cement outflows while helical movement of the outer sleeve adjusts the axial location of port  225  and the cement outflows. 
     In another method of the invention, referring back to  FIG. 14A , the aspiration introducer sleeve  242  can be inserted into the vertebral body, for example through the opposing pedicle. The controller  125 B can be programmed to alter aspiration parameters in coordination with any bone cement inflow parameter. For example, the cement inflows can be pulsed and the aspiration forces can be pulsed cooperatively to extract fluids and potentially embolic materials, with the pulses synchronized. In one method, the cement inflows are pulsed at frequency ranging between about 1 per second and 500 per second with an intense, high acceleration pulse which causes bone marrow, fat, blood and similar materials to become susceptible to movement while at the same time the aspiration pulses are strong to extract some mobile marrow etc into the aspiration sleeve  242 . In  FIG. 14A , the aspiration sleeve  242  is shown with single port in it distal end. It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention and its method of use includes an aspiration sleeve  242  that has a plurality of inflow ports along the length of the sleeve and the sleeve also can be curved or can be of a shape memory alloy (e.g., Nitinol) to for introduction in a curved path in the anterior of posterior region of a vertebral body as indicated by lines  260  and  260 ′ in  FIG. 14A . In another embodiment, the aspiration sleeve  242  can extend through the introducer  110 A or can comprise an outer concentric sleeve around the introducer  110 A. 
     The scope of the invention further extends to cure-on-demand fill material that can be used for disc nucleus implants, wherein the conductive fill material in injected to conform to the shape of a space wherein Rf current is then applied to increase the modulus of the material on demand to a desired level that is adapted for dynamic stabilization. Thus, the Rf conductive filler material  120  can be engineered to reach a (desired modulus that is less than that of a hardened fill material used for bone support. In this embodiment, the fill material is used to support a disc or portion thereof. The cure-on-demand fill material also can be configured as an injectable material to repair or patch a disc annulus as when a tear or herniation occurs. 
     The scope of the invention further extends to cure-on-demand fill material that can be used for injection into a space between vertebrae for intervertebral fusion. The injection of fill material can conform to a space created between two adjacent vertebrae, or can be injected into notches or bores in two adjacent vertebrae and the intervening space, and then cured by application of Rf current to provide a substantially high modulus block to cause bone fusion. 
     In any embodiment such as for intervertebral fusion or for bone support in VCFs, the system can further include the injection of a gas (such as carbon dioxide) into the fill material before it is injected from a high pressure source. Thereafter, the gas can expand to form voids in the fill material as it is cured to create porosities in the hardened fill material for allowing rapid bone ingrowth into the fill material. 
     In related methods of the invention, the system of the invention can use any suitable energy source, other that radiofrequency energy, to accomplish the purpose of altering the viscosity of the fill material  120 . The method of altering fill material can be at least one of a radiofrequency source, a laser source, a microwave source, a magnetic source and an ultrasound source. Each of these energy sources can be configured to preferentially deliver energy to a cooperating, energy sensitive filler component carried by the fill material. For example, such filler can be suitable chromophores for cooperating with a light source, ferromagnetic materials for cooperating with magnetic inductive heating means, or fluids that thermally respond to microwave energy. 
     The scope of the invention includes using additional filler materials such as porous scaffold elements and materials for allowing or accelerating bone ingrowth. In any embodiment, the filler material can comprise reticulated or porous elements of the types disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/146,891, filed Jun. 7, 2005, titled “Implants and Methods for Treating Bone” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and should be considered a part of this specification. Such fillers also can carry bioactive agents. Additional fillers, or the conductive filler, also can include thermally insulative solid or hollow microspheres of a glass or other material for reducing heat transfer to bone from the exothermic reaction in a typical bone cement component. 
     The above description of the invention is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. Particular characteristics, features, dimensions and the like that are presented in dependent claims can be combined and fall within the scope of the invention. The invention also encompasses embodiments as if dependent claims were alternatively written in a multiple dependent claim format with reference to other independent claims. Specific characteristics and features of the invention and its method are described in relation to some figures and not in others, and this is for convenience only. While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the exemplary descriptions and combinations, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be utilized in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, with the limits only of the true purview, spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Of course, the foregoing description is that of certain features, aspects and advantages of the present invention, to which various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, the bone treatment systems and methods need not feature all of the objects, advantages, features and aspects discussed above. Thus, for example, those skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications and methods of use, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of these specific features and aspects of embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the discussed bone treatment systems and methods.