Patent ID: 8163018

Claim:
A method of treating a vertebral body comprising: positioning a tubular member to access a selected region in the interior of the vertebral body, the tubular member extending along an axis; providing an elongated steerable member having an open distal end; longitudinally moving the steerable member through the tubular member and outwardly through an end thereof into the selected region in the interior of the vertebral body; and causing the open distal end of the steerable member to laterally deflect, without appreciably rotating the steerable member relative to the tubular member, through at least one selectively variable path extending along a curved axis laterally offset from the tubular member axis within the vertebral body and thereby create a void area within bone in the selected region in the interior of the vertebral body: the degree of lateral deflection of the open distal end of the steerable member within the selected region of the interior of the vertebral body relative to the tubular member axis being selectively adjustable without creating relative longitudinal movement between the tubular member and the steerable member; and introducing a biologically active component into the void area.