Patent ID: 7641664

Claim:
Instrumentation for treatment of the spine, comprising: an elongate member extending along a longitudinal axis and including a flexible and elastically deformable distal portion having an initial configuration for placement within a spinal structure and an elastically deformed configuration wherein said distal portion is outwardly deformed, said elongate member comprising a cannula member and an actuator member, said actuator member being removably positioned within said cannula member and configured to transition said deformable distal portion from said initial configuration toward said elastically deformed configuration by imposition of an axial compression force onto said deformable distal portion, said actuator member being selectively removed from said cannula member to provide a passageway for delivery of a material into in the spinal structure; and wherein said cannula member defines a transverse opening communicating with said passageway, said elastically deformed configuration comprising a transverse projection extending through said transverse opening.