Patent ID: 8535327

Claim:
A delivery apparatus for delivering an intravertebral implant into a vertebral body of a human vertebra, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a cannula having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen extending therebetween, said cannula including a distal end opening in communication with the lumen, the proximal end portion of the cannula operatively connected to the housing and the distal end portion of the cannula adapted for insertion into the vertebral body; a guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the guide member being disposable within the cannula and the proximal end portion of the guide member at least partially disposable within the housing, the guide member being advanceable relative to the intravertebral implant through the lumen of the cannula and out of the distal end opening of the cannula into the vertebral body, the guide member being configured to allow advancement of the intravertebral implant therealong so as to guide the implant through the lumen of the cannula, out of the distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body; an advancing element having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the advancing element disposable within the cannula and the proximal end portion of the advancing element at least partially disposable within the housing, the advancing element being advanceable relative to the guide member and contacting the intravertebral implant to advance the intravertebral implant along the guide member as the advancing element is advanced; and a drive system associated with the housing, the drive system including a first drive element for advancing the guide member through the lumen of the cannula and out of the distal end opening of the cannula, the drive system also including a second drive element for advancing the advancing element relative to the guide member so that the advancing element advances the implant along the guide member, and wherein the first drive element comprises a first carriage having a portion of the guide member wound thereabout, and the second drive element comprises a second carriage having a portion of the advancing element wound thereabout.