The present invention relates in certain embodiments to medical devices for treating vertebral compression fractures. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to instruments and methods for controllably restoring vertebral body height by controlling the flow of bone cement into the interior of a vertebra and the application of forces causes by the cement flow. An exemplary system utilizes Rf energy in combination a conductive bone cement for selectively polymerizing the inflow plume to increase the viscosity of the cement. In one aspect of the invention, the system utilizes a controller to control bone cement flow parameters to either allow or disallow cement interdigitation into cancellous bone. A method of the invention includes pulsing the flows of bone cement wherein high acceleration of the flow pulses can apply expansion forces across the surface of the cement plume to reduce a vertebral fracture.

A kit of parts for inserting a deformable implant into a cavity in a bone of a patient is described. An inserter instrument comprises a body having a cavity extending along a longitudinal axis from a distal end to a proximal end. An attachment mechanism is provided at the distal end and to which a deformable implant can be releasably attached. A drive mechanism is provided at the proximal end of the body. An insertion stop is mounted on the body and arranged to control the depth of insertion of the inserter instrument into a guide tube. A push rod is freely and slidably arranged within the cavity and has a distal end engageable with a part of the deformable implant and a proximal end abutable by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is operable to drive the push rod toward the distal end of the body. The kit also includes an impactor dimensioned for slidable engagement within the cavity.

A separator element (300) is designed to prevent the passage of granulate along an axial direction (L) but to allow the passage of liquid along the axial direction (L). The separator element (300) has an internal thread (310) open towards its proximal end, and an external thread (320) open towards the distal end. At its proximal end, the separator element additionally has at least one resilient locking arm (330) which is arranged on the outer circumference and winch extends with its free end in the proximal direction. In this way, the separator element can be mounted on the discharge opening of a container (100) and, by means of a closure piece (400), can be fixed on the container in such a way that the separator element remains on the container when the closure piece is removed.

A system (30) for dispensing curable material. A lead screw (62) is rotatably fixed relative to a first control surface (60) and includes external threads (94). A locking nut (90) includes internal threads (92) threadably engaging the external threads. An engagement feature (98) of the locking nut is adapted to be selectively engaged with an actuator (120) having a second control surface (122). The threads provide for rotation of the locking nut about a translation axis when the actuator is in a disengaged position. Rotation of the locking nut permits the lead screw to move proximally along the axis and the compressed curable material to at least partially decompress within a dispensing volume. The threads further provide for distal advancement of the lead screw along the axis when the actuator is in an engaged position rotatably fixing the locking nut about the axis. Methods for operating and packaging the curable material dispensing system are also described.

One aspect relates to a device for producing a bone cement paste from a monomer liquid and a cement powder as parent components of the bone cement paste and for delivering the mixed bone cement paste. The device has a cartridge with a cylindrical interior. The interior of the cartridge is closed at a front side apart from a delivery opening for discharging the bone cement paste. In the interior of the cartridge a delivery plunger is arranged which is pushable in the direction of the delivery opening. The cement powder is arranged in the interior of the cartridge between the delivery opening and the delivery plunger. A hollow cylinder is arranged at a front side of the delivery plunger facing the delivery opening. The hollow cylinder is open at its front face facing the delivery opening and extends from the front side of the delivery plunger at least 3 mm into the interior of the cartridge.

An inflatable bone tamp is provided that includes a shaft with proximal and distal portions and a central longitudinal axis. A balloon is attached to the shaft such that a material can flow through the shaft and into the balloon to inflate the balloon. A flow controller controls the flow of the material through the shaft and into the balloon. Kits, systems and methods are disclosed.

A container for bone cement includes a first member defining a chamber, which contains a first ingredient. The chamber also includes a second member movably coupled to the first member. The second member includes a mixing device that is movably disposed within the first chamber, and the second member defines a second chamber containing a second ingredient. The container additional includes an opening device that selectively opens the second chamber and allows the second ingredient to enter from the second chamber into the first chamber. The mixing device is movable within the first chamber to promote mixing of the first ingredient and the second ingredient to prepare the bone cement. A corresponding method of preparing bone cement is also disclosed.

Systems and methods for stabilizing a bone structure of a patient. A stylet and a delivery tube is directed through an access cannula to form a curved path to a target site. The stylet is withdrawn with a distal portion of the flexible delivery tube maintaining a curved configuration along the curved path. The curable material including a plurality of elements disposed in a fluent material is directed through the flexible delivery tube with a distal portion of the flexible delivery tube maintaining the curved configuration against forces from the elements and the fluent material. A delivery cannula may be directed through the flexible delivery tube. An expandable member may deployed at the target site to create a cavity. A steerable assembly may be selectively activate to form the curved path. The plurality of elements may substantially follow a curved path created within the bone structure.

An apparatus for mixing bone cement can comprise a receiving chamber, a mixing chamber, a cannula, a base, and a piston located within the mixing chamber. The receiving chamber defining a conduit. The mixing chamber in fluid communication with the receiving chamber. The mixing chamber configured to house a first component of the bone cement. The cannula located in the receiving chamber and in fluid communication with the conduit. The base including a bladder arranged to be punctured by the cannula, the bladder configured to house a second component of the bone cement. Upon puncturing of the bladder by the cannula the second component of the bone cement passes through the conduit and the cannula into the mixing chamber. The piston configured to seal the mixing chamber upon movement of the piston from a first position relative to the conduit to a second position relative to the conduit.

Inflatable medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The inflatable medical devices can be medical balloons. The balloons can be configured to have a through-lumen or no through-lumen and a wide variety of geometries. The device can have a high-strength, non-compliant, fiber-reinforced, multi-layered wall. The inflatable medical device can be used for angioplasty, kyphoplasty, percutaneous aortic valve replacement, or other procedures described herein.