Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for repairing a collapsed space within vertebral bodies, which comprises: an introducer including an elongate member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal bore, the elongate member having a threaded portion adjacent the distal end and being configured for insertion into vertebral bodies to facilitate mounting of the elongate member to the vertebral bodies; and a catheter at least partially positionable within the longitudinal bore of the elongate member of the introducer, the catheter including a catheter body member having proximal and distal ends, an inflation lumen extending along at least a portion of the catheter body and an expandable membrane releasably attached to the distal end of the catheter body member in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the expandable membrane extendible beyond the distal end of the introducer and positionable within the vertebral bodies and being expandable in response to inflation fluids conveyed by the inflation lumen to exert a force on the vertebral bodies to achieve a desired spacing therewithin.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for repairing a collapsed space within vertebral bodies, which comprises: an introducer including an elongate member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal bore, the elongate member having a threaded portion adjacent the distal end and being configured for insertion into vertebral bodies to facilitate mounting of the elongate member to the vertebral bodies; and a catheter at least partially positionable within the longitudinal bore of the elongate member of the introducer, the catheter including a catheter body member having proximal and distal ends, an inflation lumen extending along at least a portion of the catheter body and an expandable membrane releasably attached to the distal end of the catheter body member in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the expandable membrane extendible beyond the distal end of the introducer and positionable within the vertebral bodies and being expandable in response to inflation fluids conveyed by the inflation lumen to exert a force on the vertebral bodies to achieve a desired spacing therewithin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the catheter further includes a treating agent delivery lumen extending along at least a portion of the catheter body and in fluid communication with an interior of the vertebral bodies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising an injection device coupled to at least one of the inflation lumen and treating agent delivery lumen for providing the inflation fluids to the expandable membrane and to the treating agent delivery lumen for providing bone growth inducing materials within the interior of the vertebral bodies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the injection device is a syringe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the introducer further includes a projection along an external length thereof, the projection facilitating the rotation of the threaded portion into the vertebral bodies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion of the elongate member further includes a collar, the collar having an elastic seal adapted to form a seal along an external portion of the vertebral bodies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , further including an uncoupling sleeve mounted about the elongate member of the introducer, the uncoupling sleeve movable to separate the expandable membrane from the catheter body member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a source of inflation fluid in communication with the inflation lumen to expand the expandable membrane, the source of inflation fluid including an injected bone growth inducing material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the expandable membrane is formed of a biodegradable material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein an entirety of the expandable membrane is biodegradable.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for reforming a collapsed vertebra of a patient, comprising the steps of: suspending the patient in a chest supporting harness; mounting an introducer to vertebral body portions to access a collapsed area therewithin, the introducer defining a longitudinal bore; inserting a catheter within the longitudinal bore of the introducer, the catheter including a catheter body having an expandable membrane mounted adjacent a distal end thereof; positioning the expandable membrane within the collapsed area of the vertebral body portions; and expanding the expandable membrane whereby the expandable membrane exerts a force on the vertebral body portions to increase a dimension of the collapsed area to achieve a desired spacing therewithin.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for reforming a collapsed vertebra of a patient, comprising the steps of: suspending the patient in a chest supporting harness; mounting an introducer to vertebral body portions to access a collapsed area therewithin, the introducer defining a longitudinal bore; inserting a catheter within the longitudinal bore of the introducer, the catheter including a catheter body having an expandable membrane mounted adjacent a distal end thereof; positioning the expandable membrane within the collapsed area of the vertebral body portions; and expanding the expandable membrane whereby the expandable membrane exerts a force on the vertebral body portions to increase a dimension of the collapsed area to achieve a desired spacing therewithin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 11 , further including the step of injecting a treating agent into the collapsed area of the vertebral body portions to facilitate bone growth within the collapsed area of the vertebral bodies.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein the catheter body includes a delivery lumen terminating in an opening in the catheter body member and wherein the step of injecting includes introducing the treating agent into the delivery lumen to be conveyed thereby and dispensed through the opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of expanding includes inflating the expandable member with inflation fluids.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: dispensing a hardening material into the expandable membrane; uncoupling the expandable membrane from the catheter body; and removing the catheter body from the patient such that the expandable membrane containing the hardening material remains between the vertebral body portions.