Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A method comprising providing a system comprising a void creation device capable of being inserted through a percutaneous access path into a bone having cortical walls which enclose a cancellous bone volume, the void creation device including an expandable structure and including a first expandable region capable of expanding in the cancellous bone volume to compact a first region of the cancellous bone volume to form a first void, and a second expandable region spaced from the first expandable region and capable of expanding in the cancellous bone volume substantially independently of the first expandable region to compact a second region of the cancellous bone volume different than the first region of the cancellous bone volume to form a second void, and an expansion controller coupled to the expandable structure being capable of selective operation in a first condition to expand the first expandable region without substantially expanding the second expandable region and in a second condition to expand the second expandable region without substantially expanding the first expandable region, inserting the void creation device into a bone through a percutaneous access path, and operating the expansion controller to form at least one void in cancellous bone within the bone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
A method comprising providing a system comprising a void creation device capable of being inserted through a percutaneous access path into a bone having cortical walls which enclose a cancellous bone volume, the void creation device including an expandable structure and including a first expandable region capable of expanding in the cancellous bone volume to compact a first region of the cancellous bone volume to form a first void, and a second expandable region spaced from the first expandable region and capable of expanding in the cancellous bone volume substantially independently of the first expandable region to compact a second region of the cancellous bone volume different than the first region of the cancellous bone volume to form a second void, and an expansion controller coupled to the expandable structure being capable of selective operation in a first condition to expand the first expandable region without substantially expanding the second expandable region and in a second condition to expand the second expandable region without substantially expanding the first expandable region, inserting the void creation device into a bone through a percutaneous access path, and operating the expansion controller to form at least one void in cancellous bone within the bone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the expandable regions includes an internal restraints which allows for directional expansion of the respective expandable region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the expansion controller is further capable of operation in a third condition to expand both the first and second expandable regions substantially simultaneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the expansion controller is capable of selectively collapsing the first expandable region without substantially collapsing the second expandable region, and vice versa.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the expansion controller is capable of selectively collapsing both the first expandable region and the second expandable region substantially simultaneously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the bone comprises a vertebral body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second expandable regions comprises an inflatable body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the expansion controller includes a valve controlling conveyance of an inflation medium to the inflatable body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the expandable structure is elongated along an axis and includes proximal and distal end spaced apart along the axis, the first expandable region being located near the proximal end and the second expandable region being located near the distal end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the expandable structure includes an intermediate section between the proximal and distal ends that does not significantly expand during expansion of the first and/or second expandable regions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the first and second expandable regions, when substantially expanded, comprise lobes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 further including placing a volume of filling material into the void.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the filling material hardens within the void.