Expandable structures for deployment in interior body regions

#The invention relates to expandable structures, which, in use, are deployed in interior body regions of humans and other animals.

#The deployment of expandable structures into interior body regions is well known. For example, expandable structures, generically called “balloons,” are deployed during angioplasty to open occluded blood vessels. As another example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,969,888 and 5,108,404 disclose apparatus and methods the use of expandable structures for the fixation of fractures or other osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic conditions of human and animal bones.

#Many interior regions of the body, such as the vasculature and interior bone, possess complex, asymmetric geometries. Even if an interior body region is somewhat more symmetric, it may still be difficult to gain access along the natural axis of symmetry.

#FIG. 1 is a lateral view, partially broken away and in section, of a lumbar vertebra taken generally along line 1-1 in FIG. 2;

#FIG. 2 is a coronal view of the lumbar vertebra, partially cut away and in section, shown in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a top view of a probe including a catheter tube carrying a tubular expandable structure of conventional construction, shown in a substantially collapsed condition;

#The invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims, rather than in the specific description preceding them. All embodiments that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.

#The preferred embodiment first describes improved systems and methods that embody features of the invention in the context of treating bones. This is because the new systems and methods are advantageous when used for this purpose.

#Another preferred embodiment describes the improved systems and methods in the context of relieving constrictions or blockages within branched blood vessels. This is because the vasculature also presents an environment well suited to receive the benefits of the invention.