Cement restrictor system and method of forming a cement plug within the medullary canal of a bone

A cement restrictor system comprising:

• an inflatable body;
• a conduit having a first end and a second end, the conduit defining a fluid passage to the inflatable body;
• and
• a shield releasably securable to the conduit, the shield extending radially outward from the conduit, wherein the shield includes a frustroconical body that is flexible at its periphery.

A cement restrictor system comprising:

• an inflatable body;
• a conduit having a first end and a second end, the conduit defining a fluid passage to the inflatable body;
• and
• a shield releasably securable to the conduit,
• wherein the conduit includes:
• a rigid tubular guide having a first end and a second end, the second end being releasably securable to the shield, and
• a flexible catheter having a first end and a second end, the flexible catheter being disposed at least partially within the tubular guide,
• wherein the inflatable body surrounds a portion of the catheter between the shield and the second end of the conduit and the flexible catheter and the inflatable body can be passed through the rigid tubular guide from the second end of the rigid tubular guide to the first end of the rigid tubular guide.

A cement restrictor system comprising:

• a rigid tubular guide having a first end and a second end;
• a flexible catheter having a first end and a second end, the flexible catheter being positionable at least partially within the tubular guide, wherein the second end of the flexible catheter is extensible from the second end of the tubular guide;
• an inflatable body surrounding a portion of the catheter proximate the second end of the catheter, wherein the catheter defines a fluid path to and from the interior of the inflatable body;
• a flexible shield releasably securable to the rigid tubular guide at a point between the first end of the rigid tubular guide and the inflatable body;
• and
• a collar that is positionable between the first end of the rigid tubular guide and the shield to define a space between the collar and the shield.

A method of forming a cement plug comprising the steps of:

• placing a first obstruction in a medullary canal of a long bone beyond the isthmus of the long bone;
• holding the first obstruction in place with an inflatable body such that first obstruction and the inflatable body form a seal in the medullary canal that is effective to prevent the flow of bone cement;
• depositing a predetermined quantity of bone cement into the medullary canal;
• and
• allowing the bone cement to harden to form a cement bone plug.