Percutaneous surgical cavitation device and method

A surgical method for percutaneous formation of a cavity within a body, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a percutaneous access opening;
• b) inserting through the access opening a rotary cavitation device comprising:
• i. an elongated shaft having a radius and an axis of rotation;
• ii. a cutting tip having a fixed length;
• and
• iii. a hinge interconnecting the shaft and cutting tip allowing free rotation of the cutting tip in an arc coplanar with the shaft's axis of rotation between a first position substantially co-axial with the shaft and a second position angularly offset from the shaft's axis of rotation;
• c) rotating the shaft at a velocity sufficient to cause the cutting tip to be deflected from the first position toward the second position to effect formation of an internal cavity having a radius greater than the radius of the shaft;
• and
• d) withdrawing the device from the access opening.

A method of percutaneous prophylactic replacement of osteoporotic bone, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing percutaneous access to the osteoporotic bone;
• b) drilling a guide hole along a predetermined axis to a predetermined depth;
• c) insertion of a rotary cavitation device comprising:
• i. an elongated shaft having a radius and an axis of rotation;
• ii. a cutting tip having a fixed length;
• and
• iii. a hinge interconnecting the shaft and cutting tip allowing free rotation of the cutting tip in an arc coplanar with the shaft's axis of rotation between a first position substantially co-axial with the shaft and a second position angularly offset from the shaft's axis of rotation;
• d) rotating the shaft at a velocity sufficient to cause the cutting tip to be deflected from the first position toward the second position to effect formation of an internal cavity having a radius greater than the radius of the shaft;
• and
• e) withdrawal of ablated material from the cavity through the percutaneous access;
• and
• f) injection of bone replacement material into the cavity through the percutaneous access.