Systems and methods for forming a cavity in, and delivering curable material into, bone

A method of injecting curable material to a delivery site within a bone structure, the method comprising:

• locating a distal end of an access cannula within the bone structure, the access cannula forming a lumen and defining a central axis;
• inserting a channel creating device into the lumen;
• distally advancing a distal segment of the channel creating device from the distal end and into the bone structure;
• creating a curved channel in the bone structure with the distally advancing distal segment, the curved channel defining a curve relative to the central axis;
• removing the channel creating device;
• wherein the distal segment includes a shaft terminating at a distal tip, wherein a maximum outer diameter of the distal tip is greater than an outer diameter of the shaft, and further wherein the step of distally advancing the distal segment includes the distal tip boring through the bone structure;
• inserting a distal portion of a cavity creating device into the lumen, the distal portion including an expandable body carried by an elongated body, the expandable body operable between a contracted state and an expanded state;
• distally advancing the distal portion from the distal end, including the distal portion following a path of the curved channel;
• operating the expandable body to form a cavity in the bone structure, the cavity being open to the curved channel;
• and
• delivering curable material to the cavity.