Methods for treating spinal discs
First Claim
1. A method for treating a spinal disc of a patient, the spinal disc comprising annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus within an interior region defined by the annulus fibrosis, the method comprising:
- removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus material from the interior region to define a space;
lining the space with a substantially nonporous, bioabsorbable liner material; and
filling the space with a fill material sufficient to cause the liner material to expand to substantially engage tissue surrounding the space.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating a spinal disc are disclosed. An opening is created in the annulus fibrosis, and nucleus pulposus is removed from the interior of the disc. The interior is lined with a nonporous, bioabsorbable liner, and filled with a fill material, such as nucleus pulposus, to cause the liner to expand to engage tissue surrounding the interior. The liner may be a sheet of extra-cellular matrix material that is introduced into the interior, or a bladder of extra-cellular matrix material including a neck communicating with an interior region of the bladder. The sheet or bladder may be carried by a delivery device, e.g., a catheter or rod. After the interior region is filled, the opening is closed using a plug or other closure device. The plug may include threads on its external surface for securing the plug in the opening.
423 Citations
57 Claims
-
1. A method for treating a spinal disc of a patient, the spinal disc comprising annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus within an interior region defined by the annulus fibrosis, the method comprising:
-
removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus material from the interior region to define a space;
lining the space with a substantially nonporous, bioabsorbable liner material; and
filling the space with a fill material sufficient to cause the liner material to expand to substantially engage tissue surrounding the space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A method for treating a spinal disc of a patient, the spinal disc comprising annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus within an interior region defined by the annulus fibrosis, the method comprising:
-
removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus material from the interior region to define a space;
lining the space with a substantially nonporous liner material; and
filling the space with a fill material sufficient to cause the liner material to expand to substantially engage tissue surrounding the space, the fill material comprising at least some of the nucleus removed from the disc. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
-
Specification