SPINAL DISC ANNULUS AUGMENTATION
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Accused Products
Abstract
Intervertebral disc implants are provided for augmenting the annulus of the disc in a manner to bear at least part of the axial and/or torsional load on the annulus so that rents, fissures and subsequent herniation of the disc are prevented or substantially delayed. An aspect of the subject devices is that they have an operative height dimension that is equal to or less than the disc height of a normally functioning, healthy disc. Methods and tools are also provided for the minimally invasive implantation of the device within an intervertebral disc.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1-31. -31. (canceled)
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32. A method of strengthening an annulus around a nucleus in an invertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
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delivering an implant along a path which traverses a diameter of the nucleus; positioning a first portion of the implant completely in between two adjacent lamellae of the annulus; and positioning a second portion of the implant within the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, the second portion of the implant having a height equal to or less than the normal height of the intervertebral disc; wherein the first portion of the implant imparts physical properties to the annulus which provides the annulus with an ability to resist bending, fatigue failure, displacement, deformation, torsional stress, shear loads and other repetitive stresses and strains undergone by the intervertebral disc during normal spinal motion. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of strengthening an annulus positioned around a nucleus in an intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
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holding an implant with an insertion tool; inserting the implant with the insertion tool such that a distal end of the tool traverses a diameter of the nucleus; positioning a first portion of the implant completely in between two adjacent lamellae of the annulus; and positioning a second portion of the implant within the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, the second portion of the implant having a height equal to or less than the normal height of the intervertebral disc; wherein the first portion of the implant imparts physical properties to the annulus which provides the annulus with an ability to resist bending, fatigue failure, displacement, deformation, torsional stress, shear loads and other repetitive stresses and strains undergone by the intervertebral disc during normal spinal motion. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of strengthening an annulus positioned around a nucleus in an intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
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holding an implant with an insertion tool; inserting the implant with the insertion tool such that a distal end of the tool traverses a diameter of the nucleus; positioning a first portion of the implant completely in between two adjacent lamellae of the annulus; positioning a second portion of the implant within the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, the second portion of the implant having a height equal to or less than the normal height of the intervertebral disc; and forcing adjacent vertebrae apart with the implant to thereby increase intervertebral space height; wherein the first portion of the implant imparts physical properties to the annulus which provides the annulus with an ability to resist bending, fatigue failure, displacement, deformation, torsional stress, shear loads and other repetitive stresses and strains undergone by the intervertebral disc during normal spinal motion.
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Specification