Spinal disc annulus reconstruction method and spinal disc annulus stent

Abstract

A surgical method of repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, incorporating suture closure, or stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. The design of the spinal disc annulus stent allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process.

1 - 44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . An implant for treating an intervertebral disc comprising: 
 a barrier,    wherein said barrier has a first and a second axis, wherein said second axis is perpendicular to said first axis,    wherein said barrier has a variable flexibility along at least said first axis or said second axis; and    wherein at least a portion of said barrier has pre-formed concavity.    
   
   
       46 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier has a variable flexibility along at least a portion the first axis and along at least a portion the second axis.  
   
   
       47 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier has a flexibility along the first axis that differs from the flexibility of the second axis.  
   
   
       48 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier is invariably flexible or stiff along the second axis.  
   
   
       49 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the first axis is the transverse axis.  
   
   
       50 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the first axis is the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       51 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the first axis is along the height of the barrier.  
   
   
       52 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the first axis is along the length of the barrier.  
   
   
       53 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein said variable flexibility enhances the barrier's ability to resist migration in the intervertebral disc spec.  
   
   
       54 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier comprises one or more struts.  
   
   
       55 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier comprises one or more struts that provide differing degrees of flexibility to the barrier.  
   
   
       56 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier comprises one or more slots.  
   
   
       57 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier comprises one or more slots that provide differing degrees of flexibility to the barrier.  
   
   
       58 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier comprises at least one expander and at least one membrane.  
   
   
       59 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein said at least one membrane covers at least a portion of said at least one expander.  
   
   
       60 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein said at least one membrane coats at least a portion of said at least one expander.  
   
   
       61 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein said at least one membrane comprises a sealant, wherein said sealant is adapted to minimize or prevent the flow of a material through a defect in the annulus fibrosis.  
   
   
       62 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein said at least one expander is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following: silicon, rubber, plastic, stainless steel, and nickel titanium alloy.  
   
   
       63 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein said variable flexibility causes a flexible bend axis along a central area of the height of the barrier and a stiff region along the length of the barrier.  
   
   
       64 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier comprises one or more fingers.  
   
   
       65 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein the barrier comprises one or more fingers that are adapted to vary the flexibility of the barrier.  
   
   
       66 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein said barrier is adapted to fit between opposing endplates adjacent an intervertebral disc.  
   
   
       67 . The implant of  claim 45 , wherein said barrier has a length in the range of about 3 mm to a length corresponding to the entire inner perimeter of an annulus fibrosis.  
   
   
       68 . An implant for treating an intervertebral disc comprising: 
 a sealing means adapted to seal at least a portion of a defect in the annulus fibrosis,    wherein said sealing means has a first and a second axis that is perpendicular to said first axis,    wherein said sealing means has a variable flexibility along at least said first axis or said second axis.    
   
   
       69 . An implant for treating an intervertebral disc comprising: 
 a patch adapted to at least partially seal a defect in the intervertebral disc, wherein said patch has a height and a length,    wherein said patch is at least partially flexible along its height, thereby facilitating flexion and extension of the disc; and    wherein said patch is at least partially rigid along its length, thereby minimizing or preventing extrusion of undesired material through a defect in the intervertebral disc.    
   
   
       70 . An implant for treating an intervertebral disc comprising: 
 a sealing means adapted to obstruct at least a portion of a defect in the annulus fibrosis thereby minimizing or preventing the expulsion of nucleus pulpous,    wherein said sealing means comprises a first region and a second region,    wherein said sealing means comprises a first axis and a second axis,    wherein said first region and said second region lie along said first axis, wherein said first region and said second region are contiguous,    wherein said first region has a different flexibility than said second region thereby providing a patch with variable stiffness, and    wherein said variable stiffness enhances the sealing means' ability to resist migration within the intervertebral disc.    
   
   
       71 . An implant for treating an intervertebral disc comprising: 
 a barrier,    wherein said barrier has a first and a second axis,    wherein said second axis is perpendicular to said first axis, and    wherein said barrier has a variable flexibility along at least said first axis or said second axis.