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 . A device for treatment of an intervertebral disc wall comprising: 
 a main body portion, at least one extension having an axis projecting along a respective reference plane, said reference plane extending substantially laterally from the main body portion;    wherein said at least one extension is constructed such that said axis can flexibly deflect from its respective reference plane, and    at least one fixation element configured to extend at least partially into annular tissue.    
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 45 , further comprising one or more surgical sutures.  
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein said sutures are biodegradable.  
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein said sutures further comprise at least one knot.  
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said main body portion is shaped to form a compatible fit with at least a portion of the edges of an aperture in an intervertebral disc wall.  
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one extension is of substantially uniform thickness.  
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one extension is thicker adjacent to said main body portion than at a location lateral to the main body portion.  
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said fixation element comprises one or more barbs.  
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said fixation element comprises one or more tension bands.  
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said fixation element comprises one or more staples.  
   
   
       55 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said main body portion and at least one extension are formed as a unitary device.  
   
   
       56 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said main body portion, at least one extension, and said fixation element are formed as a unitary device.  
   
   
       57 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said device is comprised of one or more biocompatible or bioresorbable materials.  
   
   
       58 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein said device is comprised of a matrix or mesh of biocompatible or bioresorbable fibers.  
   
   
       59 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein said device is comprised of a biocompatible or bioresorbable membrane.  
   
   
       60 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein said device is comprised of a biocompatible or bioresorbable fabric.  
   
   
       61 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein said device comprises a biodegradable substrate.  
   
   
       62 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein said device comprises an expandable polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).  
   
   
       63 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein said device comprises a polymer material.  
   
   
       64 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein said device comprises a polymeric sheet.  
   
   
       65 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein said device comprises a polymeric fabric.  
   
   
       66 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein said device comprises a polymeric mesh.  
   
   
       67 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein said device comprises polymeric fibers.  
   
   
       68 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said device comprises a collagenous material.  
   
   
       69 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said device comprises hygroscopic material.  
   
   
       70 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said device comprises materials to facilitate regeneration of disc tissue.  
   
   
       71 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said device comprises bioactive silica-based material.  
   
   
       72 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said device comprises a growth factor.  
   
   
       73 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the device is flexibly resilient.  
   
   
       74 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein at least a portion of the device is porous.  
   
   
       75 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein at least a portion of the device is non-porous.  
   
   
       76 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one extension is reversibly deformable to allow, in use, insertion into an aperture of an intervertebral disc and to subsequently expand conforming said device to the shape of a portion of the inner wall of an annulus.  
   
   
       77 . The device of  claim 45 , further comprising a compressible core element.  
   
   
       78 . The device of  claim 77 , wherein said compressible core element comprises a biocompatible or bioresorbable foam.  
   
   
       79 . The device of  claim 77 , wherein said compressible core element is reversibly deformable to allow, in use, insertion into an aperture of an intervertebral disc and to subsequently expand conforming said device to the shape of at least a portion of an inner wall of an annulus.  
   
   
       80 . The device of  claim 45 , having a first and a second extension.  
   
   
       81 . The device of  claim 80 , wherein said respective axes of said first and second extensions lie in reference planes oriented in a range of 0° to 60° to each other when said extensions are undeflected.  
   
   
       82 . The device of  claim 81 , wherein said respective axes of said first and second extensions lie in the same reference plane when said extensions are undeflected.  
   
   
       83 . The device of  claim 81 , wherein said respective axes of said first and second extensions lie in reference planes oriented 60° to each other when said extensions are undeflected.  
   
   
       84 . A device for treatment of an intervertebral disc wall comprising: 
 a main body portion,    at least one extension having an axis projecting along a respective reference plane, said reference plane extending substantially laterally from the main body portion;    wherein each of said at least one extensions is constructed such that said axis can flexibly deflect from its respective reference plane, and    at least one receptacle configured to receive a fixation element.    
   
   
       85 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said at least one receptacle comprises a slot.  
   
   
       86 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said at least one receptacle comprises a hole.  
   
   
       87 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said at least one receptacle comprises a mesh or screen.  
   
   
       88 . The device of  claim 84 , further comprising one or more surgical sutures.  
   
   
       89 . The device of  claim 88 , wherein said sutures are biodegradable.  
   
   
       90 . The device of  claim 88 , wherein said sutures further comprise at least one knot.  
   
   
       91 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said main body portion is shaped to form a compatible fit with the edges of at least a portion of an aperture in an intervertebral disc wall.  
   
   
       92 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said at least one extension is of substantially uniform thickness.  
   
   
       93 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said at least one extension is thicker adjacent to said main body portion than at a location lateral to the main body portion.  
   
   
       94 . The device of  claim 84 , further comprising one or more barbs.  
   
   
       95 . The device of  claim 84 , further comprising one or more tension bands.  
   
   
       96 . The device of  claim 84 , further comprising one or more staples.  
   
   
       97 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said main body portion and at least one extension are formed as a unitary device.  
   
   
       98 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said main body portion, at least one extension, and said receptacle are formed as a unitary device.  
   
   
       99 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said device is comprised of one or more biocompatible or bioresorbable materials.  
   
   
       100 . The device of  claim 99 , wherein said device is comprised of a matrix or mesh of biocompatible or bioresorbable fibers.  
   
   
       101 . The device of  claim 99 , wherein said device is comprised of a biocompatible or bioresorbable membrane.  
   
   
       102 . The device of  claim 99 , wherein said device is comprised of a biocompatible or bioresorbable fabric.  
   
   
       103 . The device of  claim 99 , wherein said device comprises a biodegradable substrate.  
   
   
       104 . The device of  claim 99 , wherein said device comprises an expandable polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).  
   
   
       105 . The device of  claim 99 , wherein said device comprises a polymer material.  
   
   
       106 . The device of  claim 105 , wherein said device comprises a polymeric sheet.  
   
   
       107 . The device of  claim 105 , wherein said device comprises a polymeric fabric.  
   
   
       108 . The device of  claim 105 , wherein said device comprises a polymeric mesh.  
   
   
       109 . The device of  claim 105 , wherein said device comprises polymeric fibers.  
   
   
       110 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said device comprises a collagenous material.  
   
   
       111 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said device comprises hygroscopic material.  
   
   
       112 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said device comprises materials to facilitate regeneration of disc tissue.  
   
   
       113 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said device comprises bioactive silica-based material.  
   
   
       114 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said device comprises a growth factor.  
   
   
       115 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein the device is flexibly resilient.  
   
   
       116 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein at least a portion of the device is porous.  
   
   
       117 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein at least a portion of the device is non-porous.  
   
   
       118 . The device of  claim 84 , wherein said at least one extension is reversibly deformable to allow, in use, insertion into an aperture of an intervertebral disc and to subsequently expand conforming said device to the shape of a portion of the inner wall of an annulus.  
   
   
       119 . The device of  claim 84 , further comprising a compressible core element.  
   
   
       120 . The device of  claim 119 , wherein said compressible core element comprises a biocompatible or bioresorbable foam.  
   
   
       121 . The device of  claim 119 , wherein said compressible core element is reversibly deformable to allow, in use, insertion into an aperture of an intervertebral disc and to subsequently expand conforming said device to the shape of a portion of the inner wall of an annulus.  
   
   
       122 . The device of  claim 84 , having a first and a second extension.  
   
   
       123 . The device of  claim 122 , wherein said respective axes of said first and second extensions lie in reference planes oriented in a range of 0° to 60° to each other when said extensions are undeflected.  
   
   
       124 . The device of  claim 123 , wherein said respective axes of said first and second extensions lie in the same reference plane when said extensions are undeflected.  
   
   
       125 . The device of  claim 123 , wherein said respective axes of said first and second extensions lie in reference planes oriented 60° to each other when said extensions are undeflected.