Semi-biological intervertebral disc replacement system

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for a partially biological disc replacement that stimulates natural fibrous, cartilaginous or other tissue growth in the DDD cavity, resulting in a partial biological disc replacement. Multiplicities of fibronous pieces of fibro-cartilaginous tissue promoting material are inserted into the DDD cavity inducing tissue growth. The fibro-cartilaginous tissue

1 . A method of constructing a semi-biologic nuclear replacement for a degenerated disc of a spine of a mammalian body comprising:
 boring a small entrance hole having a first cross-sectional diameter into the degenerated disc;   creating a cavity having a maximum second cross-sectional diameter that is larger than the first diameter by reaming the degenerated disc and at least partially removing a degenerated disc nucleus via the small entrance hole;   inserting a porous container into the cavity; and   inserting a plurality of pieces of tissue promoting material into the container to create the semi-biologic nuclear replacement for the degenerated disc by stimulating the tissue forming response in the mammalian body to the tissue promoting material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tissue promoting material is selected from a group consisting of fibrous tissue promoting material, cartilaginous promoting material and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein endplate cartilage is partially removed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein endplate cartilage is retained. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 22  wherein portions of an outer annulus are removed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein portions of an outer annulus are retained. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tissue promoting material is selected from a group comprising: autograft, allograft, or xenograft of fascia, manmade polymeric fiber, talc, tissue promoting pharmaceuticals, tissue promoting minerals, tissue morphogenic protein, notochord cells and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the disc cavity surface is coated with a tissue promoting material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tissue promoting material is combined with hydrogel. 
     
     
         10 . A method of constructing a semi-biologic nuclear replacement for a degenerated disc of a spine of a mammalian body comprising:
 boring a small entrance hole into the degenerated disc;   creating a cavity by reaming the degenerated disc and at least partially removing a degenerated disc nucleus via the small entrance hole; and   inserting at least one strand of pliable tissue promoting material into the cavity such that a length of the at least one strand is folded within the cavity to create the semi-biologic nuclear replacement for the degenerated disc by stimulating the tissue forming response in the mammalian body to the tissue promoting material.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the tissue promoting material is selected from a group consisting of fibrous tissue promoting material, cartilaginous promoting material and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein endplate cartilage is partially removed. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the endplate cartilage is retained. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein portions of an outer annulus are removed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein an outer annulus is retained. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the tissue promoting material is selected from a group consisting of: autograft, allograft, or xenograft of fascia lata, autograft, manmade polymeric fiber, talc, tissue promoting pharmaceuticals, tissue promoting minerals, tissue morphogenic protein, notochord cells, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the disc cavity surface is coated with a tissue promoting material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the tissue promoting material is combined with hydrogel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: inserting a porous container into the disc cavity; said porous container adapted for tissue promoting material insertion therein. 
     
     
         20 . A method of constructing a semi-biologic nuclear replacement for a degenerated disc of a spine of a mammalian body comprising:
 boring a small entrance hole into the degenerated disc;   creating a cavity by reaming the degenerated disc and at least partially removing a degenerated disc nucleus via the small entrance hole; and   inserting a plurality of pieces of tissue promoting material combined with a plurality of pieces of hydrogel into the cavity to create the semi-biologic nuclear replacement for the degenerated disc by stimulating the tissue forming response in the mammalian body to the tissue promoting material and hydrogel.   
     
     
         21 . The nuclear replacement of  claim 20  wherein the tissue promoting material is selected from a group consisting of fibrous tissue promoting material, cartilaginous promoting material and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein endplate cartilage is partially removed. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the endplate cartilage is retained. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein portions of an outer annulus are removed. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  wherein an outer annulus is retained. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the tissue promoting material is selected from a group consisting of: autograft, allograft, or xenograft of fascia lata, autograft, manmade polymeric fiber, talc, tissue promoting pharmaceuticals, tissue promoting minerals, tissue morphogenic protein, notochord cells, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the disc cavity surface is coated with a tissue promoting material. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 inserting a porous container into the disc cavity; 
 said porous container adapted for tissue promoting material insertion therein. 
 
     
     
         29 . A method of constructing a semi-biologic nuclear replacement for a degenerated disc of a spine of a mammalian body comprising:
 providing a porous container adapted for placement in the disc;   providing a plurality if pieces of strands of tissue promoting material; and   providing instructions for constructing a semi-biologic nuclear replacement of the degenerated disc, including:   boring a small entrance hole having a first cross-sectional diameter into the degenerated disc;   creating a cavity having a maximum second cross-sectional diameter that is larger than the first diameter by reaming the degenerated disc and at least partially removing a degenerated disc nucleus via the small entrance hole;   inserting the container into the cavity; and   inserting a plurality of pieces of strands tissue promoting material into the container to create the semi-biologic nuclear replacement for the degenerated disc by stimulating the tissue forming response in the mammalian body to the tissue promoting material.