Spinal disc annulus reconstruction method and spinal disc annulus stent

Abstract

A spinal disc annulus repair stent for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, which may incorporate suture closure or other means of stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. In an illustrative embodiment, the design of the spinal disc annulus stent advantageously allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process.

1 . A device for treating an aperture in the annulus of a patient's intervertebral disc, said device comprising a cylindrical body formed of a plurality of filamentous elements, said body having a radial diameter, a first end and a second end subtending a longitudinal dimension, said device having a first configuration, and a second configuration, wherein the second configuration, in use, is characterized by a relatively larger radial diameter along at least a portion of said longitudinal dimension.  
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said body is sized to be inserted through said aperture in a intervertebral disc into the subannular space in said first configuration and then placed in said second configuration to at least partially cover said aperture.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said second configuration is additionally characterized by a relatively smaller longitudinal dimension in said second configuration than in said first configuration.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the stent is formed at least in part of flexible biocompatible material.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the stent is formed at least in part of bioresorbable material.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the stent is formed at least in part of nylon.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the stent is formed at least in part by weaving.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the stent is formed at least in part by braiding.