Instruments for delivery of intervertebral disc implants

Abstract

Nucleus pulposus implants that are resistant to migration in and/or expulsion from an intervertebral disc space are provided. In one form of the invention, an implant includes a load bearing elastic body surrounded in s the disc space by an anchoring, preferably resorbable, outer shell. In certain forms of the invention, the elastic body is surrounded by a supporting member, such as a band or jacket, and the supporting member is surrounded by the outer shell. Kits for forming such implants are also provided. In another form of the invention, an implant is provided that has locking features and optional shape memory characteristics. In yet another aspect of the invention, nucleus pulposus implants are provided that have shape memory characteristics and are configured to allow short-term manual, or other deformation without permanent deformation, cracks, tears, breakage or other damage. Methods of forming and implanting the implants are also described, as are delivery devices and components thereof for delivering the implants.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . A spinal disc implant delivery device tip, comprising: 
 (a) a base member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein said lumen has a diameter sized to receive a nucleus pulposus implant; and    (b) a plurality of movable members, said movable members having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said movable members abutting said distal end of said base member, said movable members having a closed configuration defining a cavity in communication with said lumen of said base member, wherein said cavity has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said lumen, and wherein said movable members are sized and configured for passage into an aperture in an annulus fibrosus when said movable members are in their closed configuration, said movable members further being openable to an open configuration wherein the distal ends of said movable members define a passageway having a diameter at least as large as the diameter of said lumen to allow passage of a nucleus pulposus implant therethrough.    
     
     
         34 - 35 . (canceled)  
     
     
         36 . A spinal disc implant delivery device, comprising: 
 (a) a base member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein said lumen has a diameter sized to receive a nucleus pulposus implant;    (b) a plurality of movable members, said movable members having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said movable members abutting said distal end of said base member, said movable members having a closed configuration defining a cavity in communication with said lumen of said base member, wherein said cavity has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said lumen, and wherein said movable members are sized and configured for passage through an aperture in an annulus fibrosus when said movable members are in their closed configuration, said movable members further being openable to an open configuration wherein the distal ends of said movable members define a passageway having a diameter at least as large as the diameter of said lumen to allow Passage of a nucleus pulposus implant therethrough; and    (c) an elongated housing member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, said proximal end of said base member matingly engaged to said distal end of said elongated housing member.    
     
     
         37 - 38 . (canceled)  
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 36 , said device further comprising a plunger member, said plunger member disposed in said lumen of said elongated housing member.  
     
     
         40 . A spinal disc implant delivery device, comprising: 
 (a) an elongated housing member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein said lumen has a diameter sized to receive a nucleus pulposus implant;    (b) a tip member, said tip member having a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, said walls defining a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein said lumen has a diameter sized to receive a nucleus pulposus implant, said proximal end of said tip member connected to said distal end of said elongated housing member, said tip member sized and configured for delivery of a spinal disc implant through an aperture in an annulus fibrosus, said lumen of said tip member in communication with said lumen of said elongated housing member.    
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 40 , said device further comprising a plunger member, said plunger member disposed in said lumen of said elongated housing member.  
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein said top wall and said bottom wall both include an opening therethrough that extends from said proximal end of said tip member to said distal end of said tip member.  
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein at least one of said top wall and said bottom wall has a surface that includes a surface roughening.  
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43 , wherein said surface roughening comprises teeth, ridges, indentations, or projections.  
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein one of said side walls has a length greater than the other of said side walls.  
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of said top wall and said bottom wall has a surface that includes a surface roughening.  
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein one of said side walls has a length greater than the other of said side walls.  
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein said teeth, ridges, indentations, or projections are directional.  
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 40  wherein said tip member has a height that is greater than the height of a disc space.  
     
     
         50 . A spinal disc implant delivery device, comprising: 
 (a) an elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein said lumen has a diameter sized to receive a nucleus pulposus implant; and    (b) a plurality of opening members positioned at the distal end of said elongated member, each of said opening members having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said proximal ends of said opening members abutting said distal end of said elongated member, at least one of said opening members being a movable member, said opening members having a closed configuration defining a cavity in communication with said lumen of said elongated member, wherein said cavity has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of said cavity has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said lumen, wherein said opening members are sized and configured such that their distal ends may be inserted in an aperture in an annulus fibrosis when said opening members are in their closed configuration, said opening members further being openable to an open configuration by moving at least one movable member to an open configuration, wherein the distal ends of said opening members define a passageway having a diameter at least as large as the diameter of said lumen when said opening members are in their open configuration to allow passage of a nucleus pulposus implant therethrough;    
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 50  wherein said plurality of opening members includes at least two movable members.  
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 51  wherein said plurality of opening members includes at least four movable members.  
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 50  wherein at least some of said opening members are rigid.  
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 50  wherein at least some of said opening members are flexible.  
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 50  wherein said elongated member has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of elliptical, circular, rectangular, hexagonal, and other multi-sided shapes, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 50  and further including a component to facilitate extrusion of an implant from the device by pneumatic, hydraulic, or mechanical force.  
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 56  wherein said component to facilitate extrusion of an implant comprises a plunger effective for contacting an implant to extrude the implant from the device.  
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 57  wherein said plunger is a pushing or impacting plunger, or a syringe plunger, or a caulk gun plunger, or a screw-driven plunger.  
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 50  wherein said movable members define a tip having an outer diameter of between 2 mm and 10 mm when said movable members are in their closed configuration.  
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 50  wherein said movable members are openable to their open configuration by passage of a nucleus pulposus implant therethrough.  
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 50  wherein said elongated member is made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, stainless steel alloys, titanium alloys, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyetheretherketone and polyacetal.  
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 50  wherein said movable members are made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, stainless steel alloys, titanium alloys, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyetheretherketone and polyacetal.  
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 50  wherein said movable members flex, bend, or pivot.