Implant for sealing a defect in the anulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc

Abstract

The invention relates to an implant (1) for sealing a defect (7c) in the annulus fibrosus (7a) of an intervertebral disc (7), comprising a retaining portion (3) for introducing into the defect (7c), a flexible sealing element which is connected to an inner end of the retaining portion, and a securing element (2) which is connected to the outer end of the retaining portion and which can be fixed to a vertebra (8) adjoining the intervertebral disc in order to hold the retaining portion (3) in a fixed position. According to the invention, this is achieved in that a securing limb (2), which is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the retaining portion, is arranged on the outer end of the retaining portion (3), said securing limb being designed for laterally contacting a bony structure of a vertebra adjacent to the intervertebral disc and being securable on the vertebra by means of a fixing element which can be moved relative to the securing limb. The sealing element has inner reinforcements.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An implant for sealing a defect in an anulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, the implant comprising:
 a retaining portion adapted to be inserted into the defect in the anulus fibrosus,   a bone anchoring portion coupled to a first end of the retaining portion; and   a flexible sealing element coupled to the retaining portion,   wherein the flexible sealing element has a reduced projected area in a first state and has a widened projected area, which is at least twice the reduced projected area, in a second state,   wherein the flexible sealing element is configured to spread out in the second state such that the flexible sealing element projects beyond a cross-sectional area of the retaining portion on all sides so as to seal the defect on an inner side of the anulus fibrosus, and   wherein the flexible sealing element has at least two segments, wherein neighboring segments are connected to each other at least in portions and/or overlap in portions in the second state.   
     
     
         18 . The implant of  claim 17 , wherein the bone anchoring portion is an elongate member extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the retaining portion. 
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 17 , wherein the bone anchoring portion is selected from the group consisting of: a bar, a plate, and a strip. 
     
     
         20 . The implant of  claim 17 , wherein the bone anchoring portion and the retaining portion are formed in one piece. 
     
     
         21 . The implant of  claim 17 , wherein the bone anchoring portion and the retaining portion are connected to each other in a detachable manner. 
     
     
         22 . The implant of  claim 17 , wherein the bone anchoring portion and the retaining portion are connected to each other in an articulated manner. 
     
     
         23 . The implant of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible sealing element comprises a fothering having internal reinforcements configured to either provide a pretension in the direction of the second spread-out state or make it possible to spread out the fothering by manipulation of the internal reinforcements from outside. 
     
     
         24 . The implant of  claim 23 , wherein each segment of the fothering is designed leaf-shaped and has a longitudinal axis extending up to a leaf tip, and wherein the longitudinal axes of two neighboring segments form an angle of from 10° to 120° in the second, spread-out state of the fothering. 
     
     
         25 . The implant of  claim 17 , wherein an actuation means, which is connected to the flexible sealing element and brings about the spreading-out of the flexible sealing element by actuation, is guided through the retaining portion from the first end of the retaining portion to a second end of the retaining portion. 
     
     
         26 . The implant of  claim 25 , wherein the actuation means forms an inverse umbrella mechanism. 
     
     
         27 . An implant for sealing a defect in an anulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, the implant comprising:
 a retaining portion adapted to be inserted into the defect in the anulus fibrosus,   a bone anchoring portion coupled to a first end of the retaining portion;   a flexible sealing element coupled to the retaining portion,   wherein the flexible sealing element has a reduced projected area in a first state and has a widened projected area, which is at least twice the reduced projected area, in a second, spread-out state,   wherein the flexible sealing element is configured to spread out in the second state such that the flexible sealing element projects beyond a cross-sectional area of the retaining portion on all sides so as to seal the defect on an inner side of the anulus fibrosus, and   an actuation means coupled to the flexible sealing element coupled to actuate the spreading out of the flexible sealing element into the second state, wherein the actuation means forms an inverse umbrella mechanism.   
     
     
         28 . The implant of  claim 27 , wherein the bone anchoring portion is an elongate member extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the retaining portion. 
     
     
         29 . The implant of  claim 27 , wherein the bone anchoring portion is selected from the group consisting of: a bar, a plate, and a strip. 
     
     
         30 . The implant of  claim 27 , wherein the bone anchoring portion and the retaining portion are formed in one piece. 
     
     
         31 . The implant of  claim 27 , wherein the flexible sealing element comprises multiple segments comprising multiple cross struts. 
     
     
         32 . The implant of  claim 27 , wherein the flexible sealing element is pre-tensioned and configured to be released in order to transition into the second state 
     
     
         33 . An implant for sealing a defect in an anulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, the implant comprising:
 a retaining portion adapted to be inserted into the defect in the anulus fibrosus,   a bone anchoring portion coupled to a first end of the retaining portion;   a flexible sealing element coupled to the retaining portion,   wherein the flexible sealing element has a reduced projected area in a first state and has a widened projected area, which is at least twice the reduced projected area, in a second state,   wherein the flexible sealing element is configured to spread out in the second state such that the flexible sealing element projects beyond a cross-sectional area of the retaining portion on all sides so as to seal the defect on an inner side of the anulus fibrosus,   wherein the flexible sealing element comprises multiple segments having multiple struts, and   wherein the flexible sealing element is pre-tensioned and configured to be released in order to transition into the second state.   
     
     
         34 . The implant of  claim 33 , wherein the bone anchoring portion is an elongate member extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the retaining portion. 
     
     
         35 . The implant of  claim 33 , wherein the bone anchoring portion is selected from the group consisting of: a bar, a plate, and a strip. 
     
     
         36 . The implant of  claim 33 , wherein the bone anchoring portion and the retaining portion are formed in one piece.