Patent ID: 9414930
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F,A61K

Claim Text:
1. A device for treating an intervertebral disc in a patient in need of such treatment, the device being biodegradable and implantable within the intervertebral disc, the device comprising a chemonucleolysis agent in an amount of at least 15 U/mL to degrade or to shrink at least a portion of the intervertebral disc and being configured to immediately release an effective amount of the chemonucleolysis agent within 24 hours; and the device comprising a distinct immediate release layer, a distinct sustained release layer and a distinct therapeutic layer, the immediate release layer configured to contact an exogenous activator configured to be inserted within the intervertebral disc after the device has been implanted within the intervertebral disc such that the exogenous activator causes immediate release of the chemonucleolysis agent, and the activator comprises sorbitan monolaurate, triethanolamine oleate, triethyl citrate, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, n-propyl benzoate, isopropyl benzoate, butyl benzoate, isobutyl benzoate, sec-butyl benzoate, tert-butyl benzoate, isoamyl benzoate, benzyl benzoate, or butyrolactone, and the immediate release layer further comprises trehalose, and the device further comprises a pore forming agent.