Patent ID: 8048618
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: A61F,A61L

Abstract:
1. A method for preparing and preserving a natural, allograft intervertebral disk for transplantation from a human donor to a human patient, comprising: obtaining surgical access to an intervertebral disk in a recently deceased or soon to be deceased human donor; removing the intervertebral disk including at least a portion of bony vertebrae on each side thereof; rinsing the intervertebral disk with normal saline; immersing the intervertebral disk in RPM1-1640 cryopreservative solution for 10 minutes to 2 hours; freezing the intervertebral disk by gradually reducing the temperature thereof stepwise to about 0° C., then to about −15° C., then to about −40° C., then to about −80° C. to obtain a frozen intervertebral disk; and maintaining the frozen intervertebral disk at a temperature below about −150° C.