Patent ID: 6248131
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61L,C08G,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for repairing a damaged or diseased intervertebral disc, the apparatus comprising a mold apparatus positioned within the intervertebral disc and comprising an inflated balloon containing a cured biomaterial, the apparatus being formed by a method that comprises the steps of:a) using minimally invasive techniques to remove damaged or diseased nucleus from the disc;b) providing a mold apparatus comprising a balloon adapted to contain a biomaterial and a delivery cannula adapted to flowably connect a biomaterial source to the balloon, and using minimally invasive means to position the balloon within the disc;c) providing a biomaterial source comprising a polyurethane system comprising a plurality of components adapted to be mixed at the time of use to provide a flowable biomaterial and initiate its cure; mixing the biomaterial components upon positioning of the balloon; and using minimally invasive techniques to deliver the flowable biomaterial by injection into the balloon under pressure sufficient to provide on the order of 3 atmospheres to on the order of 4 atmospheres pressure to distract the disc space, andd) allowing the delivered biomaterial to cure within 5 minutes of mixing the components to permit the cannula to be removed and to provide a permanent replacement for the nucleus,wherein the polyurethane system comprises a two-part prepolymer system and further comprises an isocyanate reactant consisting essentially of aromatic isocyanates, the method further comprising the further step of deflating the balloon as biomaterial is delivered.