Patent ID: 7204851
Filing Date: 2007-04-17
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of implanting material in an intervertebral disc nucleus space; the method comprising: (a) providing a disc nucleus implant instrument having: (b) providing a material suitable for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus in the passageway of said disc nucleus implant instrument; (c) providing a hole in the annulus of a disc receiving the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, said hole having an undilated size that is smaller than the cross-sectional size of the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, and said hole having a dilated size that is larger than the cross-sectional size of the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus; (d) introducing the dilator of said disc nucleus implant instrument into the hole in the disc annulus while said hole is not fully dilated; (e) causing said dilator to dilate, and thus to dilate the hole in the disc annulus; (f) passing said material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus through said dilator and into said disc nucleus space while the hole in said disc annulus is dilated; and (g) withdrawing said disc nucleus implant instrument and allowing said hole in said disc annulus to return to a size smaller than its dilated size.