Abstract:
The present invention relates to medical device, system and methods for restoring spinal disc function. The invention provides a curved path trough the vertebra into the disc through which the disc can be filled with an augmenting substance, balloon, or pallets. Further can the delivery device be used to access the disc with surgical instrumentation. The invention furthermore discloses a responsive disc augmentation system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is claiming the benefit of and priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/903,441 filed on Feb. 26, 2007; provisional application Ser. No. 60/918,366 filed on Mar. 16, 2007; provisional application Ser. No. 60/922,707 filed on Apr. 10, 2007; provisional application Ser. No. 60/923,653 filed on Apr. 16, 2007; provisional application Ser. No. 60/993,107 filed on Sep. 10, 2007; all of which are incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to medical methods and device for restoring spinal disc function. The invention provides a curved path through the vertebra into the disc as delivery system through which therapy can be provided for the disc. The invention further provides various methods and devices to treat the disc, such as gels and liquids for the an augmentation of the disc or as radiographic contrast media; balloons; and pallets. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A common disorder of the lower spine is disc degeneration, also called degenerative disc disease (DDD) or osteoarthritis in the spine. 
         [0004]    The human vertebral column (spine) is made from bony vertebras separated by soft tissue inter-vertebral discs. These spinal discs are flexible joints which provide for flexion, extension, and rotation of the vertebrae relative to one another, and therefore contributing to the stability and mobility of the spine within the axial skeleton. Each of these spinal discs consist of an outer annulus fibrosus, which surrounds the inner nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosus consists of several layers of fibro cartilage. The strong annular fibers contain the nucleus pulposus and distribute pressure evenly across the disc. The nucleus pulposus contains loose fibers suspended in a mucoprotein gel the consistency of jelly. The nucleus pulposus plays a central role in maintaining normal disc function. The nucleus of the disc acts as a shock absorber, absorbing the impact of the body&#39;s daily activities and keeping the two vertebrae separated. If one presses down on the front of the disc the jelly moves posteriorly or to the back. When one develops a prolapsed disc the jelly/nucleus pulposus is forced out of the disc and may put pressure on the nerve located near the disc. This will give one the symptoms of sciatica. 
         [0005]    As people age, the nucleus pulposus begins to dehydrate, which limits its ability to absorb shock. The annulus fibrosus gets weaker with age and begins to tear. One generally refers to the gradual dehydration of the nucleus pulposus as degenerative disc disease or DDD, which is most common in the lower spine. DDD is actually not a disease but, rather, a degenerative condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the victim&#39;s quality of life. 
         [0006]    Often, degenerative disc disease can be successfully treated without surgery. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chiropractic treatments, or spinal injections often provide adequate relief of these troubling symptoms. Surgery may be recommended if the conservative treatment options do not provide relief within 2 to 3 months. If leg or back pain limits normal activity, if there is weakness or numbness in the legs, if it is difficult to walk or stand, or if medication or physical therapy are ineffective, surgery may be necessary, most often spinal fusion. Bone grafts or artificial disc replacement may be an option in treating DDD under certain conditions. Various implants have been designed to overcome DDD. However, all these devices and treatments are very invasive. 
         [0007]    Various approaches are known to restore the normal self-sustaining hydrodynamic function of the disc by injecting various substances: Hydrogels; Biodegradable polymers; microparticulates and collagen which can be cross-linked by exposure to ultraviolet radiation; bioactive glass; polymer foam and polymer foam coated with sol gel bioactive material; small particles or other fatty tissue for use as a carrier, and adding to the carrier growth factors such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-.beta.) and bone morphogenic protein (BMP); or cross-linkable compositions in which the viscosity may be controlled. The earliest work on injectable disc augmentation goes back 1967 by Smith U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,131. 
         [0008]    The difficulty in injecting these disc augmenting substances into the disc is, that after needle removal the fluid will leak out again through the canal, which was formed by injecting instrument. It has therefore been proposed to enter the disc through the vertebra bone, since the bone can easily be closed with bone cement. All have in common that they inject the gel with a conventional needle type instrument (syringe) into the disc, cutting through the annulus fibrosus. In contrast to for instance blood vessel walls, the disc wall—the annulus fibrosus—does not have the means to heal itself. Thus, the incision through the annulus fibrosus leaves a permanent perforation. This leads a) to a leak through which the gel will escape and b) builds the starting point for further rupture of the annulus fibrosus as the patient goes on by naturally moving its spine. Natarajan et. al. demonstrated these negative effects of direct incision in his paper “Effect of annular incision type on the change in biomechanical properties in a herniated lumbar intervertebral discs”. J Biomech Eng. 2002 April; 124(2):229-36. 
         [0009]    The notion to inject the gel through the vertebra (trans-endplate) can for instance be found first in US 2004/0228853 in paragraph 33 and all subsequent patent filings of these inventors; or in Johannessen et. al., Annals of Biom. Eng. 34(4):687-96, 2006 April; or in Nakai et. al. “Anterior transvertebral herniotomy for cervical disk herniation”, J Spinal Disord, 2000 February; 13(1):16-21. 
         [0010]    US 2007/0003525 discloses in (FIG. 10, paragraph 112-114) delivering a liquid composition via 18-31 gauge straight needles and pressure-mediated syringe through the pedicle of the vertebra bone into the nucleus pulposus. In particular, the cross-linked matrix can be administered percutaneously via a biopsy cannula inserted through a canal in the pedicle. After delivery of the matrix component, the canal can then be filled with bone cement or other like material to seal the canal. The device as used in this method is a straight cannula or biopsy instrument. However, due to the straight nature of these instruments and due to the complex human anatomy of the spine it is difficult to direct the instrument through the vertebra bone into the nucleus pulposus or any part of the disc. 
         [0011]    Gragg discloses in US 2002/0,173,796 a trans-sacral axial and trans-vertebral axial method and device to augment a spinal disc. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13 of &#39;796 the device is forming a channel 152 through the vertebral bodies from an exterior position into a disc nucleus pulposus for injecting an expandable balloon or sack or other envelope or injecting a medium. Finally the cavity is sealed with bone cement. To use this disclosed mechanism to augment a dedicated disc, is very complicated to implement and requires a rather invasive procedure through the sacrum and various vertebrae to finally reach the targeted disc. 
         [0012]    Myint discloses in US 2006/0,253,198, FIGS. 13 and 14 a multi-lumen system in which one lumen enters the disc through the vertebra and the other through the annulus. Thus the system does not leave the annulus intact but ruptures it. 
         [0013]    It is thus the object of the invention to provide improved minimally invasive methods and devices for administering such disc augmenting compositions. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,101 discloses a medical instrument for milling a curved path in bone and procedure. However, also this mechanism is way to complex and to drill small diameter curved holes into vertebra bone. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,593 discloses a general deflectable needle assembly, which includes a telescoping cannula made from an elastic material. However, said instrument made from elastic materials such as nickel titanium NiTi is not strong enough to penetrate bone. Further is the tip of the needle beveled only to one side and a drilling mechanic as proposed in the present invention not adaptable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The goal of the present invention is to provide a device, system and method to access the spinal disc percutaneously by drilling an access path through the pedicle and vertebra body. Due to the vertebral anatomy however requires to have the injectable instrument follow a curved path within the vertebra bone. To provide such an instrument capable of performing a curve in a bone structure is one of the goals of this invention. Through the so obtained channel the disc can be reached with various treatment means. After deploying the treatment means or finishing the disc procedure the curved access channel is sealed with conventional bone cement. The advantage of this technique or the delivery system utilizing this technique is, that it a) leaves the annulus fibrosus of the disc intact and b) as a percutaneous and minimally invasive procedure leaves other outer parts of the vertebra, pedicle and disc untouched for future further treatments—this technique does not burn bridges for future treatments. 
         [0017]    One embodiment of the present invention is a treatment device, system and method by which a floatable or liquid spinal support medium is injected via the delivery system into the mucoprotein gel of the nucleus pulposus. The difficulty with current techniques which inject the floatable solution into the disc through the annulus fibrosus is, that after needle removal the fluid, which in its simplest form can be water, will leak out again through the canal, which was formed by injecting needle. 
         [0018]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a treatment device, system and method by which one or a number of delivery systems are permanently left in various discs and connected to a central unit capable of pumping further gel into the disc. As the disc ages various disease or age originated leaks of the annulus fibrosus cause constant shrinkage or out-diffusion of the mucoprotein gel of the nucleus pulposus. The system as invented here would adjust for this chronic shrinkage by either steadily, dependent of the inner disc pressure, or user controlled pumping of disc augmenting gel into the nucleus disc space. 
         [0019]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a treatment device, system and method by which a balloon filled with a gel or liquid is deployed and anchored via the delivery system into the nucleus of the disc. The balloon or the balloons comprise a string which is left in the sealing bone cement of the curved channel, which anchor them and hold them in a defined position in the disc. Previous attempts to augment the disc with balloons had the difficulty that the balloons migrated within the disc, especially towards the back of the disc, and hindered correct spinal movement. 
         [0020]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a treatment device, system and method by which pallets made from a rubber kind material are deployed into the disc via the delivery system. Just like the balloon or balloons as described above, these pallets can be anchored to the curved channel. 
         [0021]    The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The figures and the detailed description which follow particularly exemplify these embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates the path through the vertebra:
       a) horizontal or cranial view,   b) left lateral or sagittal view.         
           [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view of the spine with 2 vertebra and 3 discs and a delivery system to inject gel into the disc:
       a) Percutaneous access of the pedicle;   b) Straight drilling through the pedicle into the vertebra body;   c) After removal of straight drill;   d) Curved drilling upwards to reach the disc (here not in the center of the disc);   e) After removal of the curved drill to inject a gel into the disc;   f) Injection of bone cement to close and seal the disc access channel;   g) After removal of the straight percutaneous puncture needle.         
           [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates the procedural sequence method of using the delivery system to inject gel into the disc:
       a) Anchor is placed onto the pedicle,   b) Attaching motor unit and drilling through the pedicle into the vertebra,   c) Drilling curved canal,   d) After removing motor unit and leaving a canal,   e) Injecting disc augmenting substance,   f) Injecting bone cement,   g) After removing all instruments.         
           [0041]      FIG. 4  illustrates the principal system of the spinal disc augmentation system. 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross sectional view of one spinal vertebra with two adjacent discs:
       a) Straight inserted instrument (stiff tube),   b) Curvature of the elastic and drilling tube within the vertebra towards the superior disc,   c) Drilled cavity or canal in vertebra,   d) Tube inserted through canal in vertebra to disc,         
           [0047]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross sectional view of one spinal vertebra with two adjacent discs:
       a) Straight inserted instrument (stiff tube),   b) Curvature of the elastic and drilling tube within the vertebrae towards the superior disc,   c) Drilled cavity or canal in vertebrae,   d) Tube inserted through canal in vertebrae to disc,   e) Balloon inserted in which a substance is injected,   f) Balloon closed and bone cement injected in canal to seal canal.         
           [0054]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross sectional view of one spinal vertebra with two adjacent discs. 
           [0055]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross sectional view of one spinal vertebra with two adjacent discs:
       a) Straight inserted instrument (stiff tube),   b) Curvature of the elastic and drilling tube within the vertebra towards the superior disc,   c) Drilled cavity or canal in vertebra,   d) Pushing of tablets and bone cement through the canal into the disc,   e) All tablets have been pushed into the disc,   f) All delivery instruments removed.         
       
    
    
       [0062]    Sizes, dimensions or measurements can not be taken from the figures. These don&#39;t reflect actual device or anatomical geometry but are for illustrational purpose of the device and method principal only. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     1. Definitions 
       [0063]    The terms “fluid”, “floatable”, “liquid”, “matrix”, “component”, “agent”, “jelly”, “gel”, “substance”, “solution” as used herein, refer to the substance having a viscosity which allows the substance to be injected into a spinal disc via the device, system or method of the present invention. The present invention makes use of various terms to reflect the various aspects of the substance and to refer if needed to the description of referred art in the field. 
         [0064]    The term “distal” as used herein refers to a location farther away from the performing physician, usually further in the patient&#39;s body. The term “proximal” as used herein, refers to a location closer to the performing physician. 
         [0065]    The term “path” as used herein refers to the trajectory or route of a penetrating medical instrument. A path can be a channel or canal. 
         [0066]    The term “bevel” as used herein, refers to an angle other than a right angle of the tip of a needle or a hallow tube. To bevel usually means transforming a tube into a needle. A needle can be beveled to just one side giving the tube tip a sharp edge on just one side of the outer tube surface, or a needle is beveled circular giving a circular sharp edge at the inner tube surface. 
         [0067]    The term “torque wire” as used herein, refers to a wire which when rotated around its axis on the proximal side results in the same rotation on its distal part. 
         [0068]    The term “elastic” as used herein, refers to a reversible deformation of the pre-bend tube of the device, while a plastic deformation is irreversible and does not bend back to its original shape. 
         [0069]    The term “less elastic” as used herein, refers stiff or rigid tube capable of restraining a pre-bend elastic tube to a straight one. Stiffness is the resistance of an elastic body to deflection or deformation by an applied force. 
         [0070]    The term “pre-bend” or “pre-curved” refers to a straight elastic tube which is bend to a non-reversible non-straight shape, such as a curved shape. 
         [0071]    The term “vertebrae” (singular: vertebra) refers to the individual irregular bones that make up the vertebral column or spine of the human and include and include the cervical, thoracic and lumbar bones, the five that are fused to form the sacrum, and the sacrum, the four which form the tailbone. 
         [0072]    The term “tablet” as used herein refers to a small and rounded mechanical device, pill, capsule, pallet or caplet made from an elastic rubber type material. A tablet can be in its simplest form a rounded piece of silicon rubber, like a rubber ball. A tablet can also be a small plastic, metal or rubber capsule or rubber balloon type device filled with a substance like a hydrogel or with a colloidal suspension. 
       2. Principle of the Invention 
       [0073]    In principle the present invention proposes to reach the disc from the patient&#39;s skin via a curved path through the vertebra bone for the filling of a spinal disc with an augmenting liquid substance. The present invention proposes to puncture a needle assembly type device through the patient&#39;s skin (percutaneously) and underlining soft tissue onto the pedicle of a vertebra, drilling through the pedicle and vertebra bone in a curved path to reach the disc and provide a canal, injecting the augmenting substance into the disc, and closing or sealing the vertebra bone with bone cement. Ideally the disc is then punctures about perpendicular. For drilling a curved canal through the vertebra bone the present invention proposes a pre-bend elastic tube with a drill at its distal tip and which is initially restrained to a straight shape by a straight rigid tube. When pushed away from the restraining and less elastic tube into the vertebra while rotating the drill, the superposition of forward force and sideward force—due to the nature of the elastic tube to get into its original shape—results in a curved path trough the vertebra. 
         [0074]    The pre-bend elastic tube can be located within or around the restraining less elastic tube. The essence of the invention is to move a pre-bend elastic tube away from its restraining or bending less elastic tube while using a drill mechanism at the tip of the elastic tube to drill though bone matter. 
         [0075]    The curved path can reach from the backside of the vertebra towards the front (anterior) through the pedicle of the vertebra up the vertebra (superior) or down the vertebra (inferior). In some cases the curved path can reach from the front side of the vertebra towards the back (posterior) up the vertebra (superior) or down the vertebra (inferior). 
         [0076]      FIG. 1  illustrates a couple of possible path ways through the pedicles  102  and  103  of the vertebra  101  into the discs  100  and  104 . Arrow  106  indicated a path from the right pedicle  103  through the corpus vertebra  105 . Arrow  107  indicates a path trough the left pedicle  102  through the corpus vertebra  105 . In one embodiment of the present invention the path as indicated by arrow  111  comes from the front side of the patient&#39;s body in dorsal direction directly into the corpus vertebra  105 . Arrow  109  indicates a path trough the pedicle  102 , curving in the corpus vertebra  105  in superior (upper) direction to disc  104 . Arrow  110  indicates a path trough the pedicle  102 , curving in the corpus vertebra  105  in inferior (lower) direction to disc  100 . Arrow  111  indicates a path directly trough the corpus vertebra  105  in superior direction to disc  104 . 
       3. Example 1 
     Acute Disc Gel Augmentation 
       [0077]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in which the disc  203  is accessed through the lower adjacent vertebra  201 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 2   a . illustrates the step in which the instrument has been pushed—e.g. by hand force—through the patient&#39;s skin  204  and underlying soft tissue  202  onto the bone surface of the pedicle  205 . The instrument consists of a stiff and straight outer tube  207 , or anchor tube, and an inner obdurator  208  beveled to build a sharp front edge  206 , which allows the instrument to penetrate through the skin  204  and tissue  202 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates the step after which the obdurator  208  was proximally removed and the drill rod  209  with drill  210  at it&#39;s distal end was inserted in the inner lumen of straight outer guiding tube  207  to drill a straight path through the pedicle  205  into the vertebra body  201 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 2   c  illustrates the step in which all drilling parts have been pulled back and removed and a straight guiding tube  211  was inserted through the straight outer tube  207  into the vertebra body  201 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 2   d  illustrates the step in which a curved path is being drilled through the vertebra body  201  into the disc  203 . To do this a drill  212 , which can be designed as a conventional bone drill or swivel is connected to a torque wire  214 , which rotated the drill  212 . The torque wire  214  is made from a metal and is held in the center of the pre-bent elastic tube  213  by an elastic plastic catheter  218  shown in white in the figure. The drill  212  is mounted on the distal tip of a pre-bent elastic tube  213 . In the initial stage of the drilling, the pre-bent tube  213  is fully inserted and restrained in the straight and stiff guiding tube  211 . The pre-bent tube  213  has due to it&#39;s pre-bent nature the tendency to bend back to it&#39;s original pre-bent curved form when pushed outwards and release from tube  211  in distal direction. Constantly rotating the drill  212  via torque wire  214  from a motor (not shown in this figure) while pushing forward the drill  212  pre-bent tube  213  assembly in distal direction allows the assembly to drive (drill) a curved bore hole through the vertebra bone towards the disc  203 . It is the superposition of forward speed of the assembly and tendency of the pre-bent tube  213  to bend back to it&#39;s original shape or form which results in the curved hole. Thus rotation speed of the drilling and forward speed of the assembly need to be matched carefully. Further for this to work does the guiding tube  211  need to be designed to fully restrain the pre-bent tube  213  into a straight shape. The pre-bent tube  213  can be made from a super-elastic material like nickel-titanium as described further below. 
         [0082]    Not shown in the figure is a suction mechanism drawing the bone shavings out to the proximal side of the device. Further can there be a rinsing mechanism rinsing the tube from the bone shavings. 
         [0083]      FIG. 2   e  illustrates the situation in which the drilling assembly is fully pulled back and removed and an access path to the disc  203  remains through the vertebra body  201  and pedicle  205  and straight stiff tube  207 . Intentionally in this illustrated example the access point  219  through the endplate of the disc/vertebra is located more to the front side of the disc  203 . Ideally one would try to access the disc  203  further at the middle or center point  220 . Through this channel or canal  215  disc augmenting substance or gel can be injected. 
         [0084]      FIG. 2   f  illustrates the situation in which the disc  203  was injected with a disc augmenting substance and the canal  215  was sealed with bone cement  217 . In order to avoid injecting the bone cement coming from proximal direction over the disc entry opening  216  into the disc  203 , the bone cement comprises radiographic contrast media and the procedure is performed under radiographic imaging, which can be X-ray, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, PET or SPECT or any other radiographic method. 
         [0085]      FIG. 2   g  illustrates the situation in which all instrumentation has been removed from the patients body and only the bone cement  217  is left in the vertebra  201  to seal the opening  216  of the disc  203 . 
         [0086]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates procedural aspects of the method to augment the disc  305  through a curved access in the vertebra  301 . 
         [0087]    The injection unit to inject the disc augmenting substance is in its simplest form a hand held syringe but can also a motor powered injector system allowing the injection pressure to be automatically controlled. 
         [0088]    The injection unit to inject the bone cement is in its simplest form a hand held syringe but can also a motor powered injector system allowing the injection pressure to be automatically controlled. 
         [0089]    The injectable substance can be a liquid, juice, paste, jell, gel, powder, coagulate, or a particle conglomerate. 
         [0090]    Some disc augmenting substances or bone cements may need special treatment like light illumination for cross linking or hardening of the substance. The system may comprise special means to insert utilities which are needed for said special treatment. Such a means could be an opening to insert a glass-fiber to illuminate the substance. The appropriate light source could be part of the system. 
         [0091]    The injectable substance typically has the purpose of mechanically stabilizing the disc and thus the spine. However, the injectable substance does not have to have this purpose but may just have a therapeutic effect on the spinal disc itself, may be for radiographic contrast imaging, may be for radiographic enhancement imaging, may be for radiographic marking, or may be for preventive anti aging purpose. 
         [0000]    Any injectable bone cements such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or also typically hydroxyapatite can be used. Many such cements are hardenable by polymerization, cross linking, ionic, or other chemical reaction. 
         [0092]    In its simplest form the disc augmenting agent is water. But many injectable disc augmenting substances exist which can be used here. The expected viscosity of the disc augmenting substances may vary from 1 centi-Poise to 1,000,000 centi-Poise. 
         [0093]    In  FIG. 3   a  the stiff anchor tube  320  is pushed—arrow—and anchored onto the targeted vertebra  301 . In  FIG. 3   b  is illustrated the elastic straightened tube  322  on which distal tip the drill (not shown in figure) is rotating and on which proximal side the motor unit  321  is adapted is pushed—arrow—through the stiff anchor tube  320 . In  FIG. 3   c  is illustrated that the motor unit  321  is further pushed forward distally while the still inner tube  323  is kept still or unmoved. This causes the bending  324  of the elastic tube  322  towards the superior disc  305  while being pushed forward distally. Notice that order to show variations of the method in this case in contrast to the method shown in  FIG. 2  the disc  305  is accessed further backwards.  FIG. 3   d  illustrates the pure canal  325  within the vertebra  301  after the elastic tube and motor unit have been pulled back and removed. To demonstrate that there can be variations to the method, in contrast to the method as illustrated in  FIG. 2  where the disc augmenting gel was injected right through the bone cavity,  FIG. 3   e  illustrates the step in which now an elastic catheter  326  is inserted through the anchor tube  320  into the disc  305  and disc augmenting substance  328  is injected from a hand operated syringe  327 . During this step also a glass fiber can be inserted through the catheter  326  to treat the disc augmenting substance.  FIG. 3   f  illustrates the situation in which the tube  326  in removed and bone cement  329  is injected from a second hand operated syringe  330  into the canal  325  in the vertebra  301  to close and seal the canal  325 . Finally  FIG. 3   g  illustrates the situation in which all instruments are removed and the disc  305  is augmented with disc augmenting substance  328  and the canal  325  in the vertebra  301  is sealed with bone cement  329 . 
       4. Example 2 
     Chronic Disc Gel Augmentation 
       [0094]    One embodiment of the invention is a responsive disc augmentation system, which measures the pressure in the spinal disc and releases disc augmenting substance into the disc when the pressure drops under a critical value. The system can be set for autonomous or manual augmentation release. The pressure is measured when the patient is laying, for instance at nights. 
         [0095]      FIG. 4  illustrates the schematic principle of the fully implantable system. The implantable can or canister  404  contains the control unit  405 , radio frequency communication unit  406 , pump unit  407  for the augmenting substance, augmenting substance reservoir  408  with refill subunit  409 , and power unit  410 . Implantable tubing connects at least one of the inner lumen of the spinal discs  401  with the pump unit  407 . The discs  401  can be reached by direct puncture through the annulus fibrosus of each disc or via the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae  402 . A not implanted external communication console  411  allows to change certain procedural settings of the system and to read out the filling of the reservoir  408 . 
         [0096]    The canister  404  is biocompatible and can be implanted anywhere within the body, preferably subcutaneously close to the area of the augmented spinal discs. Because the most serious disc degeneration takes place in the lumbar or cervical spine, the canister  404  is most likely to be implanted subcutaneously in the lumbar region or underneath the collarbone. If the system only augments one disc, the canister will be located as close to the disc as possible. 
         [0097]    The communication unit  406  communicates via radio frequency with the external console and exchanges data like the amount of energy remaining in the power unit  410 , the amount of augmenting substance remaining in the reservoir  408 , the amount of augmenting substance injected into each augmented disc  401 , and the dates of injection. Further may it be important to read out a complete pressure time measurement for each measured disc  401 . 
         [0098]    The pump unit  407  for pumping the augmenting substance may contain one pump and as many valves needed for steering the augmenting substance in each augmented disc  401  or as many pumps needed for steering the augmenting substance in each augmented disc  401 . Rotor-dynamic, positive displacement pumps or any other state of the art implantable drug pumps can be used. A positive displacement pump causes a liquid to move by trapping a fixed amount of fluid and then forcing (displacing) that trapped volume into the discharge pipe. Positive displacement pumps can be further classified as either rotary-type (for example the rotary vane pump) or reciprocating-type (for example the diaphragm pump). Centrifugal Pumps convert the mechanical energy into hydraulic energy by centrifugal force on the liquid. Hydraulic energy is in the form of pressure energy. 
         [0099]    The augmenting substance reservoir  408  is basically a tank for the disc augmenting substance to be pumped into the disc  401 . The refill subunit  409  is in its most simple form a conventional medical port in which one can inject a substance through a rubber cap. The power unit  410  contains a battery which can either be inductively recharged or explanted and removed with a newly charged one. 
         [0100]    At the distal tip of each disc entering tube  403  a pressure sensor will sense the intervertebral disc pressure. The signal is transferred for further processing to the control unit  405  via cable. 
         [0101]    To enter the disc posteriorly the present invention proposes drilling through the vertebra bone in a curved path. For drilling a curved canal through the vertebra bone the present invention proposes a pre-bend elastic tube with a drill at its distal tip and which is initially restrained to a straight shape by a straight rigid tube. When pushed away from the restraining and less elastic tube into the vertebra while rotating the drill, the superposition of forward force and sideward force—due to the nature of the elastic tube to get into its original shape—results in a curved path trough the vertebra. 
         [0102]    The pre-bend elastic tube can be located within or around the restraining less elastic tube. The essence of the invention is to move a pre-bend elastic tube away from its restraining or bending less elastic tube while using a drill mechanism at the tip of the elastic tube to drill though bone matter. 
         [0103]    The curved path can reach from the backside of the vertebra towards the front (anterior) through the pedicle of the vertebra up the vertebra (superior) or down the vertebra (inferior). In some cases the curved path can reach from the front side of the vertebra towards the back (posterior) up the vertebra (superior) or down the vertebra (inferior). 
         [0104]      FIG. 5  illustrates one example of the present invention to drill a curved path through the pedicle  502  into the corpus vertebra  506  to reach the superior disc  505 . Similar the inferior disc  504  could be reach by turning the instrument 180 degree around its axis. The device of this example comprises an elastic tube  511 , a less elastic or stiff outer tube  512 , a less elastic or stiff inner tube  513 , a drill head  514 , and a torque wire  515 . The drill  514  can be a of any drilling geometry, mechanism or working principle or be a swivel. Not shown in the figure is a suction mechanism drawing the bone shavings out to the proximal side of the device. Further can there be a rinsing mechanism rinsing the tube from the bone shavings. 
         [0105]      FIG. 5   a . illustrates the step in which the instrument has been pushed—by hand force—through the patient&#39;s skin  507  and soft tissue  509 . The most outer less elastic tube  512  comprises a threat  516  at its distal tip, which at this step is screwed into the outer surface  508  of the vertebra  301 . The threat is a self cutting treat, which stabilizes the device in respect to the vertebra. An alternative way to anchor the less elastic tube  512  onto the bone would be a beveled tip and hammering it into the outer surface  508  of the vertebra  501 . The less elastic tube  513  which is inserted in the elastic tube  511  is pushed forward while the torque wire  515  rotates to drive the drill  514 . The distal part of the drill  514  located at the tip of the elastic tube  511  has an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the elastic tube  511  and the proximal part of the drill  514  located within the elastic tube  511  has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the elastic tube  511 . The motor unit located at the proximal side of the instrument to drive the torque wire  515  and consequently the drill  514  is not shown in this figure. 
         [0106]      FIG. 5   b  illustrates the step in which only the elastic tube  511  with rotating drill  514  is further pushed into the vertebra  501 . The less elastic or stiff inner tube  513  is not further pushed into the vertebra  501  and halted in the position as shown. Because the tube  511  is pre-bend in a curved shape (pre-curved), it will bend to its original curved position when not restrained by at least one of the two stiff tubes  512  or  513 . The combination of drilling-forward movement and release from tube  513  will result in a curved movement through the vertebra bone  501  until the tip of the drill  514  reaches the disc  505 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5   b.    
         [0107]      FIG. 5   c  illustrates the step in which all inner tubes have been pulled back and the pure canal  518  to the disc  505  remains to inject the disc augmenting substance. The injecting unit at the proximal end of the instrument is not shown in this figure. 
         [0108]      FIG. 5   d  illustrates the step in which a tube  519  has been inserted to connect to the disc  505 . The tube  519  can be an elastic metal or plastic tube. 
       5. Example 3 
     Disc Augmentation Utilizing a Balloon 
       [0109]      FIG. 6  illustrates one example of the present invention in which the device takes a path through the pedicle  602  into the corpus vertebrae  606  to reach the superior disc  605 . Similar the inferior disc  604  could be reach by turning the instrument 180 degree around its axis. The device of this example comprises an elastic tube  611 , a less elastic or stiff outer tube  612 , a less elastic or stiff inner tube  613 , a drill head  614 , and a torque wire  615 . The drill  614  can be a of any drilling geometry, mechanism or working principle or be a swivel. Not shown in the figure is a suction mechanism drawing the bone shavings out to the proximal side of the device. Further can there be a rinsing mechanism rinsing the tube from the bone shavings. 
         [0110]      FIG. 6   a . illustrates the step in which the instrument has been pushed—by hand force—through the patient&#39;s skin  607  and soft tissue  609 . The most outer less elastic tube  612  comprises a threat  616  at its distal tip, which at this step is screwed into the outer surface  608  of the vertebrae  601 . The threat is a self cutting treat, which stabilizes the device in respect to the vertebrae. An alternative way to anchor the less elastic tube  612  onto the bone would be a beveled tip and hammering it into the outer surface  608  of the vertebrae  601 . The less elastic tube  613  which is inserted in the elastic tube  611  is pushed forward while the torque wire  615  rotates to drive the drill  614 . The distal part of the drill  614  located at the tip of the elastic tube  611  has an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the elastic tube  611  and the proximal part of the drill  614  located within the elastic tube  611  has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the elastic tube  611 . The motor unit located at the proximal side of the instrument to drive the torque wire  615  and consequently the drill  614  is not shown in this figure. 
         [0111]      FIG. 6   b  illustrates the step in which only the elastic tube  611  with rotating drill  614  is further pushed into the vertebrae  601 . The less elastic or stiff inner tube  613  is not further pushed into the vertebrae  601  and halted in the position as shown. Because the tube  611  is pre-bend in a curved shape (pre-curved), it will bend to its original curved position when not restrained by at least one of the two stiff tubes  612  or  613 . The combination of drilling-forward movement and release from tube  613  will result in a curved movement through the vertebrae bone  601  until the tip of the drill  614  will reach the disc  605 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   b.    
         [0112]      FIG. 6   c  illustrates the step in which all inner tubes have been pulled back and the pure canal  618  to the disc  605  remains to inject the disc augmenting substance. The injecting unit at the proximal end of the instrument is not shown in this figure. 
         [0113]      FIG. 6   d  illustrates the step in which a tube  619  has been inserted to connect to the disc  605 . The tube  619  can be an elastic metal or plastic tube. 
         [0114]      FIG. 6   e  illustrates one embodiment of the invention in which a balloon  621  is pushed via catheter  620  distally into the disc  605 . The balloon, which can be made from silicone rubber, is filled with a disc augmenting substance  624 . The advantage of this embodiment is that the disc augmenting substance  624  does not contact the inner tissue of the disc  605  to avoid any biochemical interactions of the two. A string mechanism  622  can close the balloon  621 .  FIG. 6   f  illustrates the situation in which the balloon  621  has been closed by string sling mechanism  622 , catheter  620  has been pulled out proximally and conventional bone cement  623  has been injected into the canal  618  of the vertebrae  601  to seal the canal. 
         [0115]      FIG. 7  illustrates another example of the embodiment of the invention to access the disc via a curved path. The instrument  710  is punctured through the skin  707 , soft muscle tissue  709  and pedicle  702  of vertebrae  701 . Within the corpus vertebrae  706  the elastic tube  711  curves towards the superior disc  705 . In difference to previous example where the distal part of the drill extends the elastic tube, in this example the drill  714  does not but is located within the elastic tube  711  but extending its distal tip. The elastic tube  711  is so thin in this example that the elastic effect is caused by the material from which it is made (as in example 1) and from the thin wall thickness of the tube  711 . Due to the thin wall thickness it may not be important in this case to bevel the tip of the tube  711 . The drill  714  can be made from hardened medical grade stainless steel. The distal tips of tubes  711  and  712  and the drill  714  are circular beveled with the same angle. 
       6. Example 4 
     Disc Augmentation Utilizing Pallets 
       [0116]      FIG. 8  illustrates one example of the present invention in which the device  810  takes a path through the pedicle  802  into the corpus vertebra  806  to reach the superior disc  805  and to deploy disc augmenting pallets. Similar the inferior disc could be reach by turning the instrument 180 degree around its axis. The device of this example comprises an elastic tube  811 , a less elastic or stiff outer tube  812 , a less elastic or stiff inner tube  813 , a drill head  814 , and a torque wire  815 . The drill  814  can be a of any drilling geometry, mechanism or working principle or be a swivel. Not shown in the figure is a suction mechanism drawing the bone shavings out to the proximal side of the device. Further can there be a rinsing mechanism rinsing the tube from the bone shavings. 
         [0117]      FIG. 8   a . illustrates the step in which the instrument has been pushed—by hand force—through the patient&#39;s skin  807  and soft tissue  809 . The most outer less elastic tube  812  comprises a threat  816  at its distal tip, which at this step is screwed into the outer surface  808  of the vertebra  801 . The threat is a self cutting treat, which stabilizes the device in respect to the vertebra. An alternative way to anchor the less elastic tube  812  onto the bone would be a beveled tip and hammering it into the outer surface  808  of the vertebra  801 . The less elastic tube  813  which is inserted in the elastic tube  811  is pushed forward while the torque wire  815  rotates to drive the drill  814 . The distal part of the drill  814  located at the tip of the elastic tube  811  has an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the elastic tube  811  and the proximal part of the drill  814  located within the elastic tube  811  has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the elastic tube  811 . The motor unit located at the proximal side of the instrument to drive the torque wire  815  and consequently the drill  814  is not shown in this figure. 
         [0118]      FIG. 8   b  illustrates the step in which only the elastic tube  811  with rotating drill  814  is further pushed into the vertebra  801 . The less elastic or stiff inner tube  813  is not further pushed into the vertebra  801  and halted in the position as shown. Because the tube  811  is pre-bend in a curved shape (pre-curved), it will bend to its original curved position when not restrained by at least one of the two stiff tubes  812  or  813 . The combination of drilling-forward movement and release from tube  813  will result in a curved movement through the vertebra bone  801  until the tip of the drill  814  will reach the disc  805 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8   b.    
         [0119]      FIG. 8   c  illustrates the step in which all inner tubes have been pulled back and the pure canal  818  to the disc  805  remains. 
         [0120]      FIG. 8   d  illustrates the step in which tablets  819 — 6  tablets in this example—are pushed through the canal  818  into the disc  805 . In this example the tablets  819  are pushed by bone cement  820 . In one embodiment of the invention an elastic rod like a rubber or metal rod pushes the tablets forward into the disc. 
         [0121]      FIG. 8   e  illustrates the step in which the pushing bone cement reached the endplate of the vertebra and all tablets  819  are deployed into the disc, filling the volume of the nucleus pulposus and thus adjusting disc height and disc elasticity. 
         [0122]      FIG. 8   f  illustrates the step in which all instrumentation has been removed. All tablets are deployed in the nucleus pulposus and the canal in the vertebra is sealed by bone cement. 
         [0123]    A tablet can be a small and rounded mechanical device, pill, capsule, pallet or caplet made from an elastic rubber type material. A tablet can be in its simplest form a rounded piece of for instance silicon or polyurethane rubber. A tablet can also be a small plastic, metal or rubber capsule or rubber balloon type device filled with a substance like a hydrogel or with a colloidal suspension or a powder. Typically the tablets are of size 1 to 10 millimeter, preferably below 5 millimeter. 
         [0124]    Just like the balloon or balloons in the previous example above, can the pallets be anchored by strings into the channel sealing bone cement. The strings can be made in both examples from biocompatible materials such as plastics or metal. 
         [0125]    The mechanism of all shown examples above may be used to inject radiographic contrast media or may be used to insert any surgical instrumentation for disc surgery. The curved path may also be used to remove disc tissue. In some instances the curved path may be sealed with other means than bone cement, like with an type of mechanical stopper (e.g. rubber plug, block, cover, screw), or may not be permanently sealed at all and left with a removable closure for the purpose of future access to the disc. 
         [0126]    The advantage of the mechanisms as discussed in the examples is that the annulus fibrosus is left untouched and intact. On the other hand the here disclosed methods will rupture an endplate of the disc adjacent vertebra which is of importance for the disc metabolism. However, in a typical practical scenario of a lumbar disc the endplate will only loose less than 5% of it&#39;s active area. Since the disc has two adjacent endplates the effect is likely be below 2.5% and probably more acceptable than a rupture in the annulus fibrosus which builds a leak and a seed for further future rupture. 
       7. System 
       [0127]    The system for creating a curved disc access path consists of a telescopic tube assembly of for instance one of the kinds as described above examples, a motor unit providing the rotation for the drill, and a system-positioning unit. 
         [0128]    The system-positioning unit can be in its simplest form a hand piece which is held like a pistol and pushing the lever by finger results in the rotation of the drill. A more sophisticated system is attached to the patient positioning table of the radiographic imaging system allowing a more stereotactic procedure. 
         [0129]    The tube or needle assembly is preferably disposable and is attached to the system-positioning unit for the duration of the procedure. 
         [0130]    The motor unit can be powered electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, by mechanical spring loaded mechanism, or by hand winding. The motor unit can be an integral part of the system-positioning system or be attached to the needle assembly only when needed. 
         [0131]    The drilling unit can be a mechanical drill as described in the above examples or a laser ablation system. 
         [0132]    The system may further comprise a suction unit for drawing the bone shavings out of the drilling area and a rinsing unit rinsing the tube from the bone shavings. 
         [0133]    For the disc augmenting procedure the patient can be positioned in the supine, side, lateral, seated, spine bend forward and prone position. The procedure may be performed under general or localized anesthesia. 
       8. Dimensions and Materials 
       [0134]    The angle by which the pre-bend tubes displaces from the straight line which is given by the rigid straight tube can be between 0 degree (°) and 90 degree, whereas 360 degree give a full circle. The radius of the pre-bend tube can be between 5 millimeter (mm) and 1000 millimeter. The rotation speed can be between 1 round per minute and 10,000 rounds per minute (RPM). 
         [0135]    The less elastic tube in above examples can be made from any medical grade stainless steel, plastic, carbon fiber or any combination thereof. In the event that the instrument is used under magnetic imaging (MR) guidance, the material is titanium based, preferably ASTM Grade 9 is harder than an alloy according to ASTM Grade 5 or ISO 3.765 or 3.7165. Typically, the wall-thickness of an outer tube is in the range of from about 0.01 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters. The outer diameter of the elastic tube can be between 0.5 millimeter and 5 millimeter, the outer diameter of the entire inserted instrument between 0.5 millimeter and 10 millimeter, preferably between 3 millimeter and 6 millimeter. 
         [0136]    The elastic tube in above examples can be made from very durable elastic steels, titanium-vanadium-alloys, plastic, carbon fibre, nickel-titanium (NiTi), or super-elastic nickel-titanium (NiTi), also known as Nitinol. The elasticity of NiTi is approximately 83 Giga Pascal (austenite) and approx. 28 to 41 Giga Pascal (martensite). An other good medical material is for instance stainless steel 316L with Modulus of Elasticity of around 193 Giga Pascal (GPa) tension and about 77 Giga Pascal torsion. Suitable materials include nickel-chrome-alloy such as ASTM F563-78 comprising 15-25% nickel, 18-22% chromium, up to 4% titanium, up to 4% molybdenum and, up to 6% iron. This material can be purchased from Institute Straumann in 4437 Waldenburg, Switzerland under the trademark “SYNTACOBEN”. Similar material can be purchased from General Resorts SA in 2501 Bienne, Switzerland under the trademark “NIVAFLEX”. Further can be used “DURATHERM 600” which is a Co—Ni—Cr—Mo—W alloy. Typically, the wall-thickness of the pre-bend tube is in the range of from about 0.01 millimeters to about 1.0 millimeters. In general all materials which are used for mechanical springs are candidates for the inner tube. 
         [0137]    The torque-wire is preferably made of flexible metal material, such as stainless steel. 
       9. Radiographic Guidance 
       [0138]    The disc augmenting procedure is preferably performed under radiographic image guidance. In one embodiment of the present invention, the device is guided by x-ray fluoroscopy, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, visual, positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, or any combination thereof. In some instances it is beneficial to deploy and leave a marker in the disc for later radiographic control. Such a marker can be a little pallet made from any biocompatible and radiographic visible material, such as stainless steel, plastic or titanium-alloy. 
         [0139]    The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention as fairly set out in the attached claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the present specification. The claims are intended to cover such modifications and devices.