Lumbar Operatively Inserted PerQdisc Artificial Implant Following Nuclectomy

This study will be a prospective, open-label, multi-center study that will collect safety data for the minimally invasive PerQdisc Nucleus Replacement Device deployed to reduce chronic low back pain.

This study will be a prospective, open-label, multi-center study that will collect safety and efficacy data for the minimally invasive PerQdisc Nucleus Replacement Device (NRD). Patients will have degenerative disc disease (DDD) in one or more lumbar discs. The NRD is used for surgical replacement of a single nucleus pulposus between spinal lumbar discs L1-S1 using an anterior or lateral transpsoas approach. Currently the surgical gold standard involves spinal fusion of the affected vertebral bodies, reducing range of motion and increasing stress on other vertebral bodies. The goal of nucleus replacement is to reduce chronic low back pain by maintaining disc height while preserving range of motion.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient is skeletally mature and between 21 and 60 years of age.
* Patient has Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) at one or more levels between L1 and S1
* History and clinical findings suggestive of symptomatic DDD:

Darkened disc on MRI in T2 weighted images Patients with at least 6 months of low back pain (location defined as the space between the lower margin of the posterior rib cage and horizontal gluteal fold) that is resistant to nonsurgical conservative therapy.

* Patient has adequate disc height (\~6mm) at the level to be treated
* Patient has pre-operative Oswestry Low Back Disability score of greater than or equal to 40 (0-100 scale).
* Patient has pre-operative back pain VAS score of greater than or equal to 40 (0-100 scale)
* Patient has received conservative, non-surgical treatment for back pain for a minimum of 6 months.
* Patient has signed the approved Informed Consent Form.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient has had prior lumbar spine surgery
* Spinal fusion at any level
* Patient has ankylosing spondylitis or other spondyloarthropathy.
* Patient has isthmic spondylolisthesis or degenerative spondylolisthesis greater than 2 mm.
* Patient has congenital moderate or severe spinal stenosis or epidural lipomatosis.
* Patient has significant facet disease.
* Patient has had prior lumbar spine surgery
* Spinal fusion at any level
* Patient has any known active malignancy.
* Patient has previously undergone or currently on immunosuppressive therapy. Steroids used to treat inflammation are allowed.
* Patient has active local or systemic infection.
* Patient has been diagnosed with hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, or other autoimmune disease, including AIDS, ARC and HIV.
* Patient has diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or 2), requiring daily insulin management.
* Patient is pregnant or plans to become pregnant during the course of the study. Pregnancy ruled out by urine or serum HCG.
* Patient has a known allergy to silicone (polymer and balloon material) or barium sulfate (polymer).
* Patient participated in another investigational drug or device study within the past 30 days.
* Patient belongs to a vulnerable population or has a condition such that his/her ability to provide informed consent, comply with follow-up requirements, or provide self- assessments is compromised (e.g. developmentally disabled, prisoner, chronic alcohol/ substance abuser)
* Patient has a significant disc herniation at the level to be treated
* Patient has a significant Schmorl's node in the level to be treated

Intraoperative exclusion criteria:

* Protrusion of the 20A imaging balloon up to or beyond the outer margin of the vertebra during the imaging steps.
* Patient has a violated endplate as determined by imaging balloon during fluoroscopy
* Patient has a disc space that is too narrow for implantation.