Patent ID: 7354453

Claim:
A method for spinal nucleus replacement, said method comprising: removing a nucleus of an intervertebral disc; drilling a first curved channel from an opening of a first pedicle through a first vertebra and into a nucleus area, drilling a second curved channel from an opening of a second pedicle through a second vertebra and into said nucleus area; said channels running from a channel end outside of said nucleus area to a channel end abutting said nucleus area; inserting one end of a suture into said outside channel end of a first one of said channels and passing said suture end through said first channel and into said nucleus area; inserting said suture end into the second of said channels and passing said suture end through said second channel until it emerges from said channel at said outside channel end of said second channel; after insertion of said suture, attaching at least one load bearing nucleus replacement to a section of said suture between the ends of said suture, wherein said attaching occurs outside of said nucleus area; and pulling on at least one end of said suture to thereby pull said load bearing nucleus replacement into said nucleus area.