Patent ID: 7682392

Claim:
A method for promoting autogenous regrowth and healing of resected, damaged or diseased spinal ligaments comprising the steps of: surgically repairing a spinal ligament by securing a first end of an implant to a first vertebra, transversing the intervertebral space and securing a second end of the implant to a second vertebra, said implant being formed from a material that encourages regeneration of a ligament or tendon replacement; wherein the material is formed from a segment of intestinal tissue of a warm-blooded vertebrate, said segment comprising one of the tunica submucosa and basilar tissue of the tunica mucosa, said tunica submucosa and basilar tissue being delaminated from the tunica muscularis and the luminal portion of the tunica mucosa of said segment of intestinal tissue; and wherein the step of securing the first end of the implant to a first vertebra comprises attaching the first end of the implant to a portion of an existing spinous ligament tissue and the first vertebra.