Patent ID: 8864711

Claim:
A method for administering medication to a spinal disc, said method comprising: inserting a balloon into a spinal disc within a body, wherein the balloon is elastic and comprises micropores to provide sustained release of a medication comprising a therapeutic agent over at least two days, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises about 5-99 wt % of the medication and the balloon comprises an outer surface that is coated with a biodegradable or bioresorbable material, and inflating the balloon by depositing the medication in flowable form into said balloon, wherein the balloon is filled to about 50-80% volumetric capacity with the medication, and a needle is used to insert the balloon and the needle is positioned across the spinal disc, and the balloon is disposed within the needle and the balloon is pushed out of the needle with a plunger as the needle is retracted, whereby pressure on the balloon from the body forces the medication out of the balloon through said micropores and the medication remains in flowable form, wherein the balloon has a plurality of at least 200 micropores that upon expansion have an average size of between about 5 micrometers and 9 micrometers.