Patent ID: 7670380

Claim:
A method for repairing an intervertebral disc, wherein said intervertebral disc comprises a disc nucleus and a disc annulus, comprising the steps of: a) forming an aperture in said intervertebral disc annulus; and b) securing across said aperture to said intervertebral disc annulus an annulus stent comprising: a centralized vertical extension with an upper section and a lower section, and a recess in the lower section enabling the annulus stent to form a compatible fit with the edges of an aperture, the upper section of the centralized vertical extension comprising at least one orifice through the upper section, the at least one orifice being sized and shaped to accommodate a suture, tension band, or staple, and the suture, tension band, or staple configured to pass into or through tissues surrounding the aperture of the intervertebral disc.