Patent ID: 7951201

Claim:
A method of treating an intervertebral disc comprising: providing a first delivery tool having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end carrying a treatment device; providing at least one second delivery tool having a body with a proximal end and a distal end, the body having a curved feature proximate the distal end, the distal end configured to deliver a fixation element; introducing the distal end of the first delivery tool at least partially into the intervertebral disc through an aperture in the intervertebral disc; deploying said treatment device, including expanding the treatment device so as to span across the aperture; introducing the distal end of said at least one second delivery tool at least partially into the intervertebral disc at a location adjacent to the aperture; deploying at least one fixation device into, or through, annular tissue to hold said treatment device at least partially within the intervertebral disc space, including disposing a first portion of the fixation device within the disc and against an internally oriented portion of the treatment device, and disposing a second portion of the fixation device at and in engagement with an outer surface of the annulus, removing said at least one second delivery tool; and removing said first delivery tool.