Patent ID: 8038718

Claim:
A disc prosthesis that is adapted to be implanted within the annulus of an evacuated disc nucleus space in a human spine, the evacuated disc nucleus space being defined at least in part by tissue superior to the evacuated disc nucleus space and tissue inferior to the evacuated disc nucleus space, the disc prosthesis comprising, a generally solid unitary body having a size and a shape adapted to be positioned within the annulus of the evacuated disc nucleus space, wherein the solid unitary body is comprised of a plurality of interconnected segments that are positioned situ within the evacuated disc space to form the size and the shape of the solid unitary body, the body having: an outermost portion comprised of a first biomaterial and presenting a surface adapted to contact at least one of the tissue superior to the evacuated disc nucleus space and the tissue inferior to the evacuated disc nucleus space; and an innermost portion defining an inner core that provides support and stability for the solid body, the inner core comprised of a second biomaterial, wherein the outermost portion surrounds the innermost portion in an assembled configuration in situ, the inner core being of a compressive modulus that is harder than a compressive modulus of the outermost portion, first biomaterial and wherein the first and second biomaterials together form a multi-composite material comprising the solid body, and wherein the first biomaterial and the second biomaterial are bonded together at an interface such that the outermost portions and the innermost portion are held in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to each other at said interface.