Patent ID: 7717961

Claim:
A method of delivering an implant within an intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of: providing an insertion device having a hollow elongate body with a first stop surface thereon and an axially movable intradiscal element having a second stop surface thereon; wherein said insertion device is coupled to an implant; wherein said implant is configured to augment a defective portion of an anulus fibrosus; advancing the device through an opening in the anulus fibrosus along a first axis; bringing the second stop surface into contact with an interior aspect of the anulus fibrosus; bringing the first stop surface into contact with an exterior surface of the anulus fibrosus; determining the distance between the first stop surface and the second stop surface; adjusting the distance between the first stop surface and the second stop surface so as to allow deployment between lamellae of the anulus fibrosus or within the nucleus pulposus; wherein said adjustment limits penetration to a desired depth within the intervertebral disc; deploying the implant laterally from the insertion device within the intervertebral disc along a second axis which is substantially transverse to the first axis; and withdrawing the insertion device such that the deployed implant remains at the deployed location.