Patent ID: 8075618

Claim:
A method for repairing an annulus defect of a spinal disc between adjacent vertebrae, comprising: securing a first end of a blocking member in a first receptacle of a first anchor with a first coupling member positioned in the first receptacle through a first passage at the first end of the blocking member; securing a second end of the blocking member in a second receptacle of a second anchor with a second coupling member positioned in the second receptacle through a second passage at the second end of the blocking member, the blocking member having a length between the first end and the second end; collapsing the blocking member to orient the first and second anchors at respective ones of the first and second ends of the blocking member along respective ones of first and second endplates of the adjacent vertebrae; positioning the collapsed blocking member at least adjacent to the annulus defect; extending the first end of the blocking member toward one of the adjacent vertebrae by moving the first anchor from its orientation along the first endplate to a second orientation extending transversely to the first endplate into one of the adjacent vertebrae; and extending the second end of the blocking member toward the other of the adjacent vertebrae by moving the second anchor from its orientation along the second endplate to a second orientation extending transversely to the second endplate into the other of the adjacent vertebrae.