Patent ID: 8357168

Claim:
A needle assembly for use in sealably injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space accessed through an opening in an annulus of a spinal disc, comprising: a needle sized for introduction through the opening in the annulus, said needle having a passageway for injecting the biomaterial therethrough, a proximal end adapted to engage a source of the biomaterial and a distal end configured to be disposed within the intradiscal space when said needle extends through the opening in the annulus; a stop affixed directly to said needle at a pre-determined distance from said distal end in a manner such that said stop cannot slip along said needle, said pre-determined distance defining a location of said distal end within the intradiscal space when said needle extends through the opening in the annulus; and a seal disposed on said needle and bearing in a fixed interface against said stop between said stop and said distal end, said seal sized and configured to not pass through said opening and including a sealing face configured to sealingly engage the annulus around said needle when said needle extends through the opening in the annulus, wherein said sealing face defines an area of contact with an outer surface of the annulus, said stop providing a pressure surface to press said sealing face between said outer surface of the annulus and said stop upon application of manual pressure thereto.