Patent ID: 8740979

Claim:
A method for restoring or establishing nutrient flow to the nucleus pulposa in a spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a nucleus pulposa in a patient, the nucleus pulposa surrounded by an upper end plate, a lower end plate and an annulus; providing a fluid flow path by accessing the nucleus pulposa via an approach that does not disrupt the annulus, through at least one of the upper end plate and lower end plate to place the nucleus pulposa in flow communication with adjacent tissue; implanting a device in an opening in the spine, the device having a first end, a second end, and a fluid flow enabling structure to maintain the fluid flow path through the at least one of the upper end plate and lower end plate to enable nutrient flow to the nucleus pulposa, wherein implanting the device comprises positioning the device such that the first end of the device is in the nucleus pulposa on a first side of the at least one of the upper end plate and lower end plate; and the second end of the device is in fluid communication with tissue on a second side of the at least one of the upper end plate and lower end plate, and filling the opening of the spine with backfill material, such that after filling the backfill material facilitates transport of nutrients to the device from surrounding cancellous bone.