Patent ID: 7500978

Claim:
A method of delivering and positioning an implant within or adjacent to intervertebral disc tissue comprising: providing a delivery device comprising a proximal end for handling by a user and a distal end comprising a restraining member or sleeve for restraining a compressed implant; wherein said delivery device further comprises an advancer for advancing said implant relative to said sleeve wherein said advancer travels within, concentrically over, or alongside said sleeve; providing a compressible implant having one or more limiting dimensions; compressing said implant along said one or more limiting dimensions; constraining said implant with said restraining member; inserting the distal end of said delivery device within intervertebral disc tissue beyond an innermost surface of an anulus lamella, wherein said implant is rotatable relative to the limiting dimension to achieve a diminished profile; rotating said implant beyond the innermost surface of an anulus lamella to a desired orientation; advancing said implant out of said sleeve, wherein said implant is folded; allowing said implant to partially expand; causing relative motion between the advancer and sleeve such that said sleeve contacts one or more surfaces of the folded implant thereby causing further expansion of said implant; retracting said advancer and implant toward said innermost lamella of the anulus, thereby causing the implant to advance laterally along said surface and fully expand; releasing the restraining member; positioning the implant beyond the innermost lamella of an anulus; and removing the delivery device.