Patent ID: 8133279

Claim:
A method for treating at least one defect in an annulus of an intervertebral disc, the method comprising: providing an inflatable spacing device having a first deflated position and a second inflated position, wherein the spacing device is structured to have a predetermined shape in the second inflated position; creating a first opening in the at least one defect in the annulus to access the intervertebral disc; inserting the spacing device while in the deflated position through the first opening and into the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc adjacent the at least one defect of the annulus in a manner such that the spacing device substantially spans the at least one defect in the annulus after being expanded to the second inflated position, wherein the spacing device substantially conforms to a portion of the annulus adjacent the defect after being expanded to the second inflated position; and has an integral projection that is expanded into the first opening when the spacing device is expanded to the second inflated position; and injecting a pressurized flowable biomaterial into the spacing device to inflate the spacing device from the first deflated position to the second inflated position, the inflated spacing device displacing a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create a space adjacent the defect while the spacing device expands, wherein the spacing device in the second inflated position isolates the nucleus pulposus from the annular defect, the pressurized flowable biomaterial being curable in situ; wherein no portion of the nucleus pulposus is removed during or subsequent to the step of creating an opening to access the intervertebral disc.