A cage device for harvesting bone graft material for use in bone fusion surgery, e.g., a spinal fusion. The device has a chamber configured to contain a slurry of morselized bone and blood that effuses from adjacent bones when the device is placed in a space between the bones, and a bone cutter assembly is inserted into the chamber and operated. In one embodiment, the cutter assembly includes an elongated cannula having a bend at a distal end, and a wire arranged to slide inside the cannula so that a cutting tip of the wire can be set to project a desired distance from the distal end. When the cannula is driven to rotate about its long axis, the wire cutting tip strikes and cuts grooves in the facing surfaces of the bones to produce the mentioned slurry which remains inside the chamber to promote a solid and healthy fusion.

A cage or spacer device for harvesting bone graft material for use in bone fusion surgery, e.g., spinal fusion. The device is inserted between facing surfaces of the bones to be fused, and a chamber is formed in the device for containing a slurry of morselized bone and blood to be effused from the bones. In one embodiment, a bone cutter assembly including a cannula having a bend at a distal end is inserted in the chamber for operation. A wire having a cutting tip is passed inside the cannula so that the tip projects a determined distance from the distal end of the cannula. Accordingly, the cutting tip strikes and cuts grooves in the facing surfaces of the bones when the cannula is rotationally driven about its axis. The mentioned slurry effuses from the grooved surfaces and remains in the chamber to promote a solid and healthy fusion.

Methods for treating an annulus fibrosis having a defect include inserting a flexible device into the defect. The flexible device is advanced distally beyond an outer layer of the annulus fibrosus. The flexible device is then expanded such that a width of the flexible device is larger than the defect, where the flexible device prevents escape of nucleus pulposus through the defect. The flexible device may have at least two appendages made from a shape-memory metal. Alternatively, the flexible device may have a U-shaped structure that includes a central portion and two legs. The flexible device may also be anchored to the annulus fibrosis and/or the vertebrae.

A procedure for harvesting graft material for use during bone fusion surgery. A generally U-shaped cutting blade is inserted to a certain position inside a defined space between adjacent bones to be fused, and the cutting blade is rotated so that it cuts into the adjacent bones and forms a solid bone segment within each one of the bones. Each bone segment is displaced so that a first end portion of the segment enters the bone opposite the bone within which the segment was formed, an intermediate portion of the segment spans the space between the bones, and a second end portion of the segment remains in the bone within which the segment was formed. Each bone segment thereby acts as a strut graft for promoting a fusion of the adjacent bones to one another.

Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.

Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.

Methods and apparatus for treating disc herniation provide a conformable device which assumes a first shape associated with insertion and a second shape or expanded shape to occlude the defect which typically follows partial discectomy. The device may take different forms according to the invention, including patches size to cover the defect or plugs adapted to fill the defect. In a preferred embodiment, however, the device is a gel or other liquid or semi-liquid which solidifies to occlude the defect from within the body of the disc itself. In another preferred embodiment, a mesh screen is collapsed into an elongated form for the purposes of insertion, thereby minimizing the size of the requisite incision while avoiding delicate surrounding nerves. Such a configuration also permits the use of instrumentation to install the device, including, for example, a hollow tube or sheath adapted to hold the collapsed screen, and a push rod to expel the collapsed device out of the sheath for use in occluding the disc defect. A device according to the invention may further include one or more anchors to assist in permanently affixing the device with respect to the defect.

The present invention relates to a tissue-engineered intervertebral disc (IVD) suitable for total disc replacement in a mammal and methods of fabrication. The IVD comprises a nucleus pulposus structure comprising a first population of living cells that secrete a hydrophilic protein and an annulus fibrosis structure surrounding and in contact with the nucleus pulposus structure, the annulus fibrosis structure comprising a second population of living cells and type I collagen. The collagen fibrils in the annulus fibrosis structure are circumferentially aligned around the nucleus pulposus region due to cell-mediated contraction in the annulus fibrosis structure. Also disclosed are methods of fabricating tissue-engineered intervertebral discs.

A procedure for harvesting graft material for use during bone fusion surgery. A generally U-shaped cutting blade is inserted to a certain position inside a defined space between adjacent bones to be fused, and the cutting blade is rotated so that it cuts into the adjacent bones and forms a solid bone segment within each one of the bones. Each bone segment is displaced so that a first end portion of the segment enters the bone opposite the bone within which the segment was formed, an intermediate portion of the segment spans the space between the bones, and a second end portion of the segment remains in the bone within which the segment was formed. Each bone segment thereby acts as a strut graft for promoting a fusion of the adjacent bones to one another.

A cage or spacer device for harvesting bone graft material for use in bone fusion surgery, e.g., spinal fusion. The device is inserted between facing surfaces of the bones to be fused, and a chamber is formed in the device for containing a slurry of morselized bone and blood to be effused from the bones. In one embodiment, a bone cutter assembly including a cannula having a bend at a distal end is inserted in the chamber for operation. A wire having a cutting tip is passed inside the cannula so that the tip projects a determined distance from the distal end of the cannula. Accordingly, the cutting tip strikes and cuts grooves in the facing surfaces of the bones when the cannula is rotationally driven about its axis. The mentioned slurry effuses from the grooved surfaces and remains in the chamber to promote a solid and healthy fusion.