An implant configured to completely replace degenerated or damaged nucleus pulposus in an intervertebral disc. The implant comprises a silicone elastomer shell that is implanted into a void within the annulus fibrosus created by at least partial removal of the nucleus pulposus therefrom. A colloidal suspension of platinum cured silicone-based polymer and carbon nanotubes is injected into the elastomer shell. The colloidal suspension is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, particularly infrared or near infrared light, to the point that it hardens. The hardened implant becomes a mechanical replacement for the original nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc.

A balloon, a medical device, and a medical procedure for discoplasty are disclosed. The balloon has a compressed, collapsed or folded balloon body containing a first chamber for, in use, receiving injected bone cement. With the bone cement filled and cured therein, the balloon acts as a support in tissue of an intervertebral disc while preventing the bone cement from leakage and dispersion. The deployed balloon body defines a second chamber running therethrough. The second chamber is configured to receive a material or cells that activate osteogenesis and/or osteo-induction, so that the material or cells injected into the second chamber through a second sprue form osteocytes or induce human spontaneous local cellular differentiation to in turn form osteocytes in the cavity of the intervertebral disc and connect vertebrae above and below the intervertebral disc, thereby securely anchoring the balloon within the intervertebral space.

An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for repairing or replacing intervertebral discs as a treatment for derangements. Systems and methods may comprise an inter vertebral disc implant for deployment into an intervertebral disc space wherein the nucleus has been at least partially evacuated from the deranged intervertebral disc. The intervertebral disc implant may be intraoperatively and postoperatively filled and/or re-filled with a growth matrix. The intervertebral disc implant may be differentially permeable to the growth matrix to provide directional growth and/or diffusion of the growth matrix to restore height to the intervertebral disc space. Systems and methods may further comprise an implant delivery device for deploying the intervertebral disc implant into the intervertebral disc space.

A cushion is disclosed for insertion in a patient's knee joint to serve as a buffer between a patient's femur and tibia. The cushion is filled with a substantially incompressible fluid, which can be a foam or a gel or a liquid, like water, which is capable of supporting the entire weight of the patient's body. The cushion is preferably made from a flexible material that allows relative movement between the patient's femur and tibia, while resisting rupture as it supports these two bones as they are moving relative to one another as the knee joint is flexed, bent or extended.

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.

An endoscopically implantable inflatable interbody fusion device, including an inflatable body having a first inner wall and an outer wall, a first cavity defined by the first inner wall, at least one hollow space between the first inner wall and the outer wall, a first delivery tube extending from outside the outer wall into the at least one hollow space, and a second delivery tube extending from outside the outer wall, through the at least one hollow space, and terminating in the first cavity.

A balloon, a medical device, and a medical procedure for discoplasty are disclosed. The balloon has a compressed, collapsed or folded balloon body containing a first chamber for, in use, receiving injected bone cement. With the bone cement filled and cured therein, the balloon acts as a support in tissue of an intervertebral disc while preventing the bone cement from leakage and dispersion. The deployed balloon body defines a second chamber running therethrough. The second chamber is configured to receive a material or cells that activate osteogenesis and/or osteo-induction, so that the material or cells injected into the second chamber through a second sprue form osteocytes or induce human spontaneous local cellular differentiation to in turn form osteocytes in the cavity of the intervertebral disc and connect vertebrae above and below the intervertebral disc, thereby securely anchoring the balloon within the intervertebral space.

The present disclosure includes devices, apparatuses, kits, and methods for replacing a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc with an implantable nuclear prosthesis filled with a curable silicone material in situ. Configurations of the present spinal implant devices include a flexible body defining an outer fillable enclosure that defines an outer chamber, an inner fillable enclosure that defines an inner chamber, and a proximal plug configured to be coupled to the inner fillable enclosure.

A multi-chamber balloon for a nuclear implant has an elastomeric membrane defining inner and outer chambers integral with a valve body. The valve body includes a core portion and sealing membrane for sealing the inner and outer chambers. An assembly for manufacturing the multi-chamber balloon includes a balloon mandrel which may be dip coated in a silicone dispersion to create an elastomeric membrane for the inner and outer chambers integral with the valve body. The elastomeric membrane formed on the mandrel is partially inverted to form a coaxial elastomeric structure with the smaller inner chamber disposed within the larger outer chamber. The valve is incorporated into the inner and outer chambers to form a unitary structure.