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.

A method of replacing a nucleus pulposus material wherein curable nucleus pulposus material is injected into a balloon in an intervertebral space.

A containment body for making a spacer device or a device to be implanted in a human body that is suitable for treating a bone seat or a joint of the human body includes a base portion and side walls that extend from the base portion and that delimit between them at least one cavity, wherein the containment body has a plurality of pores and/or at least one opening, configured to place the at least one internal cavity in communication with the outside of the containment body.

A prosthesis for implantation in a de-nucleated intervertebral disc includes a fiber ring-like layer which encloses a polymeric layer to create an annular space. The annular space is inflatable with an in-situ curable liquid polymer and forms an interior cavity. The annular space may be expanded uniformly or differentially to be tailored to the needs of a particular vertebral segment and to achieve optimal disc space width and angle, thereby stabilizing the segment while preserving normal motion of the vertebral segment. The interior cavity provides a void that allows inward deformation of the implant during weight bearing activities and bending. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed through axial elongation to a reduced profile to load into a delivery cannula using pulling techniques.

Expandable spinal interbody implants include a body and at least one extendable support element connected thereto. Such an implant may include a second extendable support element and a tool selectively positionable with respect to the implant so as to independently or simultaneously expand both extendable support elements. In another example, such an implant may include, at each of a first and second location, a respective movable member and a respective locking element. The at least one extendable support element may be actuatable to expand so as to induce movement of at least one of the movable members away from the body. The locking elements at each of the first and second locations may be selectively lockable such that, when locked, the locking element restrains movement of the associated movable member at that location away from the body without restraining movement of the other movable member away from the body.

An intervertebral implantation system for restoring disc height and vertebral alignment, while allowing dynamic mobility and stabilization of the vertebral segment, and minimally invasive methods of implanting the same. The implantation system includes an annular reinforcement implant, including an elastomeric balloon inserted into the hollow or interior of a tubular sleeve, and secured only at a first and second neck portions to a securement element coupled to an attachment fixture, forming an annular structure attached to the outer margin of the annulus fibrosus. When the prosthetic implant is in a contracted state the tubular sleeve is redundant and undulated, forming folds, gathered loosely around the circumference of the inner balloon. Upon pressurized inflation with in-situ curable polymer, the elastomeric balloon elongates and expands circumferentially, and the tubular sleeve stretches and unfolds, constraining further expansion and elongation of the elastomeric balloon. The attachment fixture is configured to provide secure attachment to the outer margin of the annulus fibrosus. A temporary, high pressure vertebral distraction balloon is utilized to aid in vertebral distraction during a surgical procedure to implant the annular reinforcement implant.

Coiled spinal implants for disc, vertebral body, and spinal motion segment replacement or reconstruction comprise a plurality of loops and spaces between the loops, with the loops formed of a hollow material and having a plurality of apertures or a longitudinal gap that extend(s) through the sidewalls of the loops and into the hollow center. The coiled implants include one or more balloons within the hollow center, the spaces between the coil loops, and/or within the central void that the coil surrounds. Filling the balloon expands the loops and thereby increases the height of the coil. Bone graft material or bone cement may be deployed from the apertures or gap.

A central inflatable distractor and a perimeter balloon are inserted into the disc space in uninflated configurations. The central inflatable distractor is then expanded, thereby distracting the vertebral endplates to the controlled height of the central inflatable distractor. The perimeter balloon is then inflated with a curable substance. The perimeter balloon expands as it is filled with the curable substance and conforms to the void remaining in the disc space around the central inflatable distractor, thereby creating a horseshoe shape. Once the flowable material in the perimeter balloon has cured, the central inflated distractor can be deflated and removed. The remaining void (or inner space) is then packed with graft for fusion.

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.

A central inflatable distractor and a perimeter balloon are inserted into the disc space in uninflated configurations. The central inflatable distractor is then expanded, thereby distracting the vertebral endplates to the controlled height of the central inflatable distractor. The perimeter balloon is then inflated with a curable substance. The perimeter balloon expands as it is filled with the curable substance and conforms to the void remaining in the disc space around the central inflatable distractor, thereby creating a horseshoe shape. Once the flowable material in the perimeter balloon has cured, the central inflated distractor can be deflated and removed. The remaining void (or inner space) is then packed with graft for fusion.