A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.

Systems and methods are described for correcting sagittal imbalance in a spine including instruments for performing the controlled release of the anterior longitudinal ligament through a lateral access corridor and hyper-lordotic lateral implants.

A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.

A system and method for facilitating the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease. The method comprising making an incision posterolaterally along an annulus fibrosus of a specimen, removing nucleus pulposus from the specimen with tissue removing tools, and pushing magnetic spherical beads into a nuclear area within the specimen. The system comprises the specimen with the nuclear area, a plurality of magnetic spherical beads, tissue removal tools, a hollow cannula and a non-magnetic rod. The hollow cannula and non-magnetic rod configured for pushing the magnetic spherical beads within the nuclear area after incision.

The present disclosure describes an intervertebral disk replacement system. The system can include a tissue-engineered intervertebral disc that is combined with a bioresorbable stabilization system for structural guidance. The system can prevent or reduce intervertebral disk implant displacement and can increase the stiffness when compared to the implantation of the intervertebral disk implant without the stabilization system.

The present disclosure describes an intervertebral disk replacement system. The system can include a tissue-engineered intervertebral disc that is combined with a bioresorbable stabilization system for structural guidance. The system can prevent or reduce intervertebral disk implant displacement and can increase the stiffness when compared to the implantation of the intervertebral disk implant without the stabilization system.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for distracting tissue. The devices and methods may include insertion of first and second elongated members into the space between two tissue layers, with an augmenting elongated member at least partially inserted therebetween to form a distraction device between the tissues to be distracted. At least one of the first and second elongated members may be formed of a flexible core member with a plurality of rigid veneer members spaced along the length of the core member. At least one of the elongated members may include a shaping member that automatically moves from a generally linear configuration to a generally less linear configuration. A deployment catheter may include a deformable distal end to allow augmentation of the tissue distraction device during implantation. An injection aid may be provided for introducing a filler material into an interior defined by a deployed tissue distraction device.

The present invention relates to a tissue-engineered intervertebral disc (IVD) comprising a nucleus pulposus structure comprising a first population of living cells 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 collagen.

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.

A surgical instrument and method are provided for removal of a spinal implant from the intervertebral disc space. The instrument includes a carriage body for interfacing with the implant, a housing for interfacing with the vertebrae, and a handle portion having a first portion rotatably coupled with a proximal end of the housing and a second portion rotatably engageable with a proximal attachment portion of the carriage body. A central passage of the housing extends between the proximal end and a distal engagement surface of the housing. The central passage is dimensioned to mate with the carriage body. Rotation of the handle portion about an axis causes translational movement of the carriage body along the axis. A modular inserter/distractor apparatus and method and an anchor remover and method are also provided.