Method for relieving back/neck pain and repairing intervertebral disc

Abstract

A distal portion of a filament is extended beyond the distal end of a needle containing a gripper. A flexible one-way filament retainer with a snagging point is positioned adjacent to the extended filament. The needle with the extended filament and the one-way filament retainer are inserted into a cannula. During partial withdrawal of the needle, the snagging point of the one-way filament retainer hooks or retains the distal portion of the filament, depositing a section of the filament between the snagging point of the one-way filament retainer and the needle. When the needle is re-advanced, the needle pushes open the flexible one-way filament retainer, and the section of the filament is expelled or deposited in tissue. The needle can be rotated; the gripper engages and spirals the expelled filament to burrow into tissue. The method of needle partial withdrawal, re-advancement, rotation and pushing is repeated to pack and fill the tissue with interconnecting spirals of filament.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.