Method of replacing the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc

A method of replacing at least part of the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc in a patient's body, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an implant substance;
• inserting an implant receptacle into a void defined within the intervertebral disc;
• injecting the implant substance that is in a flowable state into a cavity defined by the implant receptacle;
• irradiating the implant substance with laser light from outside the patient's body including:
• irradiating the implant substance with infrared to near infra-red laser light;
• energizing a plurality of carbon nanotubes located within the implant substance;
• releasing heat from the carbon nanotubes into the implant substance;
• hardening the implant substance;
• and
• changing the implant substance from a flowable state to a state that is similar to naturally-occurring nucleus pulposus.

A method of forming an implant prosthesis for an intervertebral disc comprising the steps of:

• injecting a prosthetic material into a void defined by an annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc when the prosthetic material is in a fluid state, wherein the prosthetic material is a colloidal suspension of a silicone-based polymer and a plurality of carbon nanotubes;
• directing electromagnetic radiation in the form of infrared to near infrared laser light towards the prosthetic material when located within the void defined by the annulus fibrosus;
• energizing the plurality of carbon nanotubes within the prosthetic material;
• releasing heat from the plurality of carbon nanotubes into the prosthetic material;
• and
• altering the state of the prosthetic material, by way of the directed electromagnetic radiation, from a fluid state to a state where the altered prosthetic material is able to act as a shock absorber.