Methods and apparatus for treating disc herniation and preventing the extrusion of interbody bone graft

A device for augmenting an anulus of an intervertebral disc suitable for inserting along an interior aspect of an anular lamella substantially in front of a defect in the anulus, comprising:

• a thin resilient barrier having a first surface facing an interior aspect of the anular lamella and a second surface facing the interior of the intervertebral disc, wherein said barrier is adapted to be sealably positioned against the lamella via the exertion of force on the second surface sustained by a pressurized intervertebral disc environment.

A device for partially encapsulating inter-anular material comprising resilient flexible material adapted to conform to at least a portion of the interior surface of an anulus fibrosus and of sufficient size and sufficient rigidity to not be extrudable through an anulus defect.

An anulus augmentation implant for insertion along the surface of an anular lamella and across a defect in an intervertebral disc, comprising:

• a collapseable resilient barrier having a top and bottom edge and a first and second side edge,
• wherein the top and bottom edge are sized to contact the endplates at maximum distraction;
• and wherein the first and second edge extend beyond the defect.

A dynamically stable device for shielding defects in an anulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, comprising:

• a flexible membrane adapted to yield to interdiscal pressure and conform to at least a portion of the posterior anulus under both distraction and compression of the disc, wherein said membrane is sized to extend along the interior of The posterior anulus.

A method of closing off a defect in an anulus of an intervertebral disc, said intervertebral disc being part of a spine, including the steps of:

• inserting a barrier through an opening into a disc;
• and
• positioning said barrier between native nucleus tissue and an interior surface of a anulus lamella such that said barrier spans beyond the periphery of said defect in more than one direction.

A method of obstructing a defect in an anulus of an intervertebral disc, said intervertebral disc being part of a spine and including a native nucleus tissue comprising the steps of:

• inserting a barrier through an opening into the disc;
• and
• positioning a first portion of the barrier between the native nucleus tissue and the defect, and a second portion of the barrier between the native nucleus tissue and an interior surface of an anulus lamella adjacent to the defect such that said barrier spans beyond the periphery of said defect in more than one direction.