Percutaneous cervical disc reconstruction

A method for repairing a disc having a herniated nucleus pulposus, wherein the disc is situated between cranial and caudal vertebra, comprising the steps of:

• forming a passage in the cranial or caudal vertebra that extends into the disc using an angled anterior approach that enters the cranial or caudal vertebra and terminates at a posterior region of the disc that includes the herniated nucleus pulposus;
• removing at least a portion of the herniated nucleus pulposus;
• and
• implanting a disc reconstruction device into the passage, wherein the disc reconstruction device has a bone in-growth component and a tissue in-growth component, and wherein the bone in-growth component is located in the cranial or caudal vertebra and the tissue in-growth component is located in the disc.

A method for removing a bone spur from a vertebra, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a guide wire into a disc located adjacent to the vertebra using an anterior lateral approach to create a path;
• advancing a cutting tool to the bone spur along the path;
• removing at least a portion of the bone spur from the vertebra using the cutting tool;
• advancing a disc reconstruction device along the path into the disc;
• and
• fastening the disc reconstruction device to at least one of the disc or the vertebra.

A medical device for implantation into a spine of a patient, comprising:

• a mesh sleeve having a chamber and a closed distal end,
• a soft tissue in-growth component comprising at least one of anulus fibrosus or nucleus pulposus obtained from the patient, wherein the soft tissue in-growth component is located in the chamber of the mesh sleeve;
• and
• a hard tissue in-growth component comprising bone obtained from the patient, wherein the hard tissue in-growth component is located in the chamber of the mesh sleeve and is located proximal of the soft tissue in-growth component.

A medical device for implantation into a spine of a patient, comprising:

• a soft tissue in-growth component comprising porous mesh;
• an elongate member extending proximally from the soft tissue in-growth component;
• an elongate threaded member having a lumen adapted to receive the elongate member;
• and
• a fastener releasably attached at a distal end of the elongate member.

A medical device for implantation into a spine of a patient, comprising:

• a soft tissue in-growth component comprising porous mesh;
• an elongate member extending proximally from the soft tissue in-growth component;
• and
• an elongate threaded member adapted to frictionally engage the elongate member at a position along a circumference of the elongate threaded member.

A medical device for implantation into a spine of a patient, comprising:

• an expandable implant composed of an elastic or shape-memory material;
• an elongate member extending proximally from the expandable implant;
• and
• an elongate threaded member having a lumen adapted to receive the elongate member;
• and
• a fastener releasably attached at a distal end of the elongate member.

A medical device for implantation into a spine of a patient, comprising:

• an expandable implant composed of an elastic or shape-memory material;
• an elongate member extending proximally from the expandable implant;
• and
• an elongate threaded member adapted to frictionally engage the elongate member at a position along a circumference of the elongate threaded member.

A method for repairing a disc having a herniated nucleus pulposus, wherein the disc is situated between a cranial and caudal vertebra, comprising the steps of:

• forming a passage in the cranial vertebra that extends into the disc using an angled anterior approach that enters the cranial vertebra and terminates at a posterior region of the disc that includes the herniated nucleus pulposus;
• removing a portion of the herniated nucleus pulposus;
• locating an elongate tubular structure in the passage, wherein the elongate tubular structure has a proximal end, a distal tapered end, and a lumen therebetween, and wherein the elongate tubular structure is composed of a porous mesh;
• and
• expanding the elongate tubular structure to frictionally engage the vertebral surface of the passage.

A medical device for implantation into a spine of a patient, comprising:

• a generally rectangular member having first and second longitudinal edges;
• and
• a plurality of ribs extending from the first and second longitudinal edges,
• wherein the generally rectangular member and plurality of ribs are composed of an elastic or shape-memory material, and wherein the device is expandable from a contracted state to an expanded state.

A method for repairing a disc having herniated nucleus pulposus, wherein the disc is situated between a cranial and caudal vertebra, comprising the steps of:

• forming a passage in the cranial vertebra that extends into the disc using an angled anterior approach that enters the cranial vertebra and terminates at a posterior region of the disc that includes the herniated nucleus pulposus;
• placing a device having a generally rectangular member having first and second longitudinal edges and a plurality of ribs extending from the first and second longitudinal edges into the passage;
• and
• expanding the device to frictionally engage the vertebral surface of the passage.

A medical device for implantation into a spine of a patient, comprising:

• first and second generally rectangular members each having first and second longitudinal edges;
• and
• a plurality of ribs extending between the first and second longitudinal edges of the first and second generally rectangular members,
• wherein the first and second generally rectangular members and the plurality of ribs are composed of an elastic or shape-memory material, and wherein the device is expandable from a contracted state to an expanded state.

A method for repairing a disc having herniated nucleus pulposus, wherein the disc is situated between a cranial and caudal vertebra, comprising the steps of:

• forming a passage in the cranial vertebra that extends into the disc using an angled anterior approach that enters the cranial vertebra and terminates at a posterior region of the disc that includes the herniated nucleus pulposus;
• placing a device into the passage having first and second generally rectangular members each having first and second longitudinal edges and a plurality of ribs extending between the first and second longitudinal edges of the first and second generally rectangular members;
• and
• expanding the device to frictionally engage the vertebral surface of the passage.

A method for repairing a disc having a herniated nucleus pulposus, wherein the disc is situated between a cranial and caudal vertebra, comprising the steps of:

• forming a passage in the cranial vertebra extending into the disc using an angled anterior approach that enters the cranial vertebra and terminates at a posterior region of the disc that includes the herniated nucleus pulposus;
• placing a disc reconstruction device in the passage, wherein the disc reconstruction device has an expandable implant and an elongate member extending proximally from the expandable implant;
• and
• placing the elongate threaded member at least partially fills the passage in the vertebra.