Preformed membranes for use in intervertebral disc spaces

A preformed membrane for use within an intervertebral disc space, the preformed membrane having:

• a distal end section that may be attached to a delivery tool;
• a proximal end section that may be attached to the delivery tool, the proximal end section open at the proximal end;
• and
• a mid-section located between the distal end section and the proximal end section and in fluid communication with the proximal end, the mid-section adapted to be delivered within a sheath such that the sheathed mid-section has a delivery profile that approximates a profile of the proximal end section, the mid-section having an expanded profile that is significantly wider than the sheathed delivery profile, the expanded profile measured when the preformed membrane is fully expanded but not stretched.

A preformed membrane for use within an intervertebral disc space comprising:

• a proximal section with an exterior wall and an interior channel;
• a distal section with an open end connected to the proximal section, the distal section having an exterior wall and an interior wall;
• a centerline running from an open end of the proximal section through the proximal section and the distal section;
• and
• the preformed membrane having a maximum outer diameter of the distal section larger than a maximum outer diameter of the proximal section, with all diameters measured perpendicular to the centerline when the preformed membrane is fully expanded but not stretched.

A method of delivering a preformed membrane to an intervertebral disc space, the method comprising:

• attaching a preformed membrane to a portion of a delivery tool;
• inserting a distal end of the delivery tool through a bore with diameter D to place at least a portion of the preformed membrane within a void in an intervertebral disc space;
• delivering prosthetic nucleus material into the inserted preformed membrane such that the preformed membrane expands without stretching to have a cross section greater than D, the cross section measured perpendicular to a long axis of the bore;
• allowing time for the prosthetic nucleus material to cure before;
• removing the delivery tool from the bore while leaving at least most of the preformed membrane in the intervertebral disc space.