Percutaneous implantable nuclear prosthesis

A method of implanting a nuclear prosthesis into a de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space comprising:

• providing a nuclear prosthesis comprising:
• an annular tubular elastomeric enclosure forming a fluid-tight inflatable annular chamber, the annular enclosure having an inner region;
• an inflatable nuclear enclosure forming a gas-tight inflatable nuclear chamber, the nuclear enclosure being disposed within the inner region of the annular enclosure;
• and
• a resilient core secured to the annular enclosure, the resilient core having at least a first channel for providing closable access to the annular chamber and a second channel for providing access to the nuclear chamber;
• inserting the nuclear prosthesis into a de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space;
• inflating the nuclear enclosure with a pressurized fluid comprising saline;
• inflating the annular enclosure with a pressurized fluid comprising a curable elastomeric material;
• and
• allowing the curable elastomeric material to cure.

A method of implanting a nuclear prosthesis comprising:

• creating a de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space by performing a percutaneous nuclectomy through a percutaneous access device;
• inserting a delivery apparatus carrying a nuclear prosthesis into the de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space, said nuclear prosthesis comprising:
• an annular tubular elastomeric enclosure forming a fluid-tight inflatable annular chamber, the annular enclosure having an outer perimeter and an inner region;
• an inflatable nuclear enclosure forming a gas-tight inflatable nuclear chamber, the nuclear enclosure being disposed at least partially within the inner region of the annular enclosure;
• and
• a resilient core secured to the annular enclosure, the resilient core having at least a first channel for providing closable access to the annular chamber and a second channel for providing access to the nuclear chamber;
• deploying the nuclear prosthesis into the de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space;
• inflating the nuclear enclosure with a pressurized fluid comprising saline;
• inflating the annular tubular enclosure with a pressurized fluid comprising a curable elastomeric material;
• and
• allowing the curable elastomeric material to cure.

A method of implanting a nuclear prosthesis into a de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space comprising:

• creating a de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space by performing a percutaneous nuclectomy through a percutaneous access device;
• providing a system for inserting a nuclear prosthesis into the de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space, said system comprising:
• a nuclear prosthesis comprising an annular tubular elastomeric enclosure forming a fluid-tight inflatable annular chamber, the annular enclosure having an outer perimeter and an inner region;
• an inflatable nuclear enclosure forming a gas-tight inflatable nuclear chamber, the nuclear enclosure being disposed at least partially within the inner region of the annular enclosure;
• and a resilient core secured to the annular enclosure, the resilient core having at least a first channel for providing closable access to the annular chamber and a second channel for providing access to the nuclear chamber;
• a delivery apparatus for percutaneously delivering the nuclear prosthesis, comprising a delivery cannula and a release cannula;
• and
• an inflation stylus for inflating a the nuclear prosthesis, the inflation stylus at least partially within the delivery cannula and detachably connected to the nuclear prosthesis;
• deploying the nuclear prosthesis into the de-nucleated inter-vertebral disc space using the delivery apparatus;
• inflating the nuclear enclosure with a pressurized fluid comprising saline using the inflation stylus;
• inflating the annular tubular enclosure with a pressurized fluid comprising a curable elastomeric material using the inflation stylus;
• and
• allowing the curable elastomeric material to cure.