Mechanical apparatus and method for artificial disc replacement

A method for treating an inter-vertebral disc in a patient's spine, the disc having an annulus and a nucleus, the method comprising:

• enclosing a biomaterial within an internal chamber of a circumferentially configured continuous expansile mesh loop resulting in a preloaded expansile loop;
• advancing said preloaded expansile loop device into the inter-vertebral space to repair or circumferentially reinforce a damaged annulus or nucleus;
• and
• mechanically circumferentially expanding, without pressurization, said preloaded expansile loop by using a control element, said preloaded expansile loop circumferentially expanding within said inter-vertebral space to inner portion of the native annulus whereby a bone allograft, autograft or bone cage is maintained within the inner portion of the expansile loop.

An apparatus for treating an inter-vertebral disc in a patient's spine, comprising:

• An internal shaft member;
• said shaft member having a proximal end and a terminal end, said terminal end fitted with a first attachment means;
• an inner tubular member, said inner tubular member in coaxial alignment with said shaft member, said inner tubular member having a proximal end and a terminal end;
• an outer tubular member, said outer tubular member surrounding at least a portion of said inner tubular member, said outer tubular member having a proximal end and a terminal end;
• an expansile continuous mesh loop, said expansile mesh loop having one or more control elements, said one or more control elements functioning to expand or contract said expansile mesh by acting on said mesh loop without pressurization, said expansile mesh exiting said terminal end of said inner tubular member;
• and
• said control elements in close proximity to said expansile mesh entering from said terminal end of said outer tubular member and extending the longitudinal length of said outer tubular member.

An apparatus for treating an inter-vertebral disc in a patient's spine, comprising;

• An internal shaft member;
• said shaft member having a proximal end and a terminal end, said terminal end fitted with a first attachment means;
• an inner tubular member, said inner tubular member in coaxial alignment with said shaft member, said inner tubular member having a proximal end and a terminal end;
• an outer tubular member, said outer tubular member surrounding at least a portion of said inner tubular member, said outer tubular member having a proximal end and a terminal end;
• a circumferentially continuous expansile mesh loop, said expansile mesh having one or more control elements, said expansile mesh exiting said terminal end of said inner tubular member;
• said control elements in close proximity to said expansile mesh entering from said terminal end of said outer tubular member and extending the longitudinal length of said outer tubular member;
• a bone block or bone cage, said bone block or bone cage having a second attachment means on one side;
• and
• said second attachment means designed to become temporarily engaged with said first attachment means.