# US 8,540,772 B2 · Transpedicular, extrapedicular and transcorporeal partial disc replacement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,772 B2 - Document ID: US8540772B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/234,891 - Filed: 2008-09-22 - Published: 2009-03-26 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-20 - Applicants: Said G. Osman - Inventors: Said G. Osman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540772B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/441: {made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel} - A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)} - A61F 2002/30075: {swellable, e.g. when wetted} - A61F 2002/30462: {retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable} - A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection} - A61F 2002/30583: {filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ} - A61F 2002/30586: {having two or more inflatable pockets or chambers} - A61F 2002/30884: {Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity} - A61F 2002/444: {for replacing the nucleus pulposus} - A61F 2002/4677: {using a guide wire} - A61F 2210/0061: swellable - A61F 2210/0085: hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins - A61F 2220/0025: Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements - A61F 2220/0075: sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A nucleus replacement mimics a native annulus in shape and function for use in partial disc arthroplasty. The nucleus replacement includes a jacket having a compartment, a first anchoring limb on one side of the compartment, and a second anchoring limb on an opposite side of the compartment. The jacket is insertable into a disc space through an operating channel in at least one of the vertebral pedicle and the vertebral body. A shock absorbing material is injectable into the compartment after installing the jacket into the disc space. The shock absorbing material has characteristics that absorb loads on the replacement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nucleus replacement that mimics a native annulus in shape and function for use in partial disc arthroplasty, the nucleus replacement comprising: at least one jacket including a compartment, a first anchoring limb on one side of the compartment, and a second anchoring limb on an opposite side of the compartment, the at least one jacket being insertable into a disc space with the first and second anchoring limbs on opposite lateral sides of the disc space; a shock absorbing material injectable into the compartment after installing the at least one jacket into the disc space, the shock absorbing material including characteristics that absorb loads on the replacement; and a pair of intraosseous anchoring members cooperable with the first and second anchoring limbs, respectively, the intraosseous anchoring members securing the nucleus replacement in the disc space, wherein one of the first anchoring limb and the second anchoring limb is sealed, and the other of the first and second anchoring limbs comprises a valve that provides external access to the compartment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, comprising two jackets as an inner jacket and an outer jacket, the outer jacket serving as a restraint for the nucleus replacement, and the inner jacket including the compartment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A nucleus replacement according to claim 2, wherein the outer jacket is formed of a material that encourages bone in-growth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A nucleus replacement according to claim 3, wherein the outer jacket is formed of at least one of a synthetic biologically active fabric and a synthetic biologically inert fabric. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A nucleus replacement according to claim 2, wherein the compartment in the inner jacket comprises a plurality of compartments. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the compartment comprises a plurality of compartments. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A nucleus replacement according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of compartments are interconnected. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the jacket is shaped as one of bean shaped, oval, and cylindrical. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing material comprises a liquid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing material comprises a gelatinous osmotically active material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing material comprises a fabric material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A nucleus replacement according to claim 11, wherein the fabric material comprises a bundle of fibers contained within a sub jacket insertable into the compartment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A nucleus replacement according to claim 12, wherein the bundle of fibers comprises cylindrical fiber stacks. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing material comprises a biologic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the intraosseous anchoring members comprise bone plugs fixed into an end plate adjacent the disc space. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the intraosseous anchoring members comprise screws that secure the first and second anchoring limbs in the disc space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A nucleus replacement according to claim 16, wherein the screws are cannulated and define an injection port for the shock absorbing material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A nucleus replacement according to claim 1, wherein the intraosseous anchoring members comprise suture anchors. ### Claim 19 A method of inserting a nucleus replacement that mimics a native annulus in shape and function for use in partial disc arthroplasty, the method comprising: (a) forming an operating channel through at least one of a vertebral pedicle and a vertebral body into a disc space; (b) cleaning the disc space with a disc reamer; (c) providing at least one jacket including a compartment, a first anchoring limb on one side of the compartment, and a second anchoring limb on an opposite side of the compartment, wherein one of the first anchoring limb and the second anchoring limb is sealed, and the other of the first and second anchoring limbs comprises a valve that provides external access to the compartment; (d) inserting the at least one jacket along the operating channel and into the disc space; and (e) injecting a shock absorbing material into the compartment after inserting the at least one jacket into the disc space, wherein the shock absorbing material includes characteristics that absorb loads on the replacement. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein step (d) is practiced by controllably inserting the at least one jacket with vision guidance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the first and second anchoring limbs each comprise a radio-opaque marker, and wherein step (d) is practiced by controllably inserting the at least one jacket by sensing a position of the radio-opaque markers. ### Claim 22 A nucleus replacement that mimics a native annulus in shape and function for use in partial disc arthroplasty, the nucleus replacement comprising: a jacket including a plurality of interconnected compartments, a first anchoring limb on one side of the compartment, and a second anchoring limb on a lateral opposite side of the compartment, the jacket being insertable through an operating channel formed in at least one of a vertebral pedicle and a vertebral body into a disc space; a shock absorbing material injectable into the compartment through one of the first and second anchoring limbs after installing the jacket into the disc space, the shock absorbing material including characteristics that absorb loads on the replacement; and a pair of anchor members affixable in the operating channel that secure the first and second anchoring limbs and thereby secure the jacket in the disc space, wherein one of the first anchoring limb and the second anchoring limb is sealed, and the other of the first and second anchoring limbs comprises a valve that provides external access to the compartment. ### Claim 23 A method of inserting a nucleus replacement that mimics a native annulus in shape and function for use in partial disc arthroplasty, the method comprising: (a) forming an operating channel through a vertebral pedicle into a disc space; (b) securing cannulas in the operating channel; (c) cleaning the disc space with a disc reamer through the cannulas; (d) providing a jacket including a plurality of interconnected compartments, a first anchoring limb on one side of the compartment, and a second anchoring limb on an opposite side of the compartment, wherein one of the first anchoring limb and the second anchoring limb is sealed, and the other of the first and second anchoring limbs comprises a valve that provides external access to the compartment; (e) inserting the jacket along the operating channel and into the disc space; (f) injecting a shock absorbing material into the compartment after inserting the jacket into the disc space, wherein the shock absorbing material includes characteristics that absorb loads on the replacement; and (g) anchoring the jacket in the disc space using the first and second anchoring limbs.