Tissue prosthesis insertion system and method

A system for implanting an intervertebral tissue prosthesis, comprising:

• a first assembly including:
• a plurality of nested tubes, one of the tubes being a carrier tube which, in use, receives a component of a tissue prosthesis at a distal end of the carrier tube, wherein the component includes an envelope of an elastically deformable material, the envelope defining an access opening with a filler valve having a pair of opposed operating members being arranged in the access opening, the filler valve being configured to permit withdrawal of fluid from an interior of the envelope prior to filling the envelope with a filler material, wherein the filler valve, in a rest condition, includes a withdrawal opening to allow withdrawal of a fluid from an interior of the component;
• a first magnetic mount carried at a proximal end of the first assembly;
• said first magnetic mount having a set of annular magnets and a tapered socket;
• a second assembly removably attachable to the first assembly which, in use, facilitates the delivery of filler material to the component;
• said second assembly including;
• a second magnetic mount carried at a distal end of the second assembly;
• said second magnetic mount having another set of annular magnets and a tapered fitting dimensioned to be received with said tapered socket in a hermetically sealing manner sealing said first assembly to said second assembly;
• wherein the set of annular magnets of said first magnetic mount and the another set of annular magnets of said second magnetic mount are arranged relative to one another to help maintain a coupling engagement between said first assembly and said second assembly to substantially prevent rotational movement between said first assembly and said second assembly during their disengagement from one another;
• and
• a working cannula having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending cannula slits, said working cannula being dimensioned for receiving therein said plurality of nested tubes to facilitate the percutaneous delivery of the component to an implant site in the body of a patient.

A tissue prosthesis insertion system, comprising:

• a first assembly including:
• a plurality of nested tubes, one of the tubes being a carrier tube which, in use, receives a component of a tissue prosthesis at a distal end of the carrier tube, wherein the component includes an envelope of an elastically deformable material, the envelope defining an access opening with a filler valve having a pair of opposed operating members being arranged in the access opening, the filler valve being configured to permit withdrawal of fluid from an interior of the envelope prior to filling the envelope with a filler material, wherein the filler valve, in a rest condition, includes a withdrawal opening to allow withdrawal of a fluid from an interior of the component;
• a first magnetic mount carried at a proximal end of the first assembly;
• said first magnetic mount having a set of annular magnets and a tapered socket;
• a second assembly removably attachable to the first assembly which, in use, facilitates the delivery of filler material to the component;
• said second assembly including:
• a second magnetic mount carried at a distal end of the second assembly;
• said second magnetic mount having another set of annular magnets and a tapered fitting dimensioned to be received with said tapered socket in a hermetically sealing manner sealing said first assembly to said second assembly;
• wherein the set of annular magnets of said first magnetic mount and the another set of annular magnets of said second magnetic mount are arranged relative to one another to help maintain a coupling engagement between said first assembly and said second assembly to substantially prevent rotational movement between said first assembly and said second assembly during their disengagement from one another;
• and
• a working cannula having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending cannula slits, said working cannula being dimensioned for receiving therein said plurality of nested tubes to facilitate the percutaneous delivery of the component to an implant site in the body of a patient, wherein an obturating device including a rod having a proximal end and a distal end is receivable in a tight fit within the cannula for tamping a part of the tissue prosthesis into position after formation of the tissue prosthesis after the percutaneous delivery of the component to the implant site.