Method for surgical implantation of a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus

Claim 2

A surgical procedure for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into a human disc space, the procedure comprising: exposing an anulus comprised of fibrous tissue positioned between adjacent vertebrae; making an incision through the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue wherein a portion of the flap remains attached to the anulus; maneuvering the flap to provide an opening; inserting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the opening; and securing the flap to the anulus to close the opening.

Claim 3

The surgical procedure of claim 1 wherein the incision is made through a posterior side of the anulus.

Claim 4

The surgical procedure of claim 1 wherein the flap is C-shaped.

Claim 5

A surgical procedure for implantation of two prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies side-by-side into a human disc space, the procedure comprising: exposing an anulus comprised of fibrous tissue positioned between adjacent vertebrae; cutting the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a first flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the first flap remains attached to the anulus; cutting the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a second flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue wherein a portion Of the second flap remains attached to the anulus; maneuvering the first flap to provide a first opening through the anulus; inserting a first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into the human disc space through the first opening; maneuvering the second flap to provide a second opening through the anulus; and inserting a second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into the human disc space through the second opening.

Claim 6

A surgical procedure for implantation of two prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies side-by-side into a human disc space, the procedure comprising: exposing an anulus comprised of fibrous tissue positioned between adjacent vertebrae; cutting the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a first flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the first flap remains attached to the anulus; cutting the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a second flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue wherein a portion Of the second flap remains attached to the anulus; maneuvering the first flap to provide a first opening through the anulus; inserting a first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into the human disc space through the first opening; maneuvering the second flap to provide a second opening through the anulus; and inserting a second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into the human disc space through the second opening.

Claim 7

The surgical procedure of claim 4, wherein the first flap and the second flap are cut on a posterior side of the anulus, near a sagittal center of the disc.

Claim 8

The surgical procedure of claim 4 wherein the first flap and the second flap are symmetric with respect to a sagittal center of the disc.

Claim 9

The surgical procedure of claim 4 wherein the anulus has a transverse height and the first flap and the second flap each have a height less than the transverse height of the anulus.

Claim 10

The surgical procedure of claim 4 wherein the first flap and the second flap have a height of about 0.25 inches and a length of about 0.75 inches.

Claim 11

The surgical procedure of claim 8 wherein the first flap and the second flap are C-shaped and have a radius of curvature of about 0.125 inches.

Claim 12

The surgical procedure of claim 4 further including: removing at least a portion of material located within the anulus prior to inserting the first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body and the second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body.

Claim 13

The surgical procedure of claim 4 further including:

Claim 14

The surgical procedure of claim 4 and further including: inserting a jack into the disc space through the second opening in the anulus prior to inserting the first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body; separating the adjacent vertebrae by activating the jack; and removing the jack from the disc space prior to inserting the second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body.

Claim 15

The surgical procedure of claim 4 wherein the disc space has a sagittal plane parallel to which the first and second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies are inserted.

Claim 16

The surgical procedure of claim 4 further including securing the first flap and the second flap to the anulus after inserting the first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body and the second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body.

Claim 17

The surgical procedure of claim 4 wherein the first and second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies have an obround configuration in two planes and an oval configuration in a third plane.

Claim 18

The surgical procedure of claim 4 and further including: performing a minor laminectomy, before cutting the first flap or the second flap through the anulus, when a lamina bone partially surrounds a posterior portion of the disc space.

Claim 19

A surgical procedure for implantation of two prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies side-by-side into a human disc space defined by adjacent vertebrae, an anulus comprised of a fibrous tissue with a posterior side, and a nucleus, the procedure comprising: exposing the posterior side of the anulus; cutting the posterior side of the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a first flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the first flap remains attached to the anulus; cutting the posterior side of the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a second flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the second flap remains attached to the anulus; maneuvering the first flap to provide a first opening through the anulus; maneuvering the second flap to provide a second opening through the anulus; removing at least a portion of the nucleus through either the first opening or the second opening; inserting a jack through the first opening in the anulus; separating the adjacent vertebrae with the jack; inserting a first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the second opening in the anulus; removing the jack; inserting a second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the first opening in the anulus; securing the first flap to the anulus; and securing the second flap to the anulus.

Claim 20

A surgical procedure for implantation of two prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies side-by-side into a human disc space defined by adjacent vertebrae, an anulus comprised of a fibrous tissue with a posterior side, and a nucleus, the procedure comprising: exposing the posterior side of the anulus; cutting the posterior side of the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a first flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the first flap remains attached to the anulus; cutting the posterior side of the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a second flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the second flap remains attached to the anulus; maneuvering the first flap to provide a first opening through the anulus; maneuvering the second flap to provide a second opening through the anulus; removing at least a portion of the nucleus through either the first opening or the second opening; inserting a jack through the first opening in the anulus; separating the adjacent vertebrae with the jack; inserting a first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the second opening in the anulus; removing the jack; inserting a second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the first opening in the anulus; securing the first flap to the anulus; and securing the second flap to the anulus.