The Annulus Fibrosus Stent (AFS) is a platform of barriers used in the
intervertebral disc. The barrier can be inserted into an intervertebral
disc to act to reinforce and/or supplement the disc. The AFS can be
inserted at any of the many different stages of disc pathology. The AFS
can be inserted to prevent pressure and dissection of disc material which
in and of itself can decrease and/or eliminate pain from damaged AF
fibers. The AFS can be inserted before disc pathology progresses to a
substantial event such as a disc herniation. It can be inserted at any
time in the progression of the natural history of disc disease. It can
even be inserted when substantially the entire intervertebral disc has
been removed. It can be inserted in conjunction with another procedure
such as a Nucleus Pulposus Replacement (NPR) or Total Disc Replacement
(TDR), etc. The various shapes and material of the AFS in this patent are
designed to address particular clinical situations, particular anatomy
and particular stages of disc degeneration.
The AFS can be inserted directly through the AF, or by a technique of
detaching part of the AF with bone without actually cutting a substantial
part of AF fibers or layers of fibers or by the Transosseous approach.