The present invention relates to a device and method to 1) facilitate disk
fusing, 2) perform an artificial replacement of the nucleus, 3) perform
an artificial replacement of the annulus, or 4, perform an artificial
replacement of both the nucleus and annulus. The device is designed to be
placed into the inter-vertebral space following diskectomy. The invention
includes a delivery catheter and an expandable continuous mesh loop that
has a torus configuration with a lumen within the mesh loop and a center
hole. The mesh loop can be diametrically increased or contracted in
diameter by the control element acting on the mesh loop. The mesh loop
may be formed of a woven or braided material from a polymer such as PEEK
(polyetheretherketone), nylon, polyurethane, polyester polyethylene,
polypropylene or any other biocompatible polymers, or formed from a
metallic braid of stainless steel, elgiloy, Nitinol, or any other
biocompatible metals.