Patent 7094258 was granted and assigned to Intrinsic Therapeutics Inc. on August, 2006 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Methods of reinforcing annulus fibrosis tissue within an intervertebral disc include the implantation of a support member also functioning as a barrier to resist damage to the tissue or herniation of tissue outside the disc. The device may be anchored to the surrounding tissue. The device is compressible and may be delivered in a minimally invasive manner through a cannula.