US Patent 7857857 Devices, systems and methods for augmenting intervertebral discs

Devices, systems and methods are provided for augmenting intervertebral discs. The systems include implantable annulus repair and augmentation devices as well as implantable prosthetic materials for replacing a portion of or augmenting the annulus and/or the nucleus pulposus. The systems further include instruments for implanting the subject devices and materials in a minimally invasive manner. The methods are directed to the minimally invasive implantation of one or more of the subject annulus repair devices and the prosthetic materials to within the intervertebral disc.