embodiments of the present invention relate generally to devices , materials and methods for replacing at least a portion of a intervertebral disc nucleus . more particularly , embodiments of the present invention relate to disc nucleus prosthesis structures , including prosthesis bag structures , implant structures , and a combination of prosthesis bag structures and implant structures . while various prosthetic structures discussed herein are presented with reference to replacement of part or all of a human disc , embodiments of the present invention have application beyond human disc replacement . for example , the prosthetic structures discussed herein could be used in or with discs for any suitable vertebrate animal that might need or justify a disc replacement . referring now to fig1 , one embodiment of the present invention comprises an intervertebral disc nucleus prosthetic bag structure 100 that may be used for replacing all or part of a diseased , damaged or otherwise non - functional intervertebral disc nucleus . in the illustrated embodiment , bag structure 100 includes an outer body 110 , an interior cavity 120 , and opening 130 for receiving , for example , an interior implant structure or material . in accordance with one embodiment of the invention , bag structure 100 , and in particular , outer body 110 is formed of a flexible material . in some other embodiments , the bag structure 100 , and in particular , outer body 110 is formed of a semi - permeable flexible , resilient , elastic or viscoelastic material . the later materials can have a time dependent deformation quality that dissipates some mechanical energy ; thus , there is a viscoelastic quality to the material in some of these examples . therefore , the bag structure can be compressed , so that it can be implanted in an annulus fibrosis cavity using a delivery device , such as a catheter or the like . once inserted into the intervertebral space , the bag structure can be released from the delivery device , so that it returns to its relaxed unstretched state . implantation of the bag structure will be discussed in more detail below . in one embodiment , outer body 110 of bag structure 100 is formed of an immunologically inert material that is compatible with the environment found within a mammalian body , and in particular , within an intervertebral disc . as one skilled in the art will appreciate , the immunologically inert material does not induce any significant response by the immune system when the structure is implanted into a subject . bag structure 100 can be formed of one or more materials , including in some embodiments , one or more composite materials . in addition , the outer body 110 of bag structure 100 can be formed from one or more layers of material . in some embodiments , bag structure 100 can be formed of one or more different materials , which exhibit semi - permeable , flexible , resilient and / or elastic properties . that is , the material of bag structure 100 is such that it is capable of being easily stretched , expanded or compressed , and then resuming its former shape or close to its former shape . for example , in one embodiment , a bag structure 100 can be formed from a woven or non - woven polymeric fiber material , such as , an aramid material ( e . g ., kevlar ™, nomex ™, twaron ™, etc . ), a polyester fiber material , an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber material , a nylon fiber material , a cellulose fiber material , a polyurethane fiber material , or a polyacrylonitrile based fiber material . in some embodiments the polymeric fiber material can be woven or configured into a 2 - dimensional or 3 - dimensional fabric configuration . in another embodiment of the present invention , bag structure 100 can be made and / or formed from a metallic material , such as nitinol , stainless steel ( eg . heat - treated ph 17 - 7 stainless steel fabric ) or the like . in still other embodiments , bag structure 100 can be made and / or formed from metallic fibers woven into a fabric - type material . in some embodiments , the fabric - type material can be a 2 - dimensional or 3 - dimensional fabric configuration . in further embodiments , bag structure 100 can be made of a combination of materials . for example , one combination might be a combination of a polymeric fiber and a metallic material ; e . g ., an aramid material ( e . g ., kevlar or the like ) and a metallic material ( e . g ., nitinol , stainless steel ). in another embodiment of the present invention , bag structure 100 can be made of a semi - permeable , flexible , composite material , such as a composite comprised of an elastomeric or hydrogel matrix material and a polymeric fiber , a metal fiber or wire , or a ceramic fiber . examples of suitable matrix materials that can be used to form bag structure 100 include , but are not limited to , a natural or synthetic polymer matrix material , an elastomer , a flexible polyolefin polymer , an elastomeric matrix material , or a hydrogel material . discussed above are various examples of classes of materials that can be used to form bag structure 100 . other specific materials that can be used to make bag structure 100 include , but are not limited to , polyaramid fibers , such as kevlar 49 , kevlar 149 — or the like , ultra high molecular weight , highly oriented , highly crystalline polyethylene ( e . g ., dyneema or spectra 900 or spectra 1000 ), polyester fibers , such as dacron , silk fiber , elastin fiber , elastomeric materials for ( polyurethane or other thermoplastic elastomer ), fused ptfe ( polytetrafluoroethylene ), expanded ptfe of generally high tenacity fibers or other high strength woven or non - woven fibers or fabrics . it is also contemplated that any embodiment of the present invention may be accompanied by vertebroolasty to increase the strength of any weakened vertebrae including but not limited to disease , aging or injury . in some embodiments , an interior implant material and / or structure is placed into bag structure 100 so that the combination of the bag structure and interior implant material create a resilient disc nucleus prosthesis . in some embodiments , the interior implant material or structure conforms to at least a portion of the interior cavity of the bag structure , thus creating the resilient prosthetic structure . in accordance with some embodiments of the invention , the interior implant material or device can be , for example , a hydrogel implant , a spiral implant , a biological implant , the implant structure discussed below , or any other suitable disc nucleus implant material or device . in one embodiment , the interior implant material and / or device can be , for example , the spiral implant devices disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 919 , 235 , which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety . further , in other embodiments , the sinusoidal - shaped structural device discussed below can be implanted or positioned within bag structure 100 . the implantation of this device in a bag structure will be discussed in more detail below . referring now to fig2 , a cross - sectional view of a spinal column 200 having a herniated disc or damaged disc is shown . in the illustrated embodiment , the cross - section shows a vertebrae 210 , a spinal cord 220 with nerve roots 225 , and a disc 230 , having an annulus 240 and a disc nucleus 250 . as is illustrated by location 260 in fig2 , a herniated disc occurs when disc nucleus 250 protrudes an opening or weakness in annulus 240 , putting pressure on spinal cord 220 and / or nerve roots 225 . when this occurs , one remedy is to remove the protruding disc nucleus and replace it with a prosthetic nucleus structure and / or material . as one skilled in the art will appreciate , a disc nucleus replacement procedure includes , first removing at least a portion of the disc nucleus . in addition , as one skilled in the art will appreciate , a disc replacement procedure includes estimating the size and conformation required to replace the damaged disc area . in one embodiment of the present invention , the entire disc can be removed and replaced if warranted . in some embodiments , partial and / or total disc replacement can require anchoring of the intervertebral prosthetic structure such as encouraging tissue ingrowth into a structure ( e . g . 2 - or 3 - dimensional weave structure ). these procedures are known in the art , and thus , will not be discussed in detail herein . after at least a portion of the disc nucleus is removed , the prosthetic structure and / or material can be placed within the annulus where the nucleus material was removed . in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention , once the nucleus material is removed , a delivery device ( e . g ., a cannula or other catheter device ) can be used to introduce bag structure 100 into the annulus cavity . in one embodiment , bag structure 100 can be stretched and / or compressed and then attached to the delivery device so that it can be delivered through an opening in the disc annulus into the disc nucleus region . for example , in one embodiment , bag structure 100 is compressed into a cannula or onto a catheter , and then delivered into the nucleus region using a balloon catheter delivery technique , or the like . after the bag structure 100 is delivered into the nucleus region , it is released . in some embodiments , upon release , bag structure 100 will expand to substantially its uncompressed original shape . in other embodiments , a balloon device ( e . g ., balloon catheter device ) can be used to deploy bag structure 100 within the disc nucleus region . as one skilled in the art will appreciate , during a balloon catheter delivery procedure , a balloon catheter is used to place bag structure 100 within the disc nucleus , and then a balloon is inflated within the bag structure 100 , causing the compressed bag structure to expand to its original or close to original shape . once the bag structure is expanded , the balloon is deflated and then removed . after bag structure 100 has been positioned within the disc nucleus region , an interior implant structure and / or material can be placed within the interior 120 of bag structure 100 for additional nucleus support . the interior implant structure and / or material can be introduced or positioned within interior 120 of bag structure 100 through opening 130 ( see fig1 a and 1 b ). different delivery devices and / or methods may be used to insert the interior implant into the bag structure , and the delivery devices and / or methods used may differ depending on the type of implant material or structure used . after the interior implant material and / or structure is placed within bag structure 100 , opening 130 of bag structure 100 then can be sealed or closed , thus holding the interior implant material and / or structure within the bag structure . as one skilled in the art will appreciate , any sealing or closing process and / or device can be used to seal the bag structure , such as suturing , clamping , tying , using a single directional opening valve or the like . one aspect of the present invention relates to an interior implant structure , which can act as a disc nucleus replacement prosthesis , or at least as an interior portion of a disc nucleus prosthesis structure ; one embodiment of which is illustrated in fig3 . in the illustrated embodiment , interior implant structure 300 comprises one or more sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 . in accordance with this particular embodiment of the invention , each sinusoidal - shaped structure 305 comprises a plurality of periodic portions 310 , which are formed of a flexible , resilient , elastic material . as illustrated in fig3 , each periodic portion 310 intersecting a longitudinal axis 320 of the interior implant structure 300 at two points , 330 a and 330 b . in one embodiment , the sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 is flexible , such that when stretched in a longitudinal direction ( i . e ., along axis 320 ), the structure sufficiently flattens or otherwise reduces the amplitude of each of the periodic portions 310 , so that it can be placed within a disc nucleus region or holding structure within the disc nucleus region ( e . g ., bag structure 100 , discussed above ). fig3 b illustrates one embodiment of interior implant structure 300 ( i . e ., sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 ) in a stretched configuration . further , sinusoidal - shaped implant structure 300 are formed of a flexible , resilient material , so that when released from a stretched position ( typically , within the disc nucleus region , or in an implant holding structure ), the device returns substantially to its original sinusoidal shape . in one embodiment of the present invention , the original sinusoidal shape of the device includes a configuration where the amplitude of at least one of the periodic portions of the sinusoidal shape when in an unstretched position is large enough to prevent the device from exiting the opening in the bag structure . fig4 illustrates sinusoidal - shaped implant structure 300 positioned within bag structure 100 , which is discussed in detail above . as illustrated in fig3 , one embodiment of the invention can comprise multiple sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 positioned together , or otherwise interwoven with each other . the embodiment illustrated in fig3 shows two sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 interwoven or otherwise joined and positioned in planes that are positioned at or near 90 degrees from one another . in other embodiments , two sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 can be positioned in different planes that are not necessarily perpendicular to one another . in still other embodiments , more than two sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 can be used . in accordance with yet other embodiments of the invention , sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 can include holes 340 through the material at or near the center of the structures ( i . e ., at or near longitudinal axis 320 ). as discussed in more detail below , the holes can be used to accommodate an implantation or delivery device such as a cannula , catheter , etc . as with bag structure 100 discussed above , some embodiments of interior implant structure 300 can be formed of an immunologically inert material that is compatible with the environment found within a mammalian body , and in particular , within an intervertebral disc . as one skilled in the art will appreciate , the immunologically inert material does not induce any significant response by the immune system when the structure is implanted into a subject . further , as with bag structure 100 , interior implant structure 300 can be formed of one or more materials , including in some embodiments , one or more composite materials . in addition , interior implant structure 300 , and in particular , sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 can be formed from one or more layers of material . in some embodiments , as with bag structure 100 , sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 can be formed of one or more different materials , which exhibit flexible , resilient and / or elastic or viscoelastic properties . that is , the material of structures 305 is such that it is capable of being easily stretched , expanded or compresses , and then resuming its former shape or close to its former shape . for example , in one embodiment , structures 305 can be formed from a woven or non - woven polymeric fiber material , such as , an aramid material ( e . g ., kevlar ™, nomex ™, twaron ™, etc . ), a polyester fiber material , an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber material , a nylon fiber material , a cellulose fiber material , a polyurethane fiber material , or a polyacrylonitrile based fiber material . in some embodiments the polymeric fiber material can be woven or configured into a 2 - dimensional or 3 - dimensional fabric configuration . further , in other embodiments , sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 can be made and / or formed from a metallic material , such as nitinol , stainless steel or the like . in still other embodiments , structures 305 can be made and / or formed from metallic fibers woven into a fabric - type material . in some embodiments , the fabric - type material can be a 3 - dimensional fabric configuration . in further embodiments , sinusoidal - shape structures 305 can be made of a combination of materials . for example , one combination might be a combination of a polymeric fiber and a metallic material ; e . g ., an aramid material ( e . g ., kevlar or the like ) and a metallic material ( e . g ., nitinol , stainless steel ). in another embodiment of the present invention , sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 can be made of a flexible composite material , such as a composite comprising an elastomeric or hydrogel matrix material and a polymeric fiber , metal fiber or wire , or a ceramic fiber . examples of suitable matrix materials that can be used to form structures 305 include , but are not limited to , a natural or synthetic polymer matrix material , an elastomer , a flexible polyolefin polymer , an elastomeric matrix material , or a hydrogel material . discussed above are various examples of classes of materials that can be used to form sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 . other specific materials that can be used to make structures 305 include , but are not limited to , polyaramid fibers , kevlar 49 , kevlar 149 or the like , polyester fiber ( e . g . dacron ), ultra high molecular weight , highly oriented , highly crystalline polyethylene ( e . g ., dyneema ), silk , elastin , elastomeric ( polyurethane or other thermoplastic elastomer ), fused ptfe ( polytetrafluoroethylene ), expanded ptfe of generally high tenacity fibers or high strength non - woven fabric polyethylene , polyaryl , and peek ( polyetheretherkeytone ). as discussed above , interior implant structures can be placed or positioned within a bag or containment structure , such as bag structure 100 discussed above . in some embodiments , interior implant structure 300 can be placed within bag structure 100 to form a resilient disc nucleus prosthetic structure ( see fig4 ). in one embodiment , one or more sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 can be placed within bag structure 100 to form the disc nucleus prosthesis . in other embodiments , one or more sinusoidal - shaped implant structures 305 can be placed in bag structure 100 , along with one or more other implant materials such as hydrogel implant , a spiral implant , a therapeutic implant , a biologic implant , or a an in - situ curable material . in one embodiment , interior implant structure 300 ( i . e ., sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 ) can be inserted into a bag structure ( e . g ., bag structure 100 ) located in the intervertebral cavity using an external delivery device , such as a cannula , a catheter , or other suitable delivery device . in accordance with one embodiment , a delivery device can be inserted through holes 340 in sinusoidal - shaped structures 305 , and then the structures can be stretched along the delivery device to reduce the height or amplitude of the sinusoidal - shaped devices , as discussed above . once the height of the structure is sufficiently reduced , it can be positioned or placed within the internal cavity 120 of bag structure 100 , for example , through opening 130 in bag structure 100 . once inside the bag structure , interior implant structure 300 ( i . e ., sinusoidal structures 305 ) is released from the delivery device , which will allow structures 305 to expand back to or near its original shape , thus filling the bag structure and at least a portion of the disc nucleus regions . in some embodiments , a coating agent can be applied to a bag structure ( e . g ., bag structure 100 ) and / or an interior implant structure ( e . g ., interior implant structure 300 ). in one embodiment , the coating agent may include one or more of hydrogel , a curable biomaterial that changes states once introduced to the intervertebral disc region ( e . g ., by chemical or heat promotion ), elastomers ( e . g ., thermoset and thermoplastic ), polyolefins , therapeutic agents ( e . g ., anti - bacterial or anti - fungal agents or biological agents ). biological agents can include , for example , tissue extracts , cells ( e . g ., bone derived cells ), growth factors ( e . g ., platelet derived growth factor ( pdgf )), proteins ( e . g . the hormone calcitonin ) or genes ( e . g ., nerve growth or bone growth promoting genes ). the foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description . it is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein . although the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications , other variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention , e . g ., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art , after understanding the present disclosure . it is intended to obtain rights , which include alternative embodiments , including alternate , interchangeable and / or equivalent structures , functions , ranges or steps to those claimed , whether or not such alternate , interchangeable and / or equivalent structures , functions , ranges or steps are disclosed herein , and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter .
the present disclosure concerns implants to at least partially replace the nucleus of a spinal disc . in one embodiment , a prosthetic structure is provided which includes a bag operable to contain at least one internal implant within the bag . in another embodiment , a sinusoidal - shaped structure made of a flexible material is provided with various unique configurations to act as the internal implant and once released from a stretched or compressed configuration resumes nearly its original shape . in one embodiment , for delivery , a sinusoidal - shaped structure may be in a reduced amplitude state . in another embodiment , a sinusoidal - shaped structure is alternately woven from one end to the other with a second sinusoidal - shaped structure .