general properties the following statements and properties apply to all afs independent of their shape , design and method of installation . many of the afs are able to be inserted through minimally invasive approaches . annulus fibrosus stent ( afs ) the afs can be inserted as a preventative device before complete disc herniation . it will prevent herniation and also decrease pressure at the weakened portion of the af reducing or eliminating pain from dissecting np or other concentrated pressures on a disc defect . minimally invasive np replacements can be used in conjunction with afss to reconstitute disc function . cases that have substantial disc pathology or herniation of material additional material might need to be removed . any amounts of the np and af can be removed before implantation of the asf . the inserted afs will provide a boundary or partial boundary . the preferred embodiment will be an afs that will be substantially round or elliptical . the afs can be any geometric shape and having an inner and outer surface with a void or cavity forming an enclosure or partial enclosure . the inner and or outer surfaces forming parietal structures . the afs can be symmetric or non - symmetric in any plane . the size and shape of the afs will be chosen based on the surgeon &# 39 ; s choice of placement , the pathology and the anatomy . situations where substantially a major portion of the np is removed or has been destroyed , a replacement np might also be inserted in conjunction with the afs . the afs decreases the likelihood that the new np replacement would herniate or dislodge . this is especially true if a portion of the af is removed as well . the afs can be implanted before , after or simultaneously with the replacement np . the afs can be used with artificial af replacements or supplements , etc ., organic or inorganic . it can act as a temporary or permanent superstructure or scaffolding for bioengineered af or np . situations where a disc replacement is implanted will also benefit from placement of an afs . the tdr will be constrained from dislodging or migrating especially when part of the af is also removed . the afs can be made of any substantially flexible material . it can be made of a material that can be easily shaped into a compressed from or from an elongated form that resumes a shape after implantation . the afs can be made of any bio - compatible material : metal , plastic , ceramic , organic , carbon - based material , etc . it can be made of polyurethane . the afs can be modular . the afs can be collapsible and deployable . the afs can be made of laminates . laminates can be solids and / or liquids . the afs can be honeycombed or have an open patterned matrix . the afs can have interlocking ribs or slats . the interlocking rib asf can be collapsible and deployable . shape memory alloys ( sma ) and shape memory plastics ( smp ) are favorable materials for preferred embodiments . any other shape memory materials can be used . the afs can be a geometric shape that has its pattern cut out of a sheet of sma or smp . the sma / smp is then folded to shape using at one temperature above the austenite finish temperature and then unfolded at another temperature . the sma / smp then returns to the folded shape when warmed to the previous temperature . a sma such as nitinol proceeds from the austenite to the martensite and back to the austenite state and shape . the afs can be made of a material that can be reabsorbed or partially reabsorbed over time based on its constituent materials . the afs can be a composite of more than one material such as a sma and a material that can be reabsorbed ( i . e . glycolic acid , lactic acid etc .). the afs can be coated with materials ( i . e . hydroxyapatite , etc . or surface textures ( i . e . beads , fibers , etc .) to promote functions such as fixation or ease of insertion . pharmaceuticals can be attached to the afs . the afs can be manipulated by extra - corporal energy sources . the afs can have a power source or a capacity to receive and store energy . energy can be used to change the shape or enhance the functionality of the afs after implantation . the afs can absorb and or dissipate energy or the afs can be static . the afs can damp transmission of energy . the afs can be incorporated into devices with other functions . the afs can be modular and / or hybrids of materials . the afs can include magnetic material or material that can be temporally magnetized . magnetic material can be used to manipulate the afs , absorb energy , provide fixation , etc . the afs can have fixation elements that function to restrain movement and or provide or enhance fixation to bone or soft tissue . fig1 a & amp ; 1b show a coil type afs . there are three views : isometric , normal and section . the relative shape and diameter of the coil type afs is sufficient to substantially place a barrier at a boundary between a natural or damaged nucleus pulposa ( np ) and the natural annulus fibrosus ( af ) of an intervertebral disc . the size and shape will be relative to the spine level and patient size and anatomy . the choice of the boundary position will depend on the surgeons assessment of the clinical situation and anatomy . a coil type afs can be inserted at or into this approximate boundary by inserting it in an uncoiled fashion through the af as an elongated material . the elongated material would then form a coil as it is inserted or after it was inserted . the coil would penetrate the natural substances of the disc forming a plane substantially between or at the transition zone between np and af . insertion would require a minimal opening in the af to insert this afs , just large enough to implant the uncoiled elongation . one preferred embodiment utilizes an instrument that contains a cannulated tube that acts to guide and shape the coil . the instrument is placed at the appropriate level in the disc and at the appropriate depth at the inner portion of the af and the np . the coil type afs can also be implanted into the disc through other methods such as the transosseous approach . ( hyde — u . s . patent ) the coil type afs can also be inserted en block as a pre fabricated coil with or without winding or unwinding . fig1 a shows a coil type afs ( with each loop substantially touching the other loops above and below them . the coil type afs can be made such the loops are not touching . ( fig1 b ) the coil type afs can have more than one coil or helix . the coils or helices can have different handedness . ( i . e . left / right ) ( not shown ). the coils or helices can be made of different materials or materials with different mechanical , physical , chemical , etc ., properties . the coil can also be or contain a hollow elongation that can be inflated or filled with a gas or liquid ( not shown ). the liquid can then cure or harden . the coil type afs can have additional terminal features or fixtures to increase functionality especially fixation such as hooks , barbs , protrusions , etc . additional elements such as pegs , rods and screws can be used to provide or augment fixation ( not shown ). cement can be used if indicated . the coil type afs can be a superstructure for a fabric , mesh , screen , fibers , etc . that act as part of the barrier when the coil is deployed . fig2 a shows an afs in the shape of a sheet that is rolled up . the sheet afs is shown as a single piece . the afs sheets can be modular or can be used to build a modular afs . the modular units can be used to increase the height ( i . e . strips that are assembled )( not shown ) or used to thicken the afs by placing each layer front to back ( not shown ). the sheet afs can be solid or they can be hollow ( i . e . a bladder ). the hollow sheet afs can be filled with a gas or liquid . the liquid can turn hard after filling the sheet ( i . e . pmma , polyurethane ). the sheet afs can be perforated ( not shown see fig3 ). the sheet afs can have protrusions or textures to increase functionality ( not shown see fig3 ). the sheet afs can be substantially a complete boundary ( i . e . with deployed ends substantially touching ) or a partial boundary preferably greater than half the circumference or boundary . fig2 b shows a sheet type afs rolled and deployed . balloon fig3 shows a bladder type deployable and substantially hollow afs . there is an elongation 301 to deploy the bladder afs with a liquid or gas . the bladder afs 302 is shown deployed . it can be collapsed into a smaller volume for insertion . the walls of the bladder afs can expand as well as deploy . the bladder afs walls in this particular embodiment are shown perforated 305 and have protrusions 304 to increase functionality . the gas or liquid inflated bladder afs can have a valve to retain the gas or liquid under pressure . any biocompatible gas or liquid can be used . the bladder afs can be filled with a substance that hardens from its liquid form to make a afs composite such as pmma or any curable plastic , ceramic , polyurethane , etc . the bladder afs can be reinforced in or on the walls with thickenings or additional materials such as metals , plastics or carbon - based materials , etc . fig4 shows another deployable sheet afs . it is a deployable substantially hollow afs . it is shown not deployed . there is an elongation to deploy the sheet afs with a liquid or gas . the sheet afs can be deployed mechanically . the sheet afs walls can expand . the sheet afs walls can be perforated and have protrusions to increase functionality . the gas or liquid inflated sheet afs can have a valve to retain the gas or liquid under pressure . any biocompatible gas or liquid can be used . the sheet afs can be filled with a substance that hardens from its liquid form to make a sheet afs composite such as pmma or any curable plastic , ceramic , polyurethane , carbon based product etc . the sheet afs can also be reinforced with alternate materials . fig5 shows a segmental sheet afs . it is composed of modular units 501 that are inserted in the disc space and then assembled . the figures shows an elliptical sheet afs 510 made of four equal sections . the segments are drawn as solids . attachment mechanisms are not shown . magnetic patterns in each unit can be used to auto assemble the units . the magnetic patterns are such that the units can assemble only in one fashion . any other assembly method can be used . ( i . e . pegs and holes , tongue and groove , etc .) fig6 a and 6b show a cage asf . the cage type afs can be assembled from rings 601 or formed as a cage that can be compressed and then resume its deployed shape . collapsible struts ( not shown ) that lock when deployed can be used to allow a rigid structure after deployment . the cage can be made of a sma , smp or smm to facilitate insertion and deployment . the modular rings can be connected by magnets or any other method known to the art . fig7 show an afs made of modular curved components 701 with the ability to align the elements in several modes . here four stacked components are shown . methods of attachment are not shown . the open sections 702 are all aligned . this allows insertion of objects or materials into the center of the enclosure formed by the curved components . the rings can be held together by magnetic forces or any other method known to the art . fig8 shows the curved components form fig7 orientated or staggered in a fashion to block the movement of anything in or out of the assembly . rings can be locked once they are set in the staggered pattern . fig9 shows a basket type afs 901 . the basket afs is preferably flexible or collapsible to facilitate insertion into the disc . there is an aperture 903 to insert a np , etc . the basket can be a mesh or fenestrated . the center 902 is hollow . fig1 shows a basket type afs without a top or bottom 1001 . it is fenestrated 1002 . it can be an inflatable device . large apertures can be used to insert np , tdr , etc . it can be a rigid structure . it can be compressible . it can be elastic or viscoelastic . it can be anisometric in its direction or directions of compressibility . fig1 shows a basket type afs with a lid or closure device 1101 . it can be rigid or resilient . it can be a mesh or fenestrated . it can be inflatable . fig1 shows ribs / slats ( 1201 ) perpendicular to the long axis of an elliptical device . nine ribs / slats are shown . they are equally spaced . the ribs / slats can be any particle number . the pattern does not need to be uniform nor symmetric . there are slits 1202 cut out to enable these slats to interlock with other slats substantially perpendicular to these . any pattern of slits or cut outs that allows of interlocking of the elements and the ability to collapse and then deploy can be used . fig1 shows five slats 1301 perpendicular to the short axis of the ellipse . these likewise have slits 1302 cut out to permit interlocking with the other slats shown in fig1 . fig1 shows the two sets assembled . they are shown deployed . they can be flattened or collapsed and then deployed . once the interlocking slats are deployed they lock in place . the locking mechanism is not shown . the slats can be reinforced or have flexible attachments to the adjacent slats to increase structural integrity or ease of assembly or deployment . fig1 shows a folded afs . the folded afs is deployed from a folded sheet into a circular arrangement . the folded afs can be deployed into any shape . the folded afs can be a continuous element or it can be a sheet that is deployed and then connected to itself . it can be deployed in a serpentine fashion with the ends not connected . it can have other structural elements or rods etc . to maintain the deployed shape ( not shown ). fig1 shows a folded afs 1601 with wires or rings 1602 to maintain the deployed shape . fastening mechanism of the folded afs to itself not shown . the wire or ring fastening mechanism and mechanism to attach the rings to the folded afs are not shown . fig1 shows a slat or rib ( 1701 ). there are two perforations in this embodiment 1702 and 1704 . each perforation in this particular embodiment has an elliptical top 1702 , 1704 and a round bottom 1703 . the elliptical portion allows the slats to move and collapse . the round bottom portion locks the slats in a substantially radial orientation to the rings . ( shown in fig1 ) the slats can also be locked in place . fig1 shows eighteen slats ( 1801 ) collapsed on two rings ( 1802 ). the wires or rings can be placed separately from the slats . they can be flexible to allow bending or deformation for insertion . fig1 shows the 18 slats ( 1901 ) deployed on two rings ( 1902 ). fig2 shows 36 slats ( 2001 ) deployed on two rings ( 2002 )
the annulus fibrosus stent 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 or total disc replacement , 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 .