Spinal fusion with osteogenic material and migration barrier

1. An interbody spinal fusion method, comprising providing surgical access to an interbody space between first and second adjacent vertebral bodies, said access including at least one opening in a wall of a disc annulus defining the interbody space;

introducing a first loadbearing spinal spacer and a second loadbearing spinal spacer into the interbody space through said at least one opening, wherein the first and second loadbearing spacers comprise bone or metal;

delivering an osteogenic substance to said interbody space through said opening so as to promote bone growth to fuse said first and second adjacent vertebral bodies to one another, wherein said osteogenic substance is delivered in a carrier material containing osteogenic protein to a space in and around said first loadbearing spinal spacer and said second loadbearing spinal spacer; and

delivering a flowable, biodegradable barrier material by flow through a tubular delivery device so as to inhibit migration of said osteogenic substance from said opening, wherein the barrier material (i) extends at least 50% along the dimension of either a posterior or anterior wall of the disc and (ii) contacts a portion of said osteogenic substance to inhibit migration but does not surround all of said osteogenic substance, wherein the biodegradable barrier material comprises a ceramic material, and wherein during delivery the barrier material has a first state and after delivery the barrier material has a second state, wherein said first state is more flowable than said second state.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said access further includes a cannulated device positioned through soft tissues of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the osteogenic protein comprises a bone morphogenic protein (BMP) or a growth differentiation factor (GDF).

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the BMP comprises a recombinant human BMP.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the BMP comprises recombinant human BMP-2.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the osteogenic substance comprises autograft bone.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the osteogenic substance is delivered through a syringe device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier material is delivered to a site within the interbody space, within the opening, and/or over the opening.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said second state is a gel or non-flowable solid state.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said barrier material comprises a natural or synthetic polymer.

11. A method for interbody spinal fusion in a patient, comprising:

providing surgical access to an interbody space between first and second adjacent vertebral bodies, said access including at least one opening in a posterior wall of a disc annulus defining the interbody space;

introducing a first loadbearing spinal spacer and a second loadbearing spinal spacer into the interbody space through said at least one opening, wherein the first and second loadbearing spacers comprise bone or metal;

delivering an osteogenic substance in a carrier material containing an osteogenic protein to said interbody space through said opening so as to promote bone growth to fuse said first and second adjacent vertebral bodies to one another, wherein said osteogenic substance is delivered to a space in and around said first loadbearing spinal spacer and said second loadbearing spinal spacer; and

delivering a flowable, biodegradable barrier material by flow through a tubular delivery device to a position posterior of said osteogenic substance, said barrier material delivered in an amount and at a location so as to inhibit posterior migration of said osteogenic substance from said opening, wherein the barrier material (i) extends at least 50% along the dimension of the posterior wall of the disc and (ii) contacts a portion of said osteogenic substance to inhibit migration but does not surround all of said osteogenic substance, wherein the biodegradable barrier material comprises a ceramic material, and wherein during delivery the barrier material has a first state and after delivery the barrier material has a second state, wherein said first state is more flowable than said second state.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said access further includes a cannulated device positioned through soft tissues of the patient.

13. The method of claim wherein the osteogenic protein comprises a recombinant human BMP.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the osteogenic protein comprises recombinant human BMP-2.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein both the osteogenic substance and the barrier material are delivered through a syringe device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said barrier material is resorbable and comprises a natural or synthetic polymer.

17. An interbody spinal fusion method, comprising:

providing surgical access to an interbody space between first and second adjacent vertebral bodies, said access including at least one opening in an anterior wall of a disc annulus defining the interbody space;

introducing a first loadbearing spinal spacer and a second loadbearing spinal spacer into the interbody space through said at least one opening, wherein the first and second loadbearing spacers comprise bone or metal;

delivering an osteogenic substance in a carrier material containing an osteogenic protein to said interbody space through said opening so as to promote bone growth to fuse said first and second adjacent vertebral bodies to one another, wherein said osteogenic substance is delivered to a space in and around said first loadbearing spinal spacer and said second loadbearing spinal spacer; and

delivering a flowable, biodegradable barrier material by flow through a tubular delivery device to a position anterior of said osteogenic substance, said barrier material delivered in an amount and at a location so as to inhibit anterior migration of said osteogenic substance from said opening, wherein the barrier material (i) extends at least 50% along the dimension of the anterior wall of the disc and (ii) contacts a portion of said osteogenic substance to inhibit migration but does not surround all of said osteogenic substance, wherein the biodegradable barrier material comprises a ceramic material, and wherein during delivery the barrier material has a first state and after delivery the barrier material has a second state, wherein said first state is more flowable than said second state.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said access further includes a cannulated device positioned through soft tissues of the patient.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the osteogenic protein comprises a recombinant human BMP.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the osteogenic protein comprises recombinant human BMP-2.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein both the osteogenic substance and the barrier material are delivered through a syringe device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said barrier material is resorbable and comprises a natural or synthetic polymer.