Intervertebral disc augmentation and rehydration with superabsorbent polymers

1. A method for treating an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus and an annulus fibrosis, using one or more partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers capable of absorbing fluid in an amount that is at least ten times the weight of the superabsorbent polymer in its dry form, comprising:

mixing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with a binder that degrades in vivo to form a solid device; and

introducing the solid device into the intervertebral disc space having an intact and competent annuls fibrosis without removing nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis material, thereby rehydrating the intervertebral disc space.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral disc is rehydrated until equilibrium swelling is attained.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral disc is at least partially collapsed, and treating the intervertebral disc increases the intervertebral disc's height.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral disc is experiencing progressive disc collapse, and treating the intervertebral disc decreases the rate of disc collapse.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral disc is experiencing progressive disc collapse, and treating the intervertebral disc maintains the intervertebral disc's height.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent polymers are not more than about 30% crosslinked.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the superabsorbent polymers are not more than about 10% crosslinked.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent polymers are in one or more forms selected from the group consisting of beads, fibers, flakes, granules, microspheres, nano-particles, particles, pellets, platelets, powder, randomly shaped particles, rods, chunks, and pieces.

9. The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising introducing fluids into the intervertebral disc.

10. The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising introducing one or more additives into the intervertebral disc.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein introducing the superabsorbent polymers into the intervertebral disc space comprises:

mixing the superabsorbent polymers with a medium to make the superabsorbent polymers flowable; and

using a delivery device to inject the flowable superabsorbent polymers into the disc space.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein introducing the superabsorbent polymers into the intervertebral disc space comprises:

loading the superabsorbent polymers into a delivery device; and

using a plunger to force the superabsorbent polymers from the delivery device into the disc space.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein introducing the superabsorbent polymers into the intervertebral disc comprises:

inserting an inflatable member into the disc space; and

using a delivery device to inject the superabsorbent polymers into the inflatable member.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the inflatable member is a balloon.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein mixing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with the binder comprises heating the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers and the binder.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein mixing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with the binder comprises pressing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers and the binder to form the solid device.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises bioresorbable polymers selected from a group consisting of: polylactides (PLA), polyglycolides (PGA), poly(lactide-co-glycolides) (PLGA), polyanhydrides, and polyorthoesters.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers comprise polyelectrolytes.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers comprise natural polymers selected from a group consisting of cellulose, starch, and regenerated cellulose; and

the natural polymers are modified to be carboxylated, phosphonoalkylated, sulphoxylated or phosphorylated.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers comprise polyacrylates.

21. A method for bulking up an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus and an annulus fibrosis, using one or more partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers capable of absorbing fluid in an amount that is at least ten times the weight of the superabsorbent polymer in its dry form, comprising:

mixing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with a binder that degrades in vivo to form a solid device; and

introducing the solid device into the intervertebral disc space having an intact and competent annuls fibrosis without removing nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis material, thereby accomplishing at least one of an increase in the disc height, an increase in the disc volume, and an increase in the intra-discal pressure.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the intervertebral disc is rehydrated until equilibrium swelling is attained.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the intervertebral disc is at least partially collapsed and bulking up the intervertebral disc increases the intervertebral disc's height.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the intervertebral disc is experiencing progressive disc collapse, and bulking up the intervertebral disc decreases the rate of disc collapse.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the intervertebral disc is experiencing disc progressive collapse, and bulking up the intervertebral disc maintains the intervertebral disc's height.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the superabsorbent polymers are not more than about 30% crosslinked.

27. The method of claim 21 , further comprising introducing fluids into the intervertebral disc.

28. The method of claim 21 , further comprising introducing one or more additives into the intervertebral disc space.

29. The method of claim 21 , wherein mixing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with the binder comprises heating the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers and the binder.

30. The method of claim 21 , wherein mixing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with the binder comprises pressing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers and the binder to form the solid device.

31. The method of claim 21 , wherein the binder comprises bioresorbable polymers selected from a group consisting of: polylactides (PLA), polyglycolides (PGA), poly(lactide-co-glycolides) (PLGA), polyanhydrides, and polyorthoesters.

32. The method of claim 21 , wherein the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers comprise polyelectrolytes.

33. The method of claim 21 , wherein the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers comprise natural polymers selected from a group consisting of cellulose, starch, and regenerated cellulose; and

the natural polymers are modified to be carboxylated, phosphonoalkylated, sulphoxylated or phosphorylated.

34. The method of claim 21 , wherein the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers comprise polyacrylates.

35. A method for augmenting an intervertebral disc comprising:

inserting an inflatable member through the annulus fibrosis into the nucleus pulposus;

inflating the inflatable member to stretch the annulus fibrosis;

deflating the inflatable member;

removing the inflatable member;

mixing partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with a binder that degrades in vivo to form a solid device; and

Introducing the solid device into the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc having an intact and competent annuls fibrosis, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is not more than about 30% crosslinked and wherein the superabsorbent polymer increases the water affinity of the intervertebral disc by absorbing fluid in an amount that is at least ten times the weight of the superabsorbent polymer in its dry form to rehydrate the nucleus pulposus.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein mixing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with the binder comprises heating the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers and the binder.

37. The method of claim 35 , wherein mixing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers with the binder comprises pressing the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers and the binder to form the solid device.

38. The method of claim 35 , wherein the binder comprises bioresorbable polymers selected from a group consisting of: polylactides (PLA), polyglycolides (PGA), poly(lactide-co-glycolides) (PLGA), polyanhydrides, and polyorthoesters.

39. The method of claim 35 , wherein the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers comprise polyelectrolytes.

40. The method of claim 35 , wherein the partially, chemically crosslinked superabsorbent polymers comprise natural polymers selected from a group consisting of cellulose, starch, and regenerated cellulose; and

the natural polymers are modified to be carboxylated, phosphonoalkylated, sulphoxylated or phosphorylated.