Annulotomy closure device and related methods

1. A method for preventing egress through a hole in a vertebral annulus, the vertebral annulus having an exterior wall and an interior wall, and said hole having a first opening in the exterior wall and a second opening in the interior wall and a passageway therebetween, comprising:

introducing at least a portion of a blocking element through said hole to a position beyond said second opening, said blocking element being situated on an end of an insertion rod during introduction, and wherein a plurality of tethers attached to said blocking element extend out of said hole and along said insertion rod when introduced; and

expanding said blocking element by transitioning said blocking element from a relaxed state to a deformed state, such that said blocking element blocks said second opening, said expanded blocking element being configured to prevent the egress through said hole of at least one of a high viscosity liquid and a solid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element is generally cylindrical in shape.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element is generally conical in shape.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element is comprised of surgical mesh.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said surgical mesh is comprised of monofilament strands of suture-type material.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said suture-type material is plastic.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said blocking element is positioned beyond said second opening and contacts the inner wall of the annulus around a perimeter of said second opening when said blocking element is expanded.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said blocking element is positioned adjacent to said first opening and in contact with the exterior wall around a perimeter of said first opening when said blocking element is expanded.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said blocking element is comprised of surgical mesh.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said surgical mesh is comprised of monofilament strands of suture-type material.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said suture-type material is plastic.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein transitioning said blocking element from a relaxed state to a deformed state comprises moving a distal end and a proximal end of said blocking element closer together.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said plurality of tethers are attached to a distal end of said blocking element.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said insertion rod is disposed within an insertion tube.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said insertion rod is movable relative to said insertion tube to expand said blocking element.

16. A method for preventing egress through a hole in a spinal element, comprising:

introducing a biocompatible blocking element having a distal end and a proximal end through at least a portion of said hole, the first end to reach said hole during introduction being the distal end; and

expanding said blocking element by moving the distal end of the blocking element proximally toward the proximal end of the blocking element thereby transitioning said blocking element from a relaxed state to a deformed state, wherein transitioning said blocking element comprises moving said proximal end of said blocking element towards said distal end, such that said blocking element blocks said hole, said expanded blocking element being configured to prevent the egress through said hole of material located within said spinal element.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said blocking element is generally cylindrical in shape.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said blocking element is generally conical in shape.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein said blocking element is comprised of surgical mesh.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said surgical mesh is comprised of monofilament strands of suture-type material.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said suture-type material is plastic.

22. The method of claim 16 , wherein said spinal element is a vertebral annulus.

23. The method of claim 16 , wherein said material comprises at least one of a high viscosity liquid and a solid.

24. The method of claim 16 , wherein said material comprises soft tissue.

25. The method of claim 16 , wherein the spinal element includes a proximal wall and a distal wall, said hole having a first opening in the proximal wall and a second opening in the distal wall and a passageway therebetween, and wherein at least a portion of said blocking element is introduced to a position beyond said second opening.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of said blocking element is positioned beyond said second opening and contacts the distal wall of the spinal element around a perimeter of said second opening when said blocking element is expanded.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of said blocking element is positioned adjacent to said first opening and in contact with the proximal wall around a perimeter of said first opening when said blocking element is expanded.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein said spinal element is a vertebral annulus.

29. The method of claim 16 , wherein an insertion rod is used to introduce said blocking element through said hole.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein when said insertion rod is used to introduce said blocking element through said hole a plurality of tethers attached to said blocking element extend out of said hole and along said insertion rod.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein said plurality of tethers are attached to a distal end of said blocking element.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein said insertion rod is disposed within an insertion tube.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein said insertion rod is movable relative to said insertion tube to expand said blocking element.