Disc and vertebral defect packing tape
Embodiments of the invention include a disc or vertebral defect packing tape for use in disc fusion, disc regeneration or for the creation of artificial disks. The tape comprises a tape body and one or more support members. Each of the support members is contained within the tape body and/or adhered to an external surface of the tape or tape body. The tape body is configured as a packing material and each of the support members is configured to hold the tape body together.
1. A disc or vertebral defect packing tape, the tape comprising:
a tape body; and
one or more support members for holding the tape body together,
wherein the one or more support members are:
(A) contained within the tape body as an internal support member, wherein the tape body is wider than the internal support member; and/or
(B) substantially enveloping an external surface of the tape body as an external support member, wherein the external support member comprises a fine mesh of biocompatible material,
wherein the tape body is configured as a packing material for packing an empty intervertebral disc space and/or an empty space in a vertebral body/bone, and
wherein the tape body is selected from a group consisting of a biologically absorbable material, allograft, finely ground materials, and stem cells.
2. The tape according to claim 1 , wherein the tape is configured to facilitate a stabilization of the disc by fusing one or more vertebrae, creating an artificial disc, regenerating the disc or reconstructing a missing portion of bone.
3. The tape according to claim 1 , wherein each internal and external support member comprises a biocompatible material and/or a biologically absorbable material.
4. The tape according to claim 1 , wherein the internal support member is configured as a single strand.
5. The tape according to claim 1 , wherein the internal support member is a braided wire.
6. The tape according to claim 1 , wherein the tape body comprises a flattened strip.
7. A method for facilitating disc fusion comprising:
providing a disc or vertebral defect packing tape, the tape comprising:
a tape body; and
one or more support members for holding the tape body together,
wherein the one or more support members are:
(A) contained within the tape body as an internal support member, wherein the tape body is wider than the internal support member; and/or
(B) substantially enveloping an external surface of the tape body as an external support member, wherein the external support member comprises a fine mesh of biocompatible material,
wherein the tape body is configured as a packing material for packing an empty intervertebral disc space and/or an empty space in a vertebral body/bone, and
wherein the tape body is selected from a group consisting of a biologically absorbable material, allograft, finely ground materials, and stem cells;
packing an anterior portion of an opening in an annulus of the disc with a first substance; and
inserting the tape in a posterior portion of the opening such that the tape abuts the first substance.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the first substance is selected from the group consisting of morselized bone, bone graft, allograft and combinations thereof.
9. A method for disc regeneration comprising:
packing an empty space in the disc with a disc or vertebral defect packing tape, the tape comprising:
a tape body; and
one or more support members for holding the tape body together,
wherein the one or more support members are:
(A) contained within the tape body as an internal support member, wherein the tape body is wider than the internal support member; and/or
(B) substantially enveloping an external surface of the tape body as an external support member, wherein the external support member comprises a fine mesh of biocompatible material,
wherein the tape body is configured as a packing material for packing an empty intervertebral disc space and/or an empty space in a vertebral body/bone, and
wherein the tape body is selected from a group consisting of a biologically absorbable material, allograft, finely ground materials, and stem cell; and
closing an opening in an annulus of the disc.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising cleaning the disc prior to packing the empty space in the disc.
11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the tape is impregnated with stem cells or other material capable of facilitating disk regeneration.