Articulating joint repair

摘要

A method and related materials and apparatus for using minimally invasive means to repair (e.g., reconstruct) tissue such as fibrocartilage, and particularly fibrocartilage associated with diarthroidal and amphiarthroidal joints. The method involves the use of minimally invasive means to access and prepare damaged or diseased fibrocartilage within the body, and to then deliver a curable biomaterial, such as a curable polyurethane system, to the prepared site, and to cure the biomaterial in situ in order to repair the fibrocartilage. Applications include repair (e.g., reconstruction or replacement) of the intervertebral disc of the spine. An apparatus is provided in the form of an uninflated balloon that can be inserted into the disc space and there inflated with biomaterial in order to distract the space and provide a permanent replacement disc.