PROSTHESIS AND METHOD FOR REPLACING THE NUCLEUS PULPOSUS OF AN INTERVERTEBRAL DISC OR FOR REPLACING AN ENTIRE INTERVERTEBRAL DISC

A prosthetic nucleus pulposus (5) for replacing the natural nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc. The prosthetic nucleus pulposus comprises a partially collapsed sealed envelope formed from a material which is permeable to extracellular body fluid. The envelope contains a solute (20) which provides an osmotic potential across the walls of the envelope. In use, the partially collapsed envelope is surgically implanted in the hallowed-out interior of an intervertebral disc and is allowed to absorb fluid, whereby expansion of the envelope and subsequent disc expansion is accomplished. A prosthetic nucleus pulposus 5 for replacing the natural nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc. The prosthetic nucleus pulposus comprises a partially collapsed sealed envelope 10 formed from a material which is permeable to extracellular body fluid. The envelope contains a solute 20 which provides an osmotic potential across the walls of the envelope. In use, the partially collapsed envelope is surgically implanted in the hallowed-out interior of an intervertebral disc and is allowed to absorb fluid, whereby expansion of the envelope and subsequent disc expansion is accomplished. L'invention concerne un noyau gélatineux (5) artificiel pour remplacer le noyau gélatineux naturel d'un disque intervertébral. Ce noyau gélatineux artificiel comprend une enveloppe scellée (10) partiellement collabée, constituée d'un matériau perméable aux liquides organiques extracellulaires. Cette enveloppe contient un soluté (20) qui fournit un potentiel osmotique à travers les parois de l'enveloppe. En pratique, l'enveloppe partiellement collabée est implantée par chirurgie dans la partie intérieure évidée d'un disque intervertébral et l'absorption du liquide permet l'expansion de ladite enveloppe et l'expansion subséquente du disque intervertébral.