Computer aided tissue engineering design for a spinal intervertebral disc

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc with age has been shown to be a significant source of pain and discomfort in the elderly, resulting in decreased mobility and functionality of the intervertebral joints of the spine. Current treatments of disc degeneration disease have focused on the fixation of the vertebra-disc-vertebra interface by fusing the vertebra together, thus limiting and stabilizing the intervertebral motion, reducing the pain associated with degenerated disc motion. Other treatments have consisted of entirely replacing the intervertebral disc, restoring function to the spine without reducing the range of motion. However, the long term results of these two forms of treatment have been less than satisfactory, demanding a new approach to repair degenerated intervertebral discs. The approach used in this study is to develop an intervertebral disc with the mechanical characteristics necessary to function in the lumbar spine environment, while incorporating a scaffold structure into the implant design. This approach will provide a mechanically stable base structure for tissue engineering, allowing for the development of an implant with improved long term characteristics, and enhanced vertebral fixation due to the incorporation of cells into the disc structure, as compared to the currently used methods.