Intervertebral Disc Division

Articular Engineering, LLC is developing methods of restoring the mechanical integrity of the intervertebral disc after disc injury and disc surgery. The intervertebral discs are the shock absorbers of the spine. They are situated between the vertebrae and allow motion between successive vertebrae. Each individual disc is composed of a tough outer ring (the annulus fibrosus) and a soft inner core (the nucleus pulposus). A disc herniation or "slipped disc" occurs when the annulus fibrosus ruptures and the nucleus pulposus leaks out. The herniated nucleus pulposus may compress the spinal nerves and cause severe pain in the legs known as sciatica.

The biomechanical properties of the intervertebral disc are permanently altered after herniation of the nucleus pulposus. The reduced flexibility and compressibility of the disc ultimately leads to changes in other spinal structures which themselves become symptomatic. Thus, disc herniation may lead to malalignment of the spine (spndylolisthesis), spinal instability, discogenic back pain, and arthritis of the spine.

Disorders of the intervertebral disc are a major cause of disability in the USA. Approximately 5.7 million people per year develop symptoms related to intervertebral disc disease (IDD). Over 327,000 patients are hospitalized yearly due to IDD and 266,000 patients undergo surgery to alleviate symptoms due to intervertebral disc herniation (1995 statistics). While often effective at reducing symptoms, none of the current treatment regimens restores the disc to its normal biomechanical state.

The Articular Engineering, LLC research team envisions a multi-modality therapeutic approach to restoration of normal disc properties following disc herniation based on the proprietary ARC™ culture technology. Due to the high incidence of disc herniation and IDD in the USA, especially among young working people, and the preventative nature of the treatment, it is expected that this product line will be extremely successful.

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