The
intervertebral disc contains no blood vessels. Nutrients and waste are diffused mainly through adjacent vertebral bodies. As we age, calcified
layers form between the disc and vertebral bodies, blocking
diffusion. The disc begins to starve and flatten. The weight shifts abnormally from disc to the
facet joints causing strain and
back pain. Under anaerobic conditions,
lactic acid is produced causing acidic
irritation and unspecific pain. A U-shaped disc shunt is delivered into and sealed within the degenerated disc simply by needle
puncturing and withdrawal, to draw nutrients from bodily circulation into the avascular disc. A continual supply of nutrients increases
biosynthesis of the water-retaining sulfated glycosaminoglycans, hence
swelling pressure within the disc. The weight is re-shifted from the
facet joints to the regenerated disc, alleviating
back pain. With
oxygen transported through the shunt, anaerobic production of
lactic acid is minimized. In addition, the residual
lactic acid is expelled through the U-shaped shunt during disc compression into bodily circulation to alleviate unspecific pain.