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.