Modification of Intervertebral Disk Fatigue Resistance

描述（由申请人提供）：提出了一项研究， 使用生化试剂提高椎间融合器的抗疲劳性 椎间盘组织虽然没有很好地量化，但脊柱组织的能力， 承受重复载荷是一个至关重要的因素， 脊柱骨关节炎的进展。脊柱不稳的当前治疗方法 和腰痛，包括脊柱融合，通常是无效的， 减缓退化的进程生化改变， 环形基质的结构可能对椎间盘的 能够承受反复的机械负荷。我们打算研究 某些试剂在保持机械性能方面的有效性 椎间盘组织经受非创伤性疲劳负荷。初步 在我们的实验室使用新的破坏性和非破坏性的实验， 机械测试技术已经显示出弹性-塑性的退化， 非创伤性椎间盘组织的粘弹性材料特性 循环荷载如果这些试剂能有效提高抗疲劳性 一种新的微创治疗方法可能会被开发出来 这将能够提高退化的椎间盘的承受能力， 重复的生理负荷这种治疗方法有可能 改善或甚至取代了许多针对 普遍存在的腰痛和不稳定问题。 拟定商业应用： 与脊柱退化和不稳定相关的背痛和残疾无疑是西方文明中最昂贵的健康问题之一（每年仅腰痛就在200亿美元的范围内）。 能够阻止椎间盘退化和稳定椎间盘的微创治疗（可能是一系列注射）的商业潜力将是惊人的。 此外，这种治疗可用作融合手术中的额外预防程序，其中加速退变通常发生在邻近融合的节段。

DESCRIPTION (Provided by Applicant): An investigation is proposed exploring the use of biochemical reagents to improve fatigue resistance of intervertebral disc tissue. While not well quantified, the capacity of spinal tissue to withstand repetitive loading is a critically important factor in the progression of spinal osteoarthritis. Current treatments for spinal instability and low-back pain, including spinal fusion, are generally ineffective in slowing the progression of degeneration. Biochemical alterations in the structure of the annular matrix could have significant effects on the disc's ability to withstand repetitive mechanical loading. We intend to study the effectiveness of certain reagents in maintaining the mechanical properties of disc tissues subjected to non-traumatic fatigue loading. Preliminary experiments in our laboratory using novel destructive and non-destructive mechanical testing techniques have shown degradation of elastic-plastic and viscoelastic material properties of disc tissues subjected to non-traumatic cyclic loads. If these reagents are effective in improving fatigue resistance of intervertebral discs, a new, minimally invasive treatment may be developed which will be able to improve the degenerated disc's ability to withstand repetitive physiological loads. This type of treatment has the potential of improving or even replacing numerous surgical interventions directed at the ubiquitous problems of low back pain and instability. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Back pain and disability associated with spinal degeneration and instability is without question one of the costliest health problems in western civilization (in the range of $20 billion U.S. annually- low-back-pain alone). The commercial potential of a minimally invasive treatment (perhaps a series of injections) capable of arresting degradation and stabilizing intervertebral discs would be staggering. In addition, such treatment could be used as an additional preventative procedure in fusion surgery, where accelerated degeneration commonly occurs at the level adjacent to the fusion.