Comparing the two spinal discs. The one on the left in a real spinal disc. The one on the right is the synthetic disc.
/ photo courtesy Cornell University
ITHACA -- Researchers at Cornell University say they have created spinal disc implants that could one day provide relief to people with back and neck pain.
The researchers say their bioengineered spinal discs have been successfully implanted and tested in animals. The discs consist of polymers seeded with cells that repopulate the structures with new tissue.
Lawrence Bonassar, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, worked on the implants with Roger Hartl, associate professor of neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and chief of spinal surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
"The game changer here is we can now think about replacing diseased disc tissue with new tissue," says Bonassar. "Instead of taking it out and trying to fuse that spine, or taking it out and trying to replace that tissue with metal or plastic, we're now replacing diseased tissue with essentially new healthy tissue."
Biomedical engineers at Cornell's campus in Ithaca create the spinal discs. They have been taking cells from sheep and adding materials to make them grow. After about two weeks, the researchers have a disc they are able to test.
They send the discs to the medical school in New York City, where they are implanted into rats. So far, researchers say the results look promising.
"When we look at their spines from a variety of tools, MRIs, Cat scans, mechanical testing, there's a very strong similarity between the way our discs function and the way the normal disc functions," says Bonassar.
The Cornell researchers say the implants would treat degenerative disc disease, a leading cause of disability.
Many surgeons are keeping a close eye on the research.
"The research is promising, but we also have to remember it takes time," says Dr. David Eng, a neurosurgeon at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse. "It takes time to make sure the research is accurate and it works."
Researchers plan to make implants for larger animals, like dogs, next. They hope to have a human model within 5-7 years.
