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A vented needle assembly is provided for sealably injecting biomaterial into an intradiscal space interiorly of the annulus of a spinal disc and for providing an exhaust for the intradiscal space. The vented needle assembly comprises a compressible seal body for pressing against an outer surface of

A vented needle assembly is provided for sealably injecting biomaterial into an intradiscal space interiorly of the annulus of a spinal disc and for providing an exhaust for the intradiscal space. The vented needle assembly comprises a compressible seal body for pressing against an outer surface of the annulus, and a needle extending through the seal. The needle may be configured to connect to a syringe for pressure injection of the biomaterial. The seal includes a vent extending therethrough with an opening for communication with the intradiscal space and an opening for the discharge of excess biomaterial filling the intradiscal space. A kit of parts is also provided for use in the treatment of a spinal disc, the kit comprising the vented needle assembly and an inflatable trial device. The trial device is removably introduced into the intradiscal space and inflated to determine the available size of the intradiscal space.

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What is claimed is: 1. A vented needle assembly for use in sealably injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space through an access opening in the annulus of a spinal disc and for providing an exhaust for the intradiscal space, comprising: a compressible seal body formed of a deformable elastom

What is claimed is: 1. A vented needle assembly for use in sealably injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space through an access opening in the annulus of a spinal disc and for providing an exhaust for the intradiscal space, comprising: a compressible seal body formed of a deformable elastomeric material and having a contact surface configured to contact an outer surface of the annulus with a compressible sealing face at said contact surface of said seal body sized to surround the access opening in the annulus, said sealing face of said seal body configured to compressively deform against and in conformity with the outer surface of the annulus upon placement of said contact surface of said seal body under pressure against the outer surface of the annulus of the spinal disc; a needle extending through said seal body, said needle having a distal end projecting from said contact surface of said seal body and having an opening thereat for passage of the biomaterial therefrom into the intradiscal space, said needle having a proximal end projecting from an opposite surface opposite said contact surface of said seal body and configured for receipt of the biomaterial; and a vent tube extending through said seal body, said vent tube having a first opening extending distally beyond said contact surface of said seal body for communication with the intradiscal space and a second opening adjacent said opposite surface of said seal body for the discharge of excess biomaterial filling the intradiscal space. 2. The vented needle assembly of claim 1, wherein said sealing face is generally circular. 3. The vented needle assembly of claim 2, wherein said seal body is generally cylindrical. 4. The vented needle assembly of claim 1, wherein said vent tube has a distal end projecting from said contact surface of said seal body with said first opening thereat for communication with the intradiscal space and has a proximal end projecting from said opposite surface of said seal body with said second opening thereat capable of communicating with air outside the spinal disc. 5. The vented needle assembly of claim 4, wherein said vent tube is formed of relatively clear material to allow visual observation of biomaterial present in said vent tube. 6. The vented needle assembly of claim 4, wherein said needle is configured to connect to a syringe for pressure injection of the biomaterial into said needle. 7. The vented needle of claim 4, wherein said needle and said vent tube are joined as an integral unit. 8. The vented needle assembly of claim 4, further comprising a boss portion projecting from said contact surface of said seal body and configured for receipt into the access opening extending through the annulus of the spinal disc. 9. The vented needle assembly of claim 8, wherein said boss portion is configured to have a non-circular shape. 10. The vented needle assembly of claim 8, wherein said needle extends through said boss portion. 11. The vented needle assembly of claim 10, wherein said boss portion has a shape configured to be substantially complementary to the shape of an opening formed through the annulus. 12. A vented needle for use in sealably injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space through an access opening in the annulus of a spinal disc and for providing an exhaust for the intradiscal space, comprising: a compressible seal body formed of an elastomeric material and having a contact surface configured to contact an outer surface of the annulus with a sealing face at said contact surface of said seal body sized to surround the access opening in the annulus, said seal body configured to deform against the outer surface of the annulus upon placement of said contact surface of said seal body under pressure against the outer surface of the annulus of the spinal disc, said seal body including a boss portion projecting from said contact surface and configured for receipt into the access opening extending through the annulus of the spinal disc and to be substantially complementary to the shape of an opening formed through the annulus, said boss portion having a cruciate shape; a needle extending through said seal body with said needle projecting generally through the center of said cruciate shape, said cruciate shape being defined by four generally equally spaced wings projecting radially about said needle, said needle having a distal end having an opening thereat for passage of the biomaterial therefrom into the intradiscal space and a proximal end projecting from an opposite surface opposite said contact surface of said seal body and configured for receipt of the biomaterial; and a vent extending through said seal body, said vent having an opening adjacent said contact surface of said seal body for communication with the intradiscal space and an opening adjacent said opposite surface of said seal body for the discharge of excess biomaterial filling the intradiscal space. 13. A vented needle for use in sealably injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space through an access opening in the annulus of a spinal disc and for providing an exhaust for the intradiscal space, comprising: a compressible seal body formed of an elastomeric material and having a contact surface configured to contact an outer surface of the annulus with a sealing face at said contact surface of said seal body capable of deforming against the outer surface of the annulus upon placement of said contact surface of said seal body under pressure against the outer surface of the annulus of the spinal disc, said seal body including a boss portion projecting from said contact surface of said seal body and configured for receipt into the access opening extending through the annulus of the spinal disc, said boss portion defining a channel therethrough and including at least three spaced wings projecting radially about said channel; a needle extending through said channel, said needle having a distal end projecting from said contact surface of said seal body and having an opening thereat for passage of the biomaterial therefrom into the intradiscal space, said needle having a proximal end projecting from an opposite surface opposite said contact surface of said seal body and configured for receipt of the biomaterial; and a vent tube defining one of said wings and extending through said seal body, said vent tube having an opening at said boss portion for communication with the intradiscal space and having a proximal end defining an opening at said opposite surface of said seal body capable of communicating with air outside the spinal disc. 14. A vented needle for use in sealably injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space through an access opening in the annulus of a spinal disc and for providing an exhaust for the intradiscal space, comprising: a compressible seal body formed of an elastomeric material and having a contact surface configured to contact an outer surface of the annulus with a sealing face at said contact surface of said seal body sized to surround the access opening in the annulus, said seal body configured to deform against the outer surface of the annulus upon placement of said contact surface of said seal body under pressure against the outer surface of the annulus of the spinal disc, said seal body including a boss portion projecting from said contact surface and configured for receipt into the access opening extending through the annulus of the spinal disc and to be substantially complementary to the shape of an opening formed through the annulus, said boss portion including a duck-bill valve having a slit passageway extending through said boss portion and configured to allow expansion of said boss portion upon passage of biomaterial therethrough under pressure; a needle extending into said seal body in communication with said duck-bill valve, said needle having a distal end for passage of the biomaterial therefrom through said duck-bill valve into the intradiscal space, said needle having a proximal end projecting from an opposite surface opposite said contact surface of said seal body and configured for receipt of the biomaterial; and a vent extending through said seal body, said vent having an opening adjacent said contact surface of said seal body for communication with the intradiscal space and an opening adjacent said opposite surface of said seal body for the discharge of excess biomaterial filling the intradiscal space. 15. The vented needle of claim 14, wherein said boss portion is configured in a cruciate shape formed by four wing portions, each wing portion having a respective duck-bill valve defined by a slit passageway extending through each wing portion. 16. A vented needle assembly for use in sealably injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space through an access opening in the annulus of a spinal disc and for providing an exhaust for the intradiscal space, comprising as an integral unit: a compressible seal body formed of a deformable elastomeric material and of generally cylindrical configuration having a compressible sealing face on one surface configured for sealably pressing against and for compressively deforming in conformity with the outer surface of the annulus around the access opening and an opposite surface facing away from the annulus; a needle extending axially through said seal body, said needle having a distal end projecting from said one surface of said seal body and having an opening for communication with the intradiscal space for passage of biomaterial thereto, said needle having a proximal end projecting from said opposite surface of said seal body and configured for receipt of the biomaterial; and a vent tube extending axially through said seal body, said vent tube having a distal end projecting from said one surface of said seal body and having an opening for communication with the intradiscal space, said vent tube having a proximal end projecting from said opposite surface of said seal body and having an opening thereat capable of communicating with the air outside the spinal disc. 17. The vented needle assembly of claim 16, wherein said sealing face is generally circular. 18. The vented needle assembly of claim 16, wherein said needle is configured to connect to a syringe for pressure injection of the biomaterial into the needle.