1. A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight andor changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising:
placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region;
placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region;
wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc;
affixing the barrier to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc; and
deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first implantation region is the annulus fibrosis and said second implantation region is a vertebral endplate or endplate cartilage.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first implantation region is the posterior lateral corner of the annulus fibrosis and said second region is the posterior or lateral annulus fibrosis.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising expanding the barrier to an expanded state.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the barrier further comprises a frame operable to enlarge or expand at least one dimension of the barrier.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the frame comprises an alloy of nickel and titanium.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the frame comprises a longitudinal strut and a plurality of radial elements.
8. The method of claim 5, comprising providing a frame with a first end and a second end that extend at oblique angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the frame.
9. A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight andor changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising:
placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region;
placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region;
wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; and
inserting an insertion device into the intervertebral disc at a point located a distance away from a defect in the annular fibrosis of the intervertebral disc and advancing the barrier across the defect.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first implantation region is the annulus fibrosis and said second implantation region is a vertebral endplate or endplate cartilage.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said first implantation region is the posterior lateral corner of the annulus fibrosis and said second region is the posterior or lateral annulus fibrosis.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising expanding the barrier to an expanded state.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the implant further comprises a frame operable to mount the barrier.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the frame comprises an alloy of nickel and titanium.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the frame comprises a longitudinal strut and a plurality of radial elements.
16. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a frame with a first end and a second end that extend at oblique angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the frame.
17. The method of claim 9, further comprising affixing at least a portion of the barrier to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc.
18. The method of claim 9, further comprising resisting or promoting tissue ingrowth.
19. A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight andor changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising:
placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region;
placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region;
wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; and
deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising affixing at least a portion of the implant to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A module structure for expanding and enhancing functions of a SIM card being applied in a mobile communication device and comprising one or more than one slots which are provided with a plurality of junctions, respectively; the module being installed with a control chip which is electronically connected with the plural junctions in the slots, is provided with a new application interface, and can be loaded with an additional application service, so as to enable the module to achieve purposes of expanding and enhancing functions,
wherein the application interface includes a choice of line number, an edit of line number, a choice of language, a secured news brief, a secured telephone directory, a manual input of line number information, a timed automatic switching among multiple line numbers, and a product information, so as to achieve a purpose of enhancing the functions.
2. The module structure for expanding and enhancing functions of a SIM card according to claim 1, wherein the control chip can proceed with a change of application service and application interface, through a wireless transmission, a wired transmission, and an external loading device.
3. The module structure for expanding and enhancing functions of a SIM card according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device includes a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), and a 3G communication system.