Established in 2000, Intrinsic Therapeutics is a medical device manufacturing company based in Woburn, Massachusetts. The company manufactures Barricaid, a device designed to prevent spinal disc reherniation. Intrinsic Therapeutics offers the device as an implant placed during a lumbar discectomy.

A lumbar discectomy surgery aims to repair a disc in the lower back (lumbar region) using smaller incisions than those used in an open lumbar discectomy. The vertebrae protect the spinal cord from injury, with the pliable discs in between the bones offering cushion and support.

In some instances, the discs’ outer wall dries out or ruptures due to age or injury, leading to weakening, and consequently, the soft inner part of the disc bulges out. The bulge may press on the spinal cord, causing pain, tingling sensations, or reduced function in the part of the body controlled by the nerve.

During the minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon removes part of the damaged disc to reduce the pressure on the spinal cord. One of the ways to do this is to insert a small tube through the patient’s back and into the space with the herniated disc.

The surgeon then inserts small tools through the tube and removes the damaged part of the disc that is putting pressure on the nerve. The second method is using a laser to dissect the damaged disc. The candidates for a lumbar discectomy are patients experiencing pain, tingling, and weakness in the lower back or one of the legs .If, after the removal of the offending fragments, a hole greater than or equal to 6mm is present, the surgeon may chose to insert the Barricaid device to help prevent reherniation.