A method of positioning an arcuate catheter against an inner annular wall of thedisc, and particularly on the posterior and postero-lateral portions of theinner annulus of the disc, by anthroscopy is presented. The arcuate catheterretains its predetermined arcuate shape when no pressure or force is appliedto the catheter. This present device and method require no forward tip pressureon the inner annular wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc. An arcuate sheathhaving a cutter is used to remove tissue from the inner annulus of the disc. In anotherembodiment an arcuate sheath is used to progressively remove material from theinterior of the mammalian intervertebral disc. In yet another embodiment, anarcuate sheath and catheter are used to remove the entire intervertebral discand place supports to maintain a disc space.
