expanding elastically deforming material for example fig1 and 12 illustrate a barrier 12 mounted within an anulus 10 and covering an anulus defect 16 the barrier 12 can be secured to the anulus 10 with a fixation mechanism or fixation means 14 the fixation means 14 can include a plurality of suture loops placed through the barrier 12 and the anulus 10 such fixation can prevent motion or slipping of the barrier 12 away from the anulus defect 16 the barrier means 12 can also be anchored to the disc 15 in multiple locations in one preferred embodiment shown in fig1 and 14 the barrier means 12 can be affixed to the anulus tissue 10 in or surrounding the defect and further affixed to a secondary fixation site opposite the defect e g the anterior anulus 10 in a posterior herniation or the inferior 50 u2032 or superior 50 vertebral body for example fixation means 14 can be used to attach the barrier 12 to the anulus 10 near the defect 16 while an anchoring mechanism 18 can secure the barrier 12 to a secondary fixation site a connector 22 can attach the barrier 12 to the anchor 18 tension can be applied between the primary and secondary fixation sites through a connector 22 so as to move the anulus defect 16 toward the secondary fixation site this may be particularly beneficial in closing defects.