The Food and Drug Administration has approved an artificial spinal disc for use in treating pain associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD). The device is intended to replace a diseased or damaged intervertebral disc. The first of its kind, the device is called the Charité artificial disc and is manufactured by DePuy Spine, Inc. It has been approved for use in patients who have DDD at one level in the lumbar spine (from L4-S1) and who have had no relief from low back pain after at least six months of non-surgical treatment. Read more from the FDA about this new treatment option.