Any idea when this would become a real thing?
Also how much would it cost?
I read through the patent and it seems deceptively simple. If it is as "easy" as Hyne's makes it out to be, he could probably get this working (in a prototype/proof-of-concept sense) within 1-5 years. Getting approval and bringing it to market would probably take longer though. I think the main barrier is the fact his market is mostly untested. Surgical solutions for DDD that are proactive aren't really a thing. So he'd have to convince people to open up their backs and tinker with their spines before any real issues/pain crop up. Needless to say, convincing people to undergo preventative spine surgery will be a challenge that will greatly limit the market, at least at first. And unfortunately, ROI/$ potential = how quickly something gets developed.
As far as cost? Spinal fusion is probably a reasonable cost comparison. According to Google, the average spinal fusion in the USA is between $14,000 to $26,000. Spinal fusion is a very common, tried and true procedure with decades worth of successful operations to its name, along with a mature implant market, so we have probably achieved some level of pricing efficiency after all these years with regards to this treatment.
Hyne's treatment would be brand new, with a more limited market, hopefully just at first. The people offering this treatment will probably have to keep prices high to recoup R&D costs from a small initial customer base. On top of that, we would need custom implants, which adds further to R&D costs. All in all, you could see initial costs of at
least $50k to get this procedure for cosmetic purposes.
My 2c, not an expert though.