Abstract: An artificial intervertebral disk, insertable between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient and joining the two adjacent vertebral bodies an articulated manner, includes an intermediate element embodied as an elastic ring and is inserted into one respective molded portion of two outer elements configured as metal plates. The outer elements are joined to the bones of the vertebral bodies via anchoring pins, especially titanium anchorings previously known in hip endoprosthetics. The radius of the concave molded portion is greater than the diameter of a circular cross-sectional area of the intermediate element such that compression of the intermediate element caused particularly by the patient's movement allows for a defined deformation.

Abstract: An artificial joint (3), particularly for replacing a talocrural joint, including a first primary joint surface (1) that forms an articular fossa (4) particularly for replacing the tibia composed of concave curvatures extending parallel to a primary function plane of the joint (3), which corresponds to the sagittal plane, and a second primary joint surface (2) which cooperates with the first primary joint surface (1) as a component of a condoyle (5) that replaces the talus and has convex curvatures (7, 8, 9, 10) on the primary function plane that are adapted to the first primary joint surface (1).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining and adjusting the optimal relative position of several functional surfaces of a condyle or of a socket of a human or artificial joint, especially for use with an endoprosthesis for the human knee joint, is provided. The apparatus is furnished with a compartment that is moveable by means of a sliding guide relative to a receptacle that can be detachably affixed to a human joint or bone region. A reference position of the compartment—relative to the receptacle—resulting from the posterior-anterior and/or medial-lateral motion of the knee joint can be established using by a marking having a scale.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining and adjusting the optimal relative position of several functional surfaces of a condyle or of a socket of a human or artificial joint, especially for use with an endoprosthesis for the human knee joint, is provided. The apparatus is furnished with a compartment that is moveable by means of a sliding guide relative to a receptacle that can be detachably affixed to a human joint or bone region. A reference position of the compartment—relative to the receptacle—resulting from the posterior-anterior and/or medial-lateral motion of the knee joint can be established by means of a marking having a scale.

Abstract: An artificial joint for a patient includes a joint plateau having a recess including a first dimension and a joint overlay having a projection corresponding to the recess and a second dimension, the second dimension being larger than the first dimension at a body temperature of the patient. The projection is insertable into the recess by virtue of a temperature difference of at least one of the projection and the recess with respect to the body temperature. A contact area is formed between the projection and the recess at the body temperature. At least one of the second dimension and the contact area is determined such that fixation forces exerted on the projection at the body temperature create a state of stress in at least one of the joint overlay and the joint plateau, the state of stress improving at least one of a load-bearing capacity and a durability of the artificial joint.

Abstract: A tibia plateau for a replacement joint, particularly an endoprosthesis for a human knee joint, in which the head and socket artificial joint parts have convex and concave articulation surfaces, respectively, and the articulation surfaces are arranged in pairs, so that the functional surfaces which are formed can roll against one another along a curved contact line, especially a circularly arcuate contact line, formed on each articulation surface. A gently sloping bulge (1) is formed in the area (4) adjacent the functional surfaces (2) which bulge prevents excessive rolling movement and lateral displacement of the joint parts relative to each other.

Abstract: A tibia plateau for a replacement joint, particularly an endoprosthesis for a human knee joint, in which the head and socket artificial joint parts have convex and concave articulation surfaces, respectively, and the articulation surfaces are arranged in pairs, so that the functional surfaces which are formed can roll against one another along a curved contact line, especially a circularly arcuate contact line, formed on each articulation surface. A gently sloping bulge (1) is formed in the area (4) adjacent the functional surfaces (2) which bulge prevents excessive rolling movement and lateral displacement of the joint parts relative to each other.

Abstract: An artificial joint (3), particularly for replacing a talocrural joint, including a first primary joint surface (1) that forms an articular fossa (4) particularly for replacing the tibia composed of concave curvatures extending parallel to a primary function plane of the joint (3), which corresponds to the sagittal plane, and a second primary joint surface (2) which cooperates with the first primary joint surface (1) as a component of a condoyle (5) that replaces the talus and has convex curvatures (7,8,9,10) on the primary function plane that are adapted to the first primary joint surface (1).

Abstract: An artificial joint (1) suitable for use as an endoprosthesis for a human knee joint, having a first joint compartment (2) formed by a first condyle (3) and a first socket (4) and a second joint compartment (5) formed by a second condyle (6) and a second socket (7). The contact surfaces (C) of the respective joint compartments (2, 5) are offset in the main functional plane. To further improve the characteristics of the artificial joint (1), the contact surfaces (C) of the two joint compartments (2, 5) are sloped as a function of the flexion angle such that the surface normals (8, 9) of the contact surfaces (C) have a common point of intersection at every flexion angle. This arrangement of the contact surfaces (C) achieves self-stabilization of the joint (1) both when a rotary motion or torsion and when lateral forces are introduced.

Abstract: An artificial joint (1) suitable for use as an endoprosthesis for a human knee joint, having a first joint compartment (2) formed by a first condyle (3) and a first socket (4) and a second joint compartment (5) formed by a second condyle (6) and a second socket (7). The contact surfaces (C) of the respective joint compartments (2, 5) are offset in the main functional plane. To further improve the characteristics of the artificial joint (1), the contact surfaces (C) of the two joint compartments (2, 5) are sloped as a function of the flexion angle such that the surface normals (8, 9) of the contact surfaces (C) have a common point of intersection at every flexion angle. This arrangement of the contact surfaces (C) achieves self-stabilization of the joint (1) both when a rotary motion or torsion and when lateral forces are introduced.

Abstract: An exoprosthesis/orthosis for the human knee-joint comprised of an upper leg part (1) which can be connected to the human upper leg, and a lower leg part (2) which can be connected to the human lower leg. Both leg parts (1, 2) are connected at least via a joint which constructs a joint with two joint axes (MU, M0), i.e. a so-called dimeric joint chain, which are connected such that they carry out a forced movement. A polode (movement or rest polode) is assigned to each respective leg part (1, 2) with regard to the momentary joint axis of said leg parts, whereby curved teeth (5, 7) are constructed on the upper leg part (1) and on the lower leg part (2). The teeth interact similar to sprocket gearing in the movement functional area of the joint (3), whereby the curved teeth coincide with the polodes (t, f) of both leg parts (1, 2) in the movement functional area.

Abstract: An artificial condyle (2) for use in a human hip joint in which the condyle has a spherical joint shell (1) which has a radius of curvature R1 and a curvature midpoint M1 and in cross-section a circular concave section contour. A functional surface which is convex at least in a region which articulates in the joint shell (1) is designed as a sphere such that when it is inserted in the shell (2), in a longitudinal plane X—X passing through the midpoint M1, a radius RK1=R1 is formed which has a midpoint MK1 coinciding with M1. A transverse plane Y—Y perpendicular to the longitudinal plane X—X has, passing through the midpoint MK1, a radius RK2<RK1 having the midpoint MK2. In the transverse plane Y—Y a stable dimeric joint chain is formed, with which the joint axis path of the midpoints MK1 and MK2 has a joint path radius R=RK1−RK2.

Abstract: The invention concerns an artificial joint, in particular an endoprosthesis for replacing natural joints, comprising at least two artificial joint parts with curved articulation faces, a curved contact line being formed on each of the articulation faces. The curved contact line (L1) of one of the articulation faces is part of an elliptical section contour of a first cylinder (1) or cone having the cylinder radius (R1) or the cone angle (&agr;1). The other contact line (L2) takes the form of a counter track of a second cylinder (2) or second cone having the cylinder radius (R2) or the cone angle (&agr;2) and rolling and/or sliding on the first cylinder (1) or first cone. The articulation faces comprise control faces (F1, F2) formed from a plurality of straight contact lines (B).