Abstract: An apparatus for bracing a plurality of vertebrae of the human spine has at least two pedicle screws, each having an annular head with an opening therewithin and including a slot therewithin. Each slot extends into the corresponding opening and includes internal threaded portions. A securing screw to be screwed in each slot is provided. A relatively stiff threaded rod is also provided and is to be inserted into the opening in the head of each of the pedicle screws and to be secured by the securing screws. Adjusting nuts are screwed on the rod and at least one cooperates with each head.

Abstract: A spinal cage assembly has an inner sleeve-shaped tubular body which telescopes into or through an outer tubular sleeve-shaped body from either a first or second end thereof. Each inner and outer sleeve is made of one-piece construction made of a physiologically compatible metal. Both sleeve-shaped bodies have multiple holes therein and can be secured at different heights relative to one another. At least one of the sleeve-shaped bodies has two edges which form a different angle of between about 3° and about 6° with respect to the transverse axis of the sleeve-shaped bodies. An edge having a different angle is exposed depending on which end of the inner body is inserted into or through the outer body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pedicle screw and an assembly aid therefor, wherein the pedicle screw comprises a threaded shank and a fork-like head formed by two distanced sections and wherein the sections between themselves form a receiver for an elongate rod and on the sides facing one another there are provided threaded sections into which a threaded element may be screwed for fastening the rod on the head.

Abstract: A reconstruction system for vertebra, with at least one annular middle body and two annular end bodies. The end surfaces of the middle body and of the end bodies are formed such that the bodies may be stacked over one another and one end surface of the end bodies comprises a receiving section. The system includes two approximately right-angled vertebra body plates having a pair of limbs. One limb is formed such that in a direction perpendicular to the axis of an end body, it is insertable into the receiving section in a manner such that the one limb is prevented from moving away from the end body in the direction of the axis. The other limb comprises at least one bore for a bone screw and at least one threaded bore. A connection plate is provided, which at the ends comprises openings for connection to the other limb of each vertebra body plate via a screw.

Abstract: A means for the interconnection of two spaced elongated rods of a human spine implant, comprising a hook having a mouth and being adapted to partially grip around a first elongated rod, a transverse bar connected to the hook and gripping means adapted to be connected to the second elongated rod and to be attached to the transverse bar, whereby transverse bar and hook arm interconnected through a joint, the joint having joint portions which are adapted to be pivoted between a release position and a locking position, in that further locking means are provided which inhibit a pivoting of the joint portions of the hook to the release position and in that the joint portion connected to the transverse bar is structured such that in the release position the hook with its mouth can be freely placed onto the elongated rod while in the locking position the rod is locked within the mouth.

Abstract: An apparatus for bracing a plurality of vertebrae of the human spine has at least two pedicle screws, each having an annular head with an opening therewithin and including a slot therewithin. Each slot extends into the corresponding opening and includes internal threaded portions. A securing screw to be screwed in each slot is provided. A relatively stiff threaded rod is also provided and is to be inserted into the opening in the head of each of the pedicle screws and to be secured by the securing screws. Adjusting nuts are screwed on the rod and at least one cooperates with each head.

Abstract: A receiving part for a retaining component of a vertebral column implant, having a fork-shaped section for receiving the retaining component, with the inner wall of the fork-shaped section including inner threaded portions into which there may be screwed a screw which, either directly or via a pressing element, acts on the retaining component in the fork-shaped section. The inner threaded portions and the outer thread of the screw comprises a saw tooth thread of a shape that the steep flanks of the inner threaded portions face away from the opening of the fork-shaped section.

Abstract: A targeting apparatus for a locking nail with a first section which is releasably connectable to the allocated end of the nail, with a bow-like second section connected to the first section, which comprises a receiving section running approximately parallel to the nail when the nail is connected to the first section and which comprises at least one transverse bore for the approximate fitting accommodation of a guiding sleeve. The receiving section consists of a first part rigidly formed with the second section and facing the first section, and of an outer second part movable relative to the first part against spring force, wherein the transverse bore extends through both parts and the bore in the parts is selected such that with a relaxed second part the sleeve is held in a slightly clamping manner and with a certain adjustment of the second part to the first part is freely displaceable in the bore.

Abstract: An intersomatic spine implant is provided which is easily and quickly insertable dorsally into a defective disc. The implant is formed as a hollow body in a substantially cylindrical shape with at least one opening in a side wall for receiving bone material, and the surface of the implant has a roughness which ensures better hold and better conditions for bone ingrowth. In one embodiment, the hollow body can have a self-cutting external thread and can also be either open or closed by means of a cover. In another embodiment, one end of the hollow body comprises a means for turning the body by use of a tool.

Abstract: A supracondylar bone nail has an elongated shank with a distal end and a proximal end and has two bends in the M-L plane. Both bends are in the same direction with screw holes between the distal tip of the nail and the first bend.

Abstract: A locking nail for placement in the marrow space of tubular bones for the care of bone fractures, with an elongate, essentially cylindrical shank with a number of essentially radial openings for accommodating locking screws. At least one radial, elongate opening extends in the longitudinal direction of the shank and at least two sliding blocks are unrotatably guided within the shank and are secured against a movement away from one another so that at least one opening at an angle to the longitudinal direction is formed from at least one intermediate space between the sliding blocks. This opening is aligned to the elongate opening for accommodating a locking screw. In another embodiment, only one such sliding block is used (and can be selected from any of a suitable set, for example a set in which the blocks of the set all have substantially the same length but have transverse bores positioned at a variety of different positions and at different angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nail).

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting element for connecting a screw in the spine with a stabilizing rod, the connecting element being easily and quickly securable. The connecting element includes a receiving section which receives the stabilizing rod and which is part of a tension member having a threaded shank. A sleeve is arranged around the receiving section and can slide parallel to the shank axis. In the wall of the sleeve, two openings are present for positioning the rod. The connecting element further includes a nut which can be screwed onto the shank in order to fix the head of the pedicle screw at the sleeve. This connecting element has the advantage that by a single securing process (i.e., the tightening of the nut) the rod can be fixed in the receptacle of the tension member and the connecting element can be secured at the screw head.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a lateral bore in a tubular bone for a bone nail to be guided through a transverse bore of a bone nail characterised by the following features;knocking in the bone nailintroducing an elongate transmitting unit for energy into the bone nail and aligning an effective end of the transmitting unit, directed transversely to the axis of the nail, to the transverse bore in the bone nail;producing a hole which is relatively small in diameter by way of the effective end from the inside anddrilling out the small hole from the outside, preferably to the core diameter of the bone screw.

Abstract: Drill head for boring out bone channels, characterized by the following features:a central bore for a guide wire;four spiral teeth arranged at 90% intervals on the periphery and having a small angle of twist, such as 15.degree.,that form an angle of approximately 45% relative to the longitudinal axis of bore at the forward end in the starting cut andthat form the main cutting edges andwhose secondary cutting edges consecutive to the main cutting edges are located approximately on a cylinder whose axis coincides with the axis of the bore,the length of the secondary cutting edges located on the cylindrical surface is smaller than the diameter of the cylinder;the rounded base of the slot-like chip chambers between the teeth is radially close to the bore andthe faces of the teeth bordering the chip chambers in the starting cut area are provided with a ground face such that a relatively sharp edge is formed, extending from the ends of the teeth and the chip chamber surfaces between them to the bore.

Abstract: A tool for driving pedicle screws into vertebrae of the human spine has a shaft preferably with a handle at one end and, at the opposite end, a holder for receiving a preferably ring-shaped head which is flattened on opposite sides. The tool has a first clamping jaw (18) secured to the shaft (12), and a second loose clamping jaw (20) including a lateral projection which is tiltably received by the first clamping jaw (18). The tool has an axially slidable actuating member (32) which is guided along the shaft (12). The front end of the actuating member (32) engages the rear end of the second clamping jaw (20) and is preferably axially urged towards the second clamping jaw (20) by a threaded driving means.

Abstract: A repositioning tool for handling pedicle screws which have annular heads with parallel clamping faces is provided. The tool has a tongue-shaped portion connected to a handle, which tongue-shaped portion is brought into engagement with the head of a pedicle screw in the axial direction thereof. The tool can apply a tilting moment perpendicular to the length axis of the pedicle screw and can apply a torque. The tool comprises pliers with jaws (22, 24) including inwardly extending projections (28, 30) to engage opposite indentations (70, 72) provided along the periphery of the annular head (64) of the pedicle screw (60).

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting a spinal column having damaged vertebrae comprises a fastener (which is preferably a pedicle screw) having a receiving slot for holding a distracting or compressing bar. The bar is positioned within the slot in a manner permitting adjustment and is then locked in a fixed position, both functions achieved by a special two-part locking element which first holds and then rigidly locks the bar and fastener together. A method for correcting a spinal column having damaged vertebrae is also given.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis for a shoulder joint that provides for an adjustable distance between the head portion and the shank portion is provided. The head portion of the endoprosthesis is connected through a threaded connection to the proximal end of the shank portion such that the distance between the head portion and the shank portion can be varied. In operation, the head portion is screwed into the shank portion until the desired distance is obtained.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing a long bone combines an external fixator with a locking nail implanted in the medullary canal of a long bone. The external fixator has fixed bone pins at each of its ends and movable bone pins intermediate its ends. The fixed bone pins extend through transverse bores at each end of the bone nail and the movable pins extends through a slot in the bone nail intermediate its ends. By this method a fracture can be compressed and stabilized while healing.