Abstract: The invention relates to a damping device, particularly earthquake damper, comprising a hollow spherical body filled with a damping fluid (5) and comprising a plurality of damping bodies (10) disposed in the radial direction, the radially interior ends thereof being mounted on a common mounting element disposed in the center of the spherical body, and the radially exterior ends thereof being mounted directly or indirectly on the inner wall of the spherical body.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an intervertebral disc prosthesis for insertion into an intervertebral disc compartment between two vertebra includes: a) biometrically determining the shape of a first dome formed within an apophyseal ring of the first vertebra; and b) providing a first constituent element which is provided on one side with a first joint member and has on the other side a first abutment face which abuts against the first vertebra when the intervertebral disc prosthesis is inserted into the intervertebral disc compartment. The first abutment face has a shape that has no rotational symmetry and that has a vertex configured such that the first constituent element can rotate within the first dome by at least 10° when the vertex of the first abutment face contacts a vertex of the dome.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant has a head positioned at one end of the implant. The head has a conical portion, on which an external thread is formed, and an outer end region formed by a protective elevation. The elevation is, is viewed from the outside, convexly curved and free from sharp edges. A central portion is positioned between the head and a basic structure which is formed at an opposite end of the implant. The central portion is formed by a plurality of struts extending from the head to the basic structure. The central portion is provided with an external thread and has openings formed between the head, the struts and the basic structure.

Abstract: A computer program for spine mobility simulation is configured, if running on a computer, to cause the computer to perform the following steps: a) accessing bio-metric data which relate to the spine of a patient, the spine having at least one compromised spine segment; b) displaying a model of the spine of the patient comprising a plurality of vertebrae; c) enabling a user to change the position of at least one of the vertebrae of the spine model; d) computing the effects of the position change on the remaining vertebrae; e) displaying the spine model in a new configuration, thereby taking into account the position changed by the user in step c) and the position changes of the remaining vertebrae computed in step d).

Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation device for preparing an intervertebral disc compartment (14) which is delimited by a first and a second vertebra (16, 18). Such a preparation is carried out prior to the insertion of an intervertebral disc prosthesis (110), in order to guarantee a correct positioning of the intervertebral disc prosthesis between the vertebrae (16, 18). The preparation device (10) comprises a reference frame (22), which is capable of being fastened above an operating table (12), and a first fixing element (58) which is capable of being rigidly connected to the first vertebra (16) are capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22) in varying first positions. A second fixing element (68) is capable of being rigidly connected to the second vertebra (18) and capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22) in varying second positions. A material-abrading tool (78) is capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22), preferably in varying positions.

Abstract: A spine fixation system (10; 210; 310) comprises a first rod (16; 216) that connects a first vertebra (V2) to a second vertebra (V) but not to a third vertebra (V4), and a second rod (14; 214) that connects the second vertebra (V3) to the third vertebra (V4) but not to the first vertebra. The spine fixation system is configured such that first vertebra (V2), but not the third vertebra (V4), is allowed to move relative to the second (V3) vertebra after the spine fixation system has been completely implanted.

Abstract: A spine fixation system (10) comprises a rod (12a, 12b), which is configured to extend over a portion of the spine, a plurality of fasteners (14) and a plurality of connectors (18). Each fastener has a longitudinal axis (22) and is configured to be secured to a vertebra (V1, V2, V3) to be treated. Each connector (18) is connected to, or is capable of being connected to, one of the fasteners (14) and has a seat member (20) for receiving and fixing the rod (12a, 12b). The seat member (20) is capable of being fixed in different rotational positions with regard to a rotational axis (46) that extends, or is capable of being positioned such that it extends, parallel to but not coinciding with the longitudinal axis (22) of the fastener (14) to which the respective connector (18) is connected.

Abstract: An instrument set for screwing an implant into an intervertebral disc space comprises a guide sleeve and a screwing-in instrument. The latter has a shank having a distal end at which the implant can be fixed in a rotationally rigid manner. At the proximal end a rotary handle is fastened in a rotationally rigid manner. The screwing-in instrument further has a residual-advance indicator, which is configured to quantitatively indicate to the surgeon, during the screwing-in procedure, how far the implant is distant in the axial direction from an axial specified position that is fixed relative to the location at which the guide sleeve is supported on the vertebrae.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an intervertebral disc prosthesis for insertion into an intervertebral disc compartment between two vertebra includes: a) biometrically determining the shape of a first dome formed within an apophyseal ring of the first vertebra; and b) providing a first constituent element which is provided on one side with a first joint member and has on the other side a first abutment face which abuts against the first vertebra when the intervertebral disc prosthesis is inserted into the intervertebral disc compartment. The first abutment face has a shape that has no rotational symmetry and that has a vertex configured such that the first constituent element can rotate within the first dome by at least 10° when the vertex of the first abutment face contacts a vertex of the dome.

Abstract: A method of removing an intervertebral disc prosthesis from an intervertebral disc space includes the steps of: a) providing a surgical extractor with two legs; b) individually inserting the legs, while the legs are completely detached from each other, into the intervertebral disc space; c) rotating the legs so that they take up a locking position in which a pulling force can be applied by the legs to the intervertebral disc prosthesis; d) connecting the legs to an extraction element; and e) pulling at the extraction element so that the legs apply a pulling force to the intervertebral disc prosthesis.

Abstract: An intervertebral-disc prosthesis for insertion into an intervertebral disc compartment has a first and a second constituent element (10,10?) each being provided on one side with a joint member (28,28?) and on the other side with an abutment face which abuts against adjacent vertebrae. The abutment faces have a convexly curved region that has at least substantially the shape of a ramp. Preferably the region is surrounded by an annular flat region having a larger roughness than the curved region. The curved region may have a vertex which contacts a vertex of a dome formed in the adjacent vertebra. This facilitates rotation of the constituent element within the intervertebral disc compartment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a damping device, particularly earthquake damper, comprising a hollow spherical body filled with a damping fluid (5) and comprising a plurality of damping bodies (10) disposed in the radial direction, the radially interior ends thereof being mounted on a common mounting element disposed in the center of the spherical body, and the radially exterior ends thereof being mounted directly or indirectly on the inner wall of the spherical body.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring the distraction pressure between vertebral bodies comprises a control device (34, 36; 64, 66) for introducing a pressure force onto surfaces of opposing vertebral bodies and a measuring device (50; 84) associated with the control device (34, 36; 64, 66) for determining the pressure force applied onto the vertebral bodies. According to the invention, at least one end region of the control device (34, 36; 64, 66) carries a support body (10), which is designed for engaging in a concave dome that is surrounded by a bone ring of the vertebral bodies. The support body can be pivoted about at least one pivoting axis with respect to the control device and/or has a convex support surface, so that the support body when engaging into the dome can be pivoted in a sliding manner with respect to the vertebral body about at least one pivoting axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a kit for constructing a spinal disk prosthesis provided for arrangement in a spinal disk compartment limited by vertebral bodies, comprising two prosthesis plates (10) which are disposed in a manner movable relative to each other, the exterior surfaces (12) of which are provided for contacting surfaces of vertebral bodies positioned on the opposite side, and the interior surfaces (14) of which form corresponding bearing surfaces of a pivot bearing (34; 134; 334; 434) after assembly. According to the invention, the kit further comprises a limiting device (24, 26; 150, 152; 254, 256; 364; 466), which is associated with the pivot bearing (34; 134; 334; 434), for limiting a pivot movement about a rotational axis (36) oriented substantially normally to the exterior surfaces (12) of the prosthesis plate (10). For this purpose, the limiting device may be connected to the prosthesis plates (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic body for an upper leg prosthetic comprising a shaft (5, 5a, 5b) having a proximal support plate (4) for a prosthetic head (15), wherein at least two proximally spaced and distally converging shaft posts (5a, 5b) are mounted on the support plate (4), descending below the same and connected by struts (6), particularly diagonal struts (6), and wherein cavities (12), and/or free open regions (12) are formed between the shaft posts (5a, 5b) and the struts (7), into which spongy bone can grow, wherein at least the lower connecting area of the support plate (4) whereon the shaft posts (5a, 5b) are mounted is disposed horizontally, the support plate (4), extending medially over the cross section of the shaft (5, 5a, 5b), immediately below the connection areas, and the support plate (4) transitioning ventrally and dorsally into the shaft (5, 5a, 5b) without protruding.

Abstract: A system for aligning a material-abrading tool (56, 58) relative to an intervertebral-disc compartment at the start of an intervertebral-disc operation comprises an operating table (12), which is capable of being tilted about its longitudinal axis (14), and an image-recording device (22) for recording lateral images of the intervertebral-disc compartment. The tool (56, 58) is capable of being fastened to a reference frame (20), which is arranged above the operating table (12), in a defined relative position with respect to the reference frame (20). Farthermore, the reference frame (20) is capable of being tilted about a tilt axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (14) of the operating table (12). The system comprises, in addition, an alignment element (30) which is rigidly connected to the reference frame (20) and at the same time capable of being registered with the intervertebral-disc compartment by the image-recording device (22).

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical extractor (20) for surgically removing intervertebral prostheses that are provided with two support plates (3, 4) with one respective joint part (5, 6). The inventive extractor (20) comprises two legs (21, 21?) which are interconnected in a prong-shaped manner, can be inserted into an intermediate space between the two support plates (3, 4), and each support at least one locking element (22, 22?) at the free end thereof. Said at least one locking element (22, 22) allows for insertion into the intermediate space between the two support plates (3,4) in a first position while protruding from the intermediate space in a vertical direction in a second, locked position. The two legs (21, 21?) are connected to a common extraction means (24, 25, 26) for transmitting a tractive power to the legs (21, 21?) in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: An intervertebral-disc prosthesis for insertion into an intervertebral disc compartment has a first and a second constituent element (10,10?) each being provided on one side with a joint member (28,28?) and on the other side with an abutment face which abuts against adjacent vertebrae. The abutment faces have a convexly curved region that has at least substantially the shape of a ramp. Preferably the region is surrounded by an annular flat region having a larger roughness than the curved region. The curved region may have a vertex which contacts a vertex of a dome formed in the adjacent vertebra. This facilitates rotation of the constituent element within the intervertebral disc compartment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation device for preparing an intervertebral disc compartment (14) which is delimited by a first and a second vertebra (16, 18). Such a preparation is carried out prior to the insertion of an intervertebral disc prosthesis (110), in order to guarantee a correct positioning of the intervertebral disc prosthesis between the vertebrae (16, 18). The preparation device (10) comprises a reference frame (22), which is capable of being fastened above an operating table (12), and a first fixing element (58) which is capable of being rigidly connected to the first vertebra (16) are capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22) in varying first positions. A second fixing element (68) is capable of being rigidly connected to the second vertebra (18) and capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22) in varying second positions. A material-abrading tool (78) is capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22), preferably in varying positions.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant has a head positioned at one end of the implant. The head has a conical portion, on which an external thread is formed, and an outer end region formed by a protective elevation. The elevation is, is viewed from the outside, convexly curved and free from sharp edges. A central portion is positioned between the head and a basic structure which is formed at an opposite end of the implant. The central portion is formed by a plurality of struts extending from the head to the basic structure. The central portion is provided with an external thread and has openings formed between the head, the struts and the basic structure.