Abstract: A guide body is designed to receive longitudinal fixation elements such as wires nails, pegs or screws which are to be anchored within bone. The guide body includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a number of openings connecting the top surface with the bottom surface. The central axes of at least two of the openings are transverse to each other. The guide body permits the insertion of fixation elements at various angles with respect to each other. The guide body may prevent fixation elements which extend into the intramedullary region or the spongiosa from being displaced either in the proximal or in the distal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an osteosynthesis implant (1) that preferably consists of a bioresorbable plastic material. The inventive implant receives the longitudinal fixation elements (10) to be anchored in the bone, especially in the form of wires, nails, pins or screws. The openings destined to receive the fixation elements (10) do not completely extend through the implant (1) like in conventional bone plates or intramedullary nails but are degenerated to indents (2) in the surface of the implant (1) so that they may serve as a guide for the fixation elements (10) to be guided through the implant (1). The inventive implant (1) allows insertion of the fixation elements (10) in the bone diverging angles and crossing one another, so that the fixation elements (10) extending intramedullarly or in the spongiosa are primarily prevented from migrating in a proximal or distal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an osteosynthesis implant (1) that preferably consists of a bioresorbable plastic material. The inventive implant receives the longitudinal fixation elements (10) to be anchored in the bone, especially in the form of wires, nails, pins or screws. The openings destined to receive the fixation elements (10) do not completely extend through the implant (1) like in conventional bone plates or intramedullary nails but are degenerated to indents (2) in the surface of the implant (1) so that they may serve as a guide for the fixation elements (10) to be guided through the implant (1). The inventive implant (1) allows insertion of the fixation elements (10) in the bone diverging angles and crossing one another, so that the fixation elements (10) extending intramedullarly or in the spongiosa are primarily prevented from migrating in a proximal or distal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for limiting torque to be transferred, having first and second shafts having a longitudinal axis; at least first and second transfer elements arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the first and second shafts, the first transfer element associated with the first shaft and the second transfer element associated with the second shaft; the two transfer elements having substantially complementary engaging faces; at least one elastic element configured to bias the engaging faces of the first and second transfer elements into engagement with each other; wherein an engaging face of the first transfer element has a first engageable contour, and an engaging face of the second transfer element has a second engageable contour, wherein first and second engageable contours each have first and second active angles and a first passive angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for limiting torque to be transferred.

Abstract: A device to be used in combination with a surgical navigation system for defining the position of a straight line determined by an operating surgeon within a three-dimensional coordinate system in an operating theater. The devices includes a body (1) with a surface (2) and at least three markers (3) which emit waves (19) and the position of which can be determined within a three-dimensional coordinate system by a position detector belonging to the surgical navigation system. A laser (4) mounted on the body (1) emits a laser beam (5), directed away from the body (1), which has a geometrical central beam (6) and a wavelength in the visible range. The laser beam (5) is emitted in a geometrically defined position relative to the markers (3) so that the position of the central beam (6) relative to the three-dimensional coordinate system can be calculated from the previously measured positions of the markers (3) by a computer, which is also part of the surgical navigation system.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for the determination of reduction parameters for the subsequent adjustment of a reduction device to reduce the fragments of a fractured bonee. The method comprises: measuring points on the surfaces of the corresponding bones of interest at the patient's left and right side of the body; establishing a plane of symmetry containing an anterior-posterior axis and a proximal-distal axis; generating a mirror image of the patient's non-fractured bone symmetrically to the plane of symmetry; and determining the reduction parameters by comparison of the coordinates of the points at the fractured bone with the coordinates of the points within the mirror image.

Abstract: A device for moving an X-ray apparatus embodied in the form of a C-bow (9) in a controlled manner, the C-bow (9) being mounted on a pedestal (31) provided with motor-driven rollers (3) controllable in their direction of travel in such a way that it is displaceable in parallel in relation to at least two axes (18;19) and rotatable relative to three axes (18; 19, 21), each movement of the C-bow (9) with respect to a coordinate system (29) which is stationary relative to the room being carried out via controllable drive devices (6;7;37;38). These drive devices (6; 7; 37; 38) are controlled either by means of a control device (39;48) or via a computer (23), said control device being operated either via a sterile control console or by voice control. Any positions and projections of the C-bow (9) that have once been adjusted may be stored in the computer (23), so that a desired position and projection may be reproduced again.

Abstract: The invention relates to an osteosynthetic device (1) in form of an intramedullary nail with a longitudinal shape, a central axis (5), a first end (2) and a second end (3). The device (1) is helically shaped.

Abstract: A bone tissue removal and harvesting device is disclosed and includes a cutting tool with a cutting head, a longitudinal shaft attached to the cutting head and a drive element. A container is located on the end opposite the cutting head for collection of the removed bone. The shaft can be made flexible to permit torsion and/or bending around the longitudinal axis without damage to the bone. During the cutting operation, the bone tissue is simultaneously removed and suctioned through an opening of the cutting head and conveyed through an axial shaft bore for collection in the container. The container is detachably mounted to the drive element and connected to the shaft so as to avoid substantial pressure drops from the cutting head to the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to an osteosynthetic anchoring member comprising a longitudinal shaft extending along a longitudinal axis having a front shaft portion and a rear shaft portion, the front shaft portion insertable into a bone and comprising anchoring means for fixating the shaft in the bone and the rear shaft portion comprising anti-rotation means for permitting the rear shaft portion to be received in an implantable bone plate or a connecting member and to be secured against rotating about the longitudinal axis. The anchoring means are capable of being extended orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the rear shaft portion comprises tension means for extending the anchoring means to enable the anchoring member to be fixated within the bone.

Abstract: The invention is related to an intramedullary nail for fixation of a fractured bone having a medullary canal. The intramedullary nail may comprise a first radially expandable section provided in a proximal section adjacent to the head of the intramedullary nail, a second radially expandable section provided in the distal section adjacent to the tip of the intramedullary nail, and a non-expandable middle section provided between said two radially expandable sections of the intramedullary nail. The head may provide a distraction mechanism, by means of which said two radially expandable sections are distractible transverse to said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retraction plate for displacing soft tissue. The plate includes a window located in between first and second end parts. Each of the end parts has connecting elements for removably securing an elongate element. Coupling of elongate elements to the connecting elements allows lifting of the plate to retract soft tissue, thereby creating a cavity between the soft-tissue mantle and bone to perform a surgical procedure. The retraction plate provides access to a fracture and allows fracture fixation using a minimally invasive surgical technique.

Abstract: A bone plate includes an upper surface, a bone contacting surface, and at least one hole extending through the upper and bone contacting surfaces for receiving a bone screw. The at least one hole includes a first portion and a second portion that overlap one another. The first portion defines a substantially circular outer periphery and the second portion defines an elongated outer periphery that is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plate. The first portion may have threads configured to engage threads on the head of a bone screw, and the second portion may be configured to cooperate with the head of a different bone screw to provide compression to the fracture.

Abstract: The invention relates to an osteosynthesis implant (1) that preferably consists of a bioresorbable plastic material. The inventive implant receives the longitudinal fixation elements (10) to be anchored in the bone, especially in the form of wires, nails, pins or screws. The openings destined to receive the fixation elements (10) do not completely extend through the implant (1) like in conventional bone plates or intramedullary nails but are degenerated to indents (2) in the surface of the implant (1) so that they may serve as a guide for the fixation elements (10) to be guided through the implant (1). The inventive implant (1) allows insertion of the fixation elements (10) in the bone diverging angles and crossing one another, so that the fixation elements (10) extending intramedullarly or in the spongiosa are primarily prevented from migrating in a proximal or distal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an osteosynthetic anchoring member comprising a longitudinal shaft extending along a longitudinal axis having a front shaft portion and a rear shaft portion, the front shaft portion insertable into a bone and comprising anchoring means for fixating the shaft in the bone and the rear shaft portion comprising anti-rotation means for permitting the rear shaft portion to be received in an implantable bone plate or a connecting member and to be secured against rotating about the longitudinal axis. The anchoring means are capable of being extended orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the rear shaft portion comprises tension means for extending the anchoring means to enable the anchoring member to be fixated within the bone.

Abstract: A clamp for an external fixation device includes a basic body fitted with a first, continuous borehole for receiving a longitudinal support and a second, continuous borehole disposed perpendicular to the first borehole and partly intersecting it for receiving a tension bolt. The tension bolt includes a transverse borehole for receiving a bone fixation device, such as a bone pin, and further includes threading at one free end for engagement with a nut that forms a stop against the basic body. Tightening of the nut on the tension bolt permits the bone fixation device to be held against the basic body. An additional, threaded borehole is provided in the basic body, terminates in the second borehole, and receives a fixation screw. The diameter of the tension bolt can be less than the diameter of the second borehole and the fixation screw can be used to position the tension bolt so that it lies across a portion of the first borehole and bears tangentially against the longitudinal support.

Abstract: A device to be used in combination with a surgical navigation system for defining the position of a straight line determined by an operating surgeon within a three-dimensional coordinate system in an operating theatre, including a body (1) with a surface (2) and at least three markers (3) which emit waves (19) and the position of which can be determined within a tree-dimensional coordinate system by a position detector belonging to the surgical navigation system. A laser (4) mounted on said body (1) emits a laser beam (5), directed away from the body (1), which has a geometrical central beam (6) and a wave length in the visible range. The laser beam (5) is emitted in a geometrically defined position in relation to the markers (3) so that the position of the central beam (6) in relation to the three-dimensional coordinate system can be calculated from the previously measured positions of said markers (3) by a computer which is also part of the surgical navigation system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resorbable bone plate used for adherence to soft tissue. It comprises an upper surface, a curved lower surface for contacting a bone, a plurality of conical through holes connecting the upper surface with the lower surface for receiving bone screws, a central longitudinal axis and consists of a resorbable material. The curved lower surface has a radius of curvature R which is smaller than 10 mm. The ratio F/d of the total area F of the upper surface including the surface area of the through holes to the thickness d of the plate is in the range of 190 to 270 mm. The central part of the longitudinal plate has a generally constant width B and the width of the free ends of the longitudinal plate narrows to a value b<0.3 B. The resorbable bone plate overcomes the problems of adherence of soft-tissue. Its shape and function is optimized given the limitations of the properties of these materials.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for the determination of reduction parameters for the subsequent adjustment of a reduction device to reduce the fragments of a fractured bone. The method comprises: measuring points on the surfaces of the corresponding bones of interest at the patient's left and right side of the body; establishing a plane of symmetry containing an anterior-posterior axis and a proximal-distal axis; generating a mirror image of the patient's non-fractured bone symmetrically to the plane of symmetry; and determining the reduction parameters by comparison of the coordinates of the points at the fractured bone with the coordinates of the points within the mirror image.