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: 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: 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: 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 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: Device for stabilizing, and/or compressing, and/or distracting certain portions of the spinal column is provided. The device utilizes pedicle screws, and an adapter is provided which may be connected by a screw device to the head of a pedicle screw. A roughened portion of the adapter cooperates with a roughened portion of the pedicle screw head to provide for a non-rotatable connection of the adapter with respect to the pedicle screw. The adapter has a circular opening or a recess for receiving the threaded rod which is fixed to the adapter by a threaded device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for setting a spine having damaged vertebrae, comprising an anchoring element including a shaft portion (16) to be attached to spaced vertebrae, the free end of said anchoring element including a slot (24) for receiving a distracting or, respectively, compressing bar (40) and a cap nut (42) to be screwed onto an outer thread (32) provided in the region of the receiving slot to urge an axial fixing portion (44) towards the bar received in said receiving slot.

Abstract: Support device for the human vertebral column having an elongated dorsally implantable holding device, at least two pedicle screws which have a head and a threaded shank and the head of which is mounted on the holding device pivotally about an axis which extends approximately perpendicularly to the threaded shank axis whilst the threaded shank projects from the holding device, and a securing device for the fixing of the pedicle screws in the set angular position and at desired axial intervals from each other, wherein the holding device includes at least two separate preferably threaded bolts which cooperate with a preferably threaded sleeve and which at the head ends includes a clamping surface lying on the axis or axis-parallel, the head of the pedicle screws includes two approximately parallel clamping faces extending approximately parallel to the threaded shank axis and for each bolt a screw connection is provided which clampingly fixes with respect to each other in their position the clamping surfaces of

Abstract: A spacer device for supporting vertebral bodies, comprising a first supporting member to engage a first vertebral body, a second supporting member to engage a second vertebral body and an adjustment means including a sleeve having an internal thread and a pair of bolts each having an outer thread cooperating with said sleeve to adjust the supporting members in a predetermined distance with respect to each other, whereby the adjustment means is provided with clamping faces at either end, which adjustment faces are aligned with the axis of the sleeve and the bolts or alternatively are disposed parallel to said axis, the supporting members are provided with clamping faces extending substantially normally with respect to the supporting faces and a screw connection is provided for each supporting member to press the clamping faces of the adjustment means and the supporting member together in a predetermined position with respect to each other.

Abstract: A device for applying a tensional force between two vertebrae of the human vertebral column, having at least two retaining members adapted to be brought into engagement with associated vertebrae, said members having a throughgoing opening for the accommodation of a threaded rod, and pairs of nuts adapted to be threaded onto said threaded rod in order to fix said retaining members in a desired position on said threaded rod, characterized in that said retaining members are configured as clamping members (10) having two legs (14, 16) which are bendable relative to each other in the plane extending through said threaded rod (26) to embrace a transverse process (22) of a vertebra.

Abstract: A gas-fired heating boiler without a blower, with partial load controls, comprises a combustion chamber with heat exchanger elements located above the combustion chamber, a Venturi tube with a nozzle and an air damper arranged in the wall of the combustion chamber. Partial amounts of the air required for combustion are suctioned into the combustion chamber through the Venturi tube and air damper, respectively. The combustion chamber is open toward the heat exchanger elements at its further walls. The air damper is sealed tightly at its edges against the undesirable entry of air into the combustion chamber. The Venturi tube has a cross section which limit the flow of combustion air to a constant partial amount of the air required for full load operation. An opening is provided in the air damper, calibrated for the flow of the difference air volume required in addition to the air flowing through the Venturi tube for the optimum efficiency of the burner in the partial load operation desired.

Abstract: Boilers with horizontal boiler sections contain in each section several heat exchanger elements for transferring the heat from the heating medium to the heat carrier medium. They have the inherent advantage of needing a connection between sections only on one side so that the dimensional changes during operations are easily equalized and no thermal stresses occur. Heretofore, it has been assumed that the frame of such horizontal boiler sections in which the heat exchanger elements in the form of pipes are secured must be provided with a cooling channel for the liquid heat carrier medium, and consequently the specific heat output in relation to the amount of material used for the construction of the boiler section was considerably decreased.The boilers with horizontal sections in accordance with the invention overcome this problem and require only a reduced specific amount of material as compared with the known boilers of this type.

Abstract: Improved electrical contact materials and a method for manufacturing same are disclosed. The improved materials comprise mechanically elongated billets composed of at least a first metal and the oxide of a second metal. The billets include a plurality of alternating substantially coaxial zones of metal-metal oxide and zones devoid of the metal oxide. The zones devoid of the metal oxide serve as slip zones and render the contact material readily formable into any desired electrical contact shape.