Abstract: The invention concerns a bone plate system comprising: a bone fastening element comprising a shaft with a first thread, the fastening element further comprising a head with a second thread on its outer surface, the outer surface having a first hardness; and a bone plate having a second hardness which is smaller than the first hardness, the bone plate comprising a through hole for receiving the bone fastening element. The head is oxygen diffusion hardened.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bone plate system comprising: a bone fastening element comprising a shaft with a first thread with a first lead length, the fastening element further comprising a head with a second thread on its outer surface, the second thread having a second lead length, the outer surface having a first hardness; and a bone plate with a second hardness which is smaller than the first hardness, the bone plate comprising a non-threaded through hole in a non-assembled state for receiving the bone fastening element, the hole comprising a first hole portion with a first three-dimensional shape and a second hole portion with a second, different three-dimensional shape. The first lead length substantially equals the second lead length, and the second thread is arranged to irreversible deform the wall of the hole to form a female thread on the wall.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bone plate system comprising: a bone fastening element comprising a shaft with a first thread, the fastening element further comprising a head with a second thread on its outer surface, the outer surface having a first hardness; and a bone plate having a second hardness which is smaller than the first hardness, the bone plate comprising a through hole for receiving the bone fastening element. The head is oxygen diffusion hardened.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bone plate system comprising: a bone fastening element comprising a shaft with a first thread with a first lead length, the fastening element further comprising a head with a second thread on its outer surface, the second thread having a second lead length, the outer surface having a first hardness; and a bone plate with a second hardness which is smaller than the first hardness, the bone plate comprising a non-threaded through hole in a non-assembled state for receiving the bone fastening element, the hole comprising a first hole portion with a first three-dimensional shape and a second hole portion with a second, different three-dimensional shape. The first lead length substantially equals the second lead length, and the second thread is arranged to irreversible deform the wall of the hole to form a female thread on the wall.

Abstract: A device for bone fixation comprising: a bone plate (1) which has a plate hole (2) suitable for receiving a bone screw (20), the plate hole (2) having an inner wall (4) made of a material which has a hardness Hp; and a hollow cylinder- or hollow cone-shaped insert which is mounted in the plate hole (2), at least partially abuts the inner wall (4) and is suitable for accommodating the head (21) of a bone screw (20), the insert (10) being arranged in the plate hole (2) such that it is secured against rotation and consisting of a material that has a hardness HE<Hp.

Abstract: A drug-impregnated sleeve for encasing a medical implant is provided. In one embodiment, the sleeve may include a body made of a biologically-compatible material that defines an internal cavity configured to receive the medical implant. In one embodiment, the biologically-compatible material is bioresorbable. The body may include a plurality of apertures, such as perforations or holes, extending from the cavity through the body. The sleeve may further include a first end, a second end, and a drug impregnated into the resorbable sheet. In one possible embodiment, the first end of the sleeve may be open for receiving the medical implant therethrough and the second end may be closed. The implant may be encased in the sleeve and implanted into a patient from which the drug is dispensed in vivo over time to tissue surrounding the implantation site. In one embodiment, the body is made from at least one sheet of a biologically-compatible material.

Abstract: An implant assembly includes a first implant member, a second implant member, and a contractible element that is connected between the first and second implant members. The first implant member is configured to be placed against a first bone portion, and the second implant member is configured to be placed against a second bone portion. The contractible element is fixed at a first end to one of the first and second implant members, and movable at a second end with respect to one of the first and second implant members so as to induce tension in the suture, thereby providing a compressive force against the first and second bone portions. The second end can then be fixed with respect to the first and second implant members. The contractible element can contract in length in response to bodily fluids, thereby ensuring adequate post-operative compression. An instrument is also disclosed that is configured to implant the first and second implant members adjacent the first and second bone portions, respectively.

Abstract: A drug-impregnated sleeve for encasing a medical implant is provided. In one embodiment, the sleeve may include a body made of a biologically-compatible material that defines an internal cavity configured to receive the medical implant. In one embodiment, the biologically-compatible material is bioresorbable. The body may include a plurality of apertures, such as perforations or holes, extending from the cavity through the body. The sleeve may further include a first end, a second end, and a drug impregnated into the resorbable sheet. In one possible embodiment, the first end of the sleeve may be open for receiving the medical implant therethrough and the second end may be closed. The implant may be encased in the sleeve and implanted into a patient from which the drug is dispensed in vivo over time to tissue surrounding the implantation site. In one embodiment, the body is made from at least one sheet of a biologically-compatible material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined.

Abstract: A fixation device for treating an epiphyseal fracture, comprises a shaft extending longitudinally along a central axis from a first end to a second end configured to slidably engage a bone implant opening and a having a maximum radius r and a spherical head element attached to the first end of the shaft and having a radius R>r, the spherical head element configured to be inserted into a fragmented portion of bone such that the fragmented portion rotates about the spherical head element relative to the central axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis or disk prosthesis comprising a front side, a rear side, an upper side which can be placed on the base plate of vertebral body, a lower side which can be placed on the base plate of a vertebral body, a right side, a left side, a cavity which can receive a fluid hydraulic osteocementum, an opening in the cavity and several outlets out from the cavity. The total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SV on the front side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SH on the rear side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SR on the right side and the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets on the left side satisfy the following conditions: SL>SR or SR>SL or SH>SV or SV>SH.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis or disk prosthesis comprising a front side, a rear side, an upper side which can be placed on the base plate of vertebral body, a lower side which can be placed on the base plate of a vertebral body, a right side, a left side, a cavity which can receive a fluid hydraulic osteocementum, an opening in the cavity and several outlets out from the cavity. The total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SV on the front side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SH on the rear side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SR on the right side and the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets on the left side satisfy the following conditions: SL>SR or SR>SL or SH>SV or SV>SH.

Abstract: An expandable implant includes an implant body defining an internal void, the implant body including a plurality of interconnected linkages. A first plurality of the linkages has an expansion characteristic that is different from a second plurality of the linkages. An expandable bladder is sized to be disposed in the internal void. The bladder defines a bore configured to receive an expansion material, such that the expansion material applies an expansion force against the bladder, which thereby applies the expansion force against the implant body so as to cause the first linkage to expand greater than the second linkage. The expandable implant can be placed in a fracture location so as to restore height to a fractured target bone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined.

Abstract: A bone plate (1) with a longitudinal axis (2), a bottom surface (10) facing a bone and a top surface (11) and comprising a) an oblong base plate (3) with a anchoring portion (21) extending towards a first end (26) of the base plate (3) and a coupling portion (23) extending towards a second end (27) of the base plate (3); b) a sliding plate (6) connected with said coupling portion (23) which is slideable parallel to said longitudinal axis (2); whereby c) at least one first plate hole (4) is located in said anchoring portion (21) and at least one second plate hole (13) is located in said sliding plate (6); d) said base plate (3) and/or said sliding plate (6) is provided with retaining means (5) limiting a motion of said sliding plate (6) relative to said base plate (3) perpendicular to said top surface (11) in such manner that the sliding quality between said sliding plate (6) and said base plate (3) is maintained; and e) said at least one second plate hole (13) of said sliding plate (6) is provided with rigid

Abstract: A device is for anchoring a suture to a bone. The device includes a suture engaged with an elastically deformable ring biased toward an unstressed state in which an outer diameter of the ring is D. The ring is compressible for insertion through a hole in a bone stabilization device having a diameter smaller than the diameter D.

Abstract: An artificial joint implant (1) comprising a first element (2) with a socket (4) and a second element (3) with a ball head (5), wherein said ball head (5) is insertable in said socket (4) such as to form a ball-and-socket connection between said first element (2) and said second element (3), and the movement of said ball head (5) in said socket (4) is restricted by means of a protrusion (6.1; 6.2) engaged in a groove (7), whereby said protrusion (6.1; 6.2) has a central axis A2 and is protruding from the surface of said socket (4) and said groove (7) is provided on the surface of said ball head (5) or vice versa; —said groove (7) is positioned along a great circle of said ball head (5) or of said socket (4), —said protrusion (6.1; 6.2) has a shape allowing rotation of the protrusion around its central axis A2 when received in the groove (7); and—the surface roughness of the protrusion (6.1; 6.2) and/or of the groove (7) is at most 25 micrometers.

Abstract: An expandable spinal implant assembly for insertion between two adjacent vertebral bodies includes a first body with a first superior endplate and a first inferior endplate, which are connected together. A strut is comprised by said first body and connects with one of said endplates, said strut including a first threaded through bore with a central axis. The spinal implant assembly further includes a substantially hollow second body having a second superior endplate and a second inferior endplate, and is engaged within said first body. At least one track is arranged on a second top inside face of said second superior endplate and/or on a second bottom inside face of said second inferior endplate, said track being oriented at an acute angle relative to the central axis of said first threaded through bore when said substantially hollow second body is at least partially engaged with said first body.

Abstract: Intervertebral implant (1) comprising (i) a first elongated implant member (20) with a longitudinal axis (221), an upper surface (222) and a lower surface (223) for apposition to the endplates of two adjacent vertebrae, and with a lateral circumferential surface (224) and (ii) a second elongated implant member (30) with a longitudinal axis (321), an upper surface (322) and a lower surface (323) for apposition to the same endplates and with a lateral circumferential surface (324). Said elongated implant members (20, 30) are rotatably coupled to a central body (10) for rotation in a central plane (101 essentially parallel to said upper and lower surfaces.