Abstract: A connecting element is created for connecting two rods (6, 9) or screws used for bone or vertebra stabilisation. The connecting element has a connecting part (10), a first part connectable to one of the rods and a second part connectable to the other rod. The connecting part is adjustable in length in the direction of the connecting axis of the first part and the second part and can therefore be adapted to different rod distances.

Abstract: A pelvis fixing device with a screw for the latter is provided. The screw comprises a screw element with a threaded shank and a head. Also provided is a holder which receives the head and which comprises a lower portion facing towards the shank side and an upper portion facing away from the shank side. The two portions encompass a rod. Also provided is a screw element for connecting the two portions and simultaneously fixing the rod. The pelvis fixing device comprises at least two such screws and at least one rod connecting them.

Abstract: A tubular spacer and a method for the manufacture of the spacer is described. The tubular spacer has a first rim on a first end, a second rim on its opposite second end, and a jacket extending between said first and said second rims. The jacket has a tapered section adjacent to at least one end. The spacer is suitable for use in tubular bone surgery where it is necessary that the spacer adapts to different bone cross-sections. To make this tubular spacer, a cylinder having a tubular jacket body is expanded and/or narrowed at one or both of its ends. Methods for using the spacer as well as kits for making the spacers are described.

Abstract: A bone screw having a screw member possessing a threaded section and a head and a receiving part at the head end for receiving a rod to be connected to the bone screw is provided. The receiving part has on open first bore and a substantially U-shaped cross-section having two free legs provided with a thread. Furthermore, the receiving part has a second bore on the end opposite to the first bore whose diameter is greater than that of the threaded section and smaller than that of the head. On the bottom of the first bore a seat for the head is provided. In order that the screw member can be pivoted to at least one side by an enlarged angle, the edge bounding the free end of the second bore viewed relative to the axis of the first bore is of asymmetric construction.

Abstract: A bone screw having a screw member possessing a threaded section and a head and a receiving part at the head end for receiving a rod to be connected to the bone screw is provided. The receiving part has on open first bore and a substantially U-shaped cross-section having two free legs provided with a thread. Furthermore, the receiving part has a second bore on the end opposite to the first bore whose diameter is greater than that of the threaded section and smaller than that of the head. On the bottom of the first bore a seat for the head is provided. In order that the screw member can be pivoted to at least one side by an enlarged angle, the edge bounding the free end of the second bore viewed relative to the axis of the first bore is of asymmetric construction.

Abstract: An element with a thread is created, in which both partial flanks enclose a negative angle with a plane extending perpendicular to the screw axis. Further, a screw or a hook for connecting to a rod, as used in particular in spinal column surgery, is created, wherein the inner thread of a holder, to which the rod is connected, and the associated thread of a nut comprise the thread according to the invention.

Abstract: There is provided a foot prosthesis having especially good gait characteristics. To that end, the prosthesis comprises a first spring element 1 extending from the toe region to the lower leg region and a second spring element 2 extending from the heel region to the lower leg region. The spring elements are formed as leaf-type elements and are connected to each other by their lower leg side first ends 4, 7. There is provided a tension element 9 which is connected in the forward region of the foot with its one end and connected in the heel region 6 to the second spring element.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a receiver part for articulated connection of a bone anchoring element with a rod having a diameter. The bone anchoring element has a shank part and a head. The receiver part includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A bore extends from the first end in the direction of the second end for guiding through the shank part. Adjacent to the bore is a section for receiving the head. An opening extends from the second end in the direction of the first end for inserting the shank part with head. A recess extends from the second end in the direction of the first end for forming a channel with a bottom for receiving the rod, forming two open legs. Two slit-shaped recesses extending from the bottom of the channel in the direction of the first end.

Abstract: A sensor device (15) for a prosthesis, in particular for a leg prosthesis, is provided for measuring forces acting on the prosthesis, having a ring-shaped outer member (16) of closed construction and an inner member (21, 22) connecting two opposite inner sides (17a, 17b) of the outer member having a sensor element (31) for measuring the force acting in the direction of the connecting axis. The outer member deforms under the action of a bending moment while the inner member (21) feels only the axial force acting in the direction of its connecting axis. By this means measurement of the axial force unaffected by bending moments is possible. Furthermore, the sensor device is able to transmit loads.

Abstract: A space-maintainer is created, which has a sleeve-shaped first part 1 and a second part 2 contained in this and displaceable in the axial direction relative to the first part. So that lengthwise adjustment is possible in a simple manner during the process of an operation, one of the parts has a toothed profile 22 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the parts and the other part has a toothed wheel 24 located in engagement with the toothed profile 22 for adjusting the total length.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anchoring element comprising a screw (12) having a shank (13) with a bone thread portion and a head (14; 140), and comprising a receiving part (1) for connecting the screw to a rod-shaped element (40), the screw and the receiving part being connected to one another in a polyaxial or monoaxial manner, and the shank (13) of the screw being of tubular design and its wall having a plurality of recesses (18). In this way it is possible for the bone screw to fuse with the surrounding bone substance, and at the same time bone portions or vertebrae can be positioned relative to one another and fixed. Moreover, a substance to be introduced into the bone can be introduced precisely at the desired site.

Abstract: An anchoring element with a screw (12) comprising a threaded section (13) and a head (15) designed as a spherical segment-shaped section, and with a receiving portion (1) for connecting the screw (12) to a rod (19), is provided. The receiving portion (1) comprises a first end (2) and a second end (3) opposite the latter and a longitudinal axis (4) passing through the two ends (2, 3). The receiving portion further comprises a bore (5) coaxial with the longitudinal axis (4), a first region adjoining the first end (2) with an essentially U-shaped cross-section (18) with two free arms (8, 9) comprising a thread for receiving the rod (19) to be inserted, a region adjoining the other end (3) for receiving the head (15), and an element which exerts pressure on the rod (19) or on the head (15). In order that the screws can be used in situ for very different lengths, the threaded section (13) and the head (15) are designed as separate parts.

Abstract: A dynamic anchoring device is described. An element with a shank for anchoring in a bone or a vertebra and with a head connected to the shank is provided with a receiving part for the head and with an elastomeric pressure element acting on the head. The pressure element is formed and located in such a way that, upon a movement of the element from a first angular position of the shank relative to the receiving part into a second angular position, it exerts a return force on the head. Further, a dynamic stabilization device, in particular for vertebrae, is provided. In such a stabilization device, a rod is connected two anchoring devices. At least one of the anchoring devices is constructed as dynamic anchoring element.

Abstract: A bone anchoring element (1) for anchoring an external device in a bone is described. A head (2) capable of connection to the external device is provided with a shaft (3) that can be anchored in a bone. A predetermined section of the shaft (3) has a bone thread (5). Moreover, the shaft (3) also has at least one bone thread-free surface (6,7; 11,12; 16,17; 21,22,23) that extends from a first end to a second end of the predetermined section essentially along the direction of the shaft axis. The bone anchoring element (1), thus provided, is pressed or soft-hammered into a hole (8, 28) previously generated in the bone and fixed in the bone by rotation by a predetermined angle. If the bone anchoring element has to be removed this can be achieved by unscrewing it in the standard fashion. The disclosure also describes methods for using the bone anchoring element.

Abstract: An implant is described having a shaft (1) and a holding element (3; 30) connected therewith for connecting with a rod (100). A recess is provided in the holding element. The recess has a U-shaped cross section for accommodation of the rod and two free legs (7, 8; 32, 33) at one end which include an inner thread (9; 34). A closure element (20; 36) fixes the rod inserted into the U-shaped recess. The closure element has an outer thread cooperating with the inner thread of the legs. An abutment is provided at or in the holding element (3; 30) to limit tilting of the closure element about the rod at the time of final tightening of the closure element in the holding element. As a result thereof it is possible to keep the wall thickness of the receiver member small in spite of the large forces acting at the time of final tightening. The invention is applicable to both monoaxial screws and polyaxial screws as well as bone hooks.

Abstract: An anchoring element for use in spinal or bone surgery is described. A shaft (1) for anchoring in a vertebra or bone section is connected to a receiving part (22) which serves to connect to a rod (100) having a pre-determined diameter (D). The receiving part (22) provides a U-shaped recess (26) forming a channel for the reception of the rod and two logs (27, 28). The legs are free on. their end and have a thread (30, 31) that cooperates with a securing element to fix the rod in the receiving part. When inserted in to the receiving part, the rod surface facing the end surface (29) is at a. pre-determined distance, A. in axial direction from the end surface (29). The thread (30, 31) of the legs extends from the end surface a distance that is smaller than or equal to a pre-determined distance (A). Also, an undercut (33, 34) is provided adjacent to the thread whose edge farthest away from the thread is located at a distance (B) from the end surface. Distance (B) is larger than the pre-determined distance (A).

Abstract: A tubular element is disclosed that is useful for an implant for spine or bone surgery. The element has a cylindrical wall with and a bone thread section with a bone thread and a plurality of apertures in the wall in the bone thread section. At least one end of the element is structured and arranged to receive a head or a tip, and wherein the apertures are located in the root of the bone thread and comprise dimensions such that the crest of the bone thread is intact. Further, implants are described that include as a component the tubular element as well as methods of use of such implants. These implants have the advantage of serving as a fusion element and simultaneously allowing a smooth insertion into bone without causing additional damage of the bone due to apertures.

Abstract: There is provided a leg prosthesis, comprising a thigh portion (1) and a lower leg portion (2) both being connected by a knee joint (3), said knee joint (3) comprising a damping element (6) for controlling the knee joint movement, and means (S1) for detecting the knee angle and means (S4-S7; S8, S8′, S9, S9′) for detecting the force acting on the prosthesis; and a control unit for controlling said damping element (6) as a function of the detected values of said knee angle and said force; and an adjustment device (10) adjusting the control of said damping element according to the type of gait and as a function of detected values of said knee angle and said force.

Abstract: A bone screw having a screw member (1) possessing a threaded section (2) and a head (3) and a receiving part (5) at the head end for receiving a rod to be connected to the bone screw is provided. The receiving part (5) has on open first bore (6) and a substantially U-shaped cross-section having two free legs provided with a thread. Furthermore, the receiving part has a second bore (7) on the end opposite to the first bore (6) whose diameter is greater than that of the threaded section (2) and smaller than that of the head (3). On the bottom of the first bore a seat for the head (3) is provided. In order that the screw member can be pivoted to at least one side by an enlarged angle, the edge bounding the free end of the second bore (7) viewed relative to the axis of the first bore (6) is of asymmetric construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bone screw and a tool for fixing same. A bone screw has a screw element (1), comprising a screw shank (2) and a screw head (3), a cylindrical receiver part (5) with a bore coaxial to the cylindrical axis coming from one end (8) of the cylinder, an opening (6) extending cross-wise to the cylindrical axis for receiving a rod (16) to be connected to the bone screw, an inner thread (10) at one end (8) and a screw (13) cooperating with it and also an outer thread (11) at one end (8) and a nut (14) cooperating with it. Both threads (10, 11) are constructed as running in opposite directions.