Abstract: A dynamic stabilization device for bones, in particular vertebrae, is made with two bone anchoring elements and a rigid rod with a longitudinal axis connecting them. An elastic element is inserted between the two bone anchoring elements. It acts on the bone anchoring elements to exert a force in a direction of the longitudinal axis. Each bone anchoring element has a first section to be anchored in a bone and a second section to be connected to the rod. At least one of the bone anchoring elements is fixedly connected to the rod to prevent translational movement of the rod relative to it. Further, at least one of the bone anchoring elements is a polyaxial bone screw. Also disclosed is a method for stabilizing vertebrae adjacent to a defective intervertebral disc. A dynamic stabilization device is provided. The anchoring elements are attached to two vertebrae on opposite sides of the defective intervertebral disc.

Abstract: A bone screw, known per se, with a thread section (2) and a receiving part (5) for receiving a rod (29) to be connected to the bone screw is created. The connection and locking of the connection between bone screw and rod takes place via an outer nut (13). So that the connection has the necessary strength and durability, the outer nut (13) has on the inside a sleeve-shaped element (17), having a predetermined inner measurement, the outer diameter of which is almost identical to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore (8), and a pressure element (23) arranged therein. The pressure element (22) (sic) has at its end facing the floor of the bore (8) a first section (26), the outer measurement of which is larger than the predetermined inner measurement and which effects a widening of the element (17) when pressure is exerted on the rod (29) to be received.

Abstract: A device and a method for remote maintenance of an electronically controllable prosthesis (1) are provided. The prosthesis comprises a controller in which operating and/or movement data characterizing the prosthesis are detected and are then transmitted to a remote maintenance device (20) with a storage and evaluation unit (20). Remote maintenance of the prosthesis using the detected data is possible via a remotely located remote control unit (23) that can access the storage and evaluation unit via the telephone network. Corrected operational data are transmitted from the storage and evaluation unit (20) back to the controller of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device for stabilising bone segments is provided, with a bone anchoring element (1) which has a shank part (2) and a head (3), a receiver part (5; 50) for articulated connection of the bone anchoring element (1) to a rod (12), wherein the receiver part (5; 50) has a first end (6) and a second end (7) opposite this, a bore (8) extending from the first end (6) in the direction of the second end (7) for guiding through the shank part (2), adjacent to the bore (8) a section (10; 60, 62) for receiving the head (3), an opening (9) extending from the second end (7) in the direction of the first end (6) for inserting the shank part with head and a recess (11) extending from the second end in the direction of the first end for forming a channel (11b) for receiving the rod (12), forming two open legs (13, 14), wherein the receiver part (5; 50) has two slit-shaped recesses (15) extending at the front from the floor of the channel (11b) in the direction of the first end (6).

Abstract: A locking device is provided for securing a rod (100) in a receiving part (3), in particular a polyaxial bone screw, wherein the locking device has a sleeve-type element (40) with a cylindrical outer face and with an outer diameter which is dimensioned in such a way that the element (40) is displaceable between the legs (9, 10) of the receiving part (3) and wherein the element (40) has an inner thread (43) for receiving an inner screw (60) and with an outer nut (50) which can be screwed on to an outer thread (12) of the legs (9, 10) to fix the element (40). In the polyaxial bone screw the element (40) acts on a pressure element provided in the receiving part (3) to fix the position of the head (2) of the polyaxial bone screw and the inner screw (60) acts on the rod (100) to fix it. The element (40) is preferably provided with slits (47), whereby during screwing in of the inner screw (60) the element (60) splays out against the outer nut (50) and thus effectively prevents loosening or detaching.

Abstract: A bone fixing device and in particular a device for stabilising cervical vertebrae is provided, (with) a plate (2, 200) with at least one recess (5) for guiding through a section (15, 61, 62) of a bone screw (6, 60), a connecting element (20, 30), displaceable in the recess, for connecting the bone screw to the plate and a securing device (10, 11) for securing the connecting element against falling out of the recess.

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: 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 crosswise 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.

Abstract: A leg prosthesis having an artificial knee joint with swing phase control and recoil break comprises a damping member acting upon the knee joint, detectors for detecting force, knee angle and acceleration and a control unit for controlling the dampening degree of the damping member on the basis of the detected values. The damping characteristics of the damping member are varied in dependence on control signals produced by the control unit on the basis of a viscosity change of the magneto-rheological liquid.

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: A spacer for insertion between two vertebrae has a variable axial length. The spacer comprises a first sleeve-shaped shape member 1 and a second member 2 which is slidably guided within the first member in axial direction relative thereto for adjusting the overall length. The second member 2 comprises, on its outer portion facing the first member 1, an axially extending portion having ratchet notch means 18, and the first member 1 has an engagement member 23 cooperating with the ratchet notch means 18 for displacement to a desired overall length.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intervertebrae implant comprising two side walls (1, 2) arranged at a distance to each other, a front wall (3) connecting the same at their one end, a back wall (4) connecting the same at their opposite other end, and one opening each on the base and cover part extending at right angles to the afore-mentioned walls. The invention also comprises at least one element (60, 61) provided for in the space (5) enclosed by the above walls, which element has a surface pointing towards the base or cover part and can be moved back and forth between a first final position in which said surface projects at least partly outwards beyond the base or cover part and a second final position in which the surface does not project beyond the base or cover part.

Abstract: An intervertebrae implant comprises two spaced sidewalls 1, 2, a front wall connecting the sidewalls at one end thereof, a back wall connecting the other end of the sidewall and corresponding apertures in the bottom and top surfaces extending transversely to the above-defined walls. In order to lock the implant in a desired position between two adjacent vertebrae a screw 13, 13' is rotatably provided in the front or back wall 3, 4, resp., and adapted to have a portion projecting beyond the bottom or top surface, resp., in a first rotational position and no projecting portion in a second rotational position.

Abstract: An alignment device connects a stump socket (1) to a prosthetic limb (21). The alignment device has an alignment member (8) with an opening (12) receiving a pin (7) connected to the stump socket (1). The size of the opening (12) is considerably greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the pin (7) and the pin can be locked in any position within the opening (12). This achieves a considerable improvement of the wear characteristics by lateral adjustment.

Abstract: A blank is described for producing a soft wall inside socket of a prosthesis having a pre-shaped side wall formed of a thermoplastic material, an inside liner and an outside sheathing. The blank forms a receiving space for receiving a shank stump and having an opening restricted by an edge of said side wall, for inserting the shank stump. For the purpose of adapting the height of said edge of the blank to the shank stump to be received, a slit-shaped recess runs along said edge and extends from the edge into the side wall by a predetermined depth (T). Preferably, the slit-shaped recess is arranged in the center of the side wall such that a double wall portion is formed with an inner wall adjacent to the inner liner and an outer wall adjacent to the outer sheathing, whereby the thickness of the inner wall essentially corresponds to the thickness of the outer wall.

Abstract: A spinal column orthesis system is created which reduces the requirements for stock-keeping various sizes of spinal column ortheses and which enables a better adaptation to the body. The inventive spinal column orthesis comprises a rear member 1 of predetermined height and width, a front member 2 and two side members 3, 4 each connecting the rear member with the front member.

Abstract: A test prosthesis comprising a thigh member (6), a lower leg member (7), a joint (4) connecting both members and a knee part (1) is provided. The knee part (1) is connected to the thigh member (6) or to the lower leg member (7), respectively, through a connection unit (8) allowing a relative movement of the connected members in a direction inclined with respect to the leg axis. This allows a relative adjustment of the position of the members, whereby a selection of the correct prosthesis for a thigh amputated person is easily possible by testing different members.

Abstract: A swing phase control for an artificial knee joint is provided with a cylinder (1) having one end closed by a head member (2) and the other end closed by a base member (3), a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder in axial direction thereof and having a piston rod (6) passing outwards through a bore provided in the head member (2) for connection with the thigh part of a prosthesis. The head member (2) comprises a channel (12) with a check valve (13) providing a communication of the ambient with a head side first chamber (9) defined by the piston (7). The first chamber (9) communicates through a throttle passage with the base side second chamber (10) defined by the piston (7). The base member (3) comprises a vent bore (23) connecting the second chamber (10) with the ambient and a first spring (22) biasing the piston (7) towards the head member (2). Thus the swing phase control has good damping properties for movement of different speed.