Abstract: A ball joint or cap for an artificial hip joint is described that is suitable for carrying out a rotating or pivoting motion in an artificial hip joint socket, with a gap being provided for a natural fluid film (synovial fluid) between itself and the artificial hip joint socket, and with regular depressions without interconnecting channels between them being recessed in areas of its surface. It is proposed that its surface in the polar area is smooth and without depressions, that an area is provided in an intermediate area between the smooth polar area and its equator, in which depressions are recessed with hole widths between 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm, that adjacently in the intermediate area in the direction of its base edge, further depressions are recessed, the hole widths of which become steadily smaller, the closer they lie to the base edge, with hole widths between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm.

Abstract: A set is provided for creating an offset-resurfacing hip-joint implant. The set includes a 1 to 1.5 mm thick metallic acetabulum shell (1) for insertion into the natural acetabulum, from which only cartilage has been removed, a metallic head cap (2) for placement on the natural hip-joint head, from which only cartilage has been removed, and an inlay (3) for insertion into the acetabulum shell (1) as a sliding partner for the head cap (2). The inlay has a material thickness of 2 to 5 mm. The head cap (2) has a wall thickness which increases constantly from a thickness of 2 mm to 6 mm viewed in cross section in the region of the base edge (6) of the head cap, so that an eccentricity is produced in its outer shape.

Abstract: A ball joint or cap for an artificial hip joint is described that is suitable for carrying out a rotating or pivoting motion in an artificial hip joint socket, with a gap being provided for a natural fluid film (synovial fluid) between itself and the artificial hip joint socket, and with regular depressions without interconnecting channels between them being recessed in areas of its surface. It is proposed that its surface in the polar area is smooth and without depressions, that an area is provided in an intermediate area between the smooth polar area and its equator, in which depressions are recessed with hole widths between 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm, that adjacently in the intermediate area in the direction of its base edge, further depressions are recessed, the hole widths of which become steadily smaller, the closer they lie to the base edge, with hole widths between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm.

Abstract: A subcutaneous, intramuscular bearing (1) for a rigid transcutaneous implant (2) is provided, for anchoring intracorporally in a bone stump and having an intermediate piece (3) between the implant (2) and an extracorporal coupling for coupling on the implant. A rigid bushing (5) is tightly connected to the intermediate piece (3), such that between the wall of the bushing (5) and the intermediate piece (3) an annular space (6) is formed, which is closed in the intracorporal direction, for receiving and setting the extracorporal coupling. The outer wall of the bushing (5) has an open-meshed, three-dimensional lattice structure (8) and a lattice-free distal region having a width B. A spring ring (9) is set in the annular space (6) from the distal end, moved with a telescoping motion, and locked under exertion of its spring effect.

Abstract: Joint endoprostheses are provides which respectively have a joint part with a metallic core, wherein the metallic core is coated, in regions that roll and/or slide on another joint part during execution of the joint function, with a glass-ceramic composite mixture. In one embodiment, the glass-ceramic has the following composition with approximate amounts in wt. %: Component Amount (wt %) SiO2 45–50% Al2O3 15–20% ZrO2 ?8–12% K2O 0–8% Na2O ??0–7.5% CaO ??0–2.5% TiO2 ??0–1.5% and furthermore a residual amount of up to about 12.5% of MnO2 and/or Fe2O3 and/or Co2O3.

Abstract: A leg prosthesis adapted to a thigh stump includes an adapter (2) for a knee joint (3), a knee joint (3) mounted on this adapter, and a prosthetic lower leg (4) coupled to the knee joint (3). A prosthetic foot (5) is attached to this prosthetic lower leg and can pivot into a toes-raised foot position. The knee joint (3) upon transition from the extended position to the bent position performs a combined rolling-sliding movement about a pivot axis (6). A force-transmitting element (8) moves the prosthetic foot (5) substantially from the toes-down foot position to the toes-raised foot position during bending of the knee joint (3). Each bending position of the knee joint is transformed by a converter into an unambiguous electrical signal, which is supplied to a programmable control device, which generates a signal used to control an electrically adjustable actuator, which increases or decreases the resistance of the knee joint against or for further bending according to the signal.

Abstract: A subcutaneous, intramuscular support (1) is provided for a rigid transcutaneous implant (2), which can be anchored intracorporeally in a bone stump. The support has an intermediate piece (3) between the part of the implant (2) to be intracorporeally anchored and an extracorporeal coupling device (4) that can be coupled to it. A rigid bushing (5) is firmly connected with the intermediate piece (3), such that an annulus (6) is formed between the wall of the bushing (5) and the intermediate piece (3), the annulus being closed in the intracorporeal direction, and into which annulus the extracorporeal coupling device can be inserted. A tube (7) made of a flexible material is applied to the outer wall of the bushing (5), and a metallic wool (8) is applied to the flexible tube (7).

Abstract: A subcutaneous, intramuscular bearing for a rigid transcutaneous implant that can be anchored intracorporeally in a bone stump and that has an extracorporeal coupling device for a standard exoprosthetic component that includes a flexible material, and that has a socket that distally surrounds the implant in a firm manner, the bearing including: an enveloping sheath arranged intracorporeally in the form of a flexible pleated bellows, which is proximally connected to the socket via a collar that is formed thereon in a sealing manner, in such a way that a hollow space with a minimum breadth s remains free between the inner walling of the pleated bellows and the outer walling of the socket; a flexible grid network is arranged distally at the pleated bellows; and an additional grid network adjoins the flexible grid network on the distal side, wherein the additional grid network has a higher modulus of elasticity in comparison to that of the flexible grid network.

Abstract: A leg prosthesis adapted to a thigh stump includes an adapter (2) for a knee joint (3), a knee joint (3) mounted on this adapter, and a prosthetic lower leg (4) coupled to the knee joint (3). A prosthetic foot (5) is attached to this prosthetic lower leg and can pivot into a toes-raised foot position. The knee joint (3) upon transition from the extended position to the bent position performs a combined rolling-sliding movement about a pivot axis (6). A force-transmitting element (8) moves the prosthetic foot (5) substantially from the toes-down foot position to the toes-raised foot position during bending of the knee joint (3). Each bending position of the knee joint is transformed by a converter into an unambiguous electrical signal, which is supplied to a programmable control device, which generates a signal used to control an electrically adjustable actuator, which increases or decreases the resistance of the knee joint against or for further bending according to the signal.

Abstract: A knee joint endoprosthesis is provided having a femoral part (1) that can be linked with a shank part to be anchored in the femur, the femoral part being provided with two runners (2, 3) interlinked ventrally via a bridge. A tibia plateau part (5) interacts with a shank part to be anchored in the tibia and is provided with two slide guides (6) in which the runners (2, 3) of the femoral part (1) can roll off and slide. With increasing bend of the knee joint and upon exceeding a predetermined bending angle, the femoral part is allowed to perform an increasing rotation relative to the tibia plateau part (5).

Abstract: A system is provided for reconstructing the natural torque between the natural knee and the natural hip area, including a saw jig (2) with an exact parallelepipedal configuration, traversed by saw slots (16, 17, 18) for producing perpendicular ventral and dorsal and diagonal cuts. The front face of the saw jig can be placed on the horizontal cut of the femur (13) and detachably fixed thereto. The saw jig has a central opening (19) and is provided with coupling means for detachably coupling to a rotational jig (1). The system also includes an intramedullary pin (11), provided on the femur side, which can be connected in a pivoting manner to the rotational jig (1) and can be inserted in the femoral bone canal. The saw jig (2) can be threaded onto the intramedullary pin (11) and can then be coupled to the rotational jig (1), whereby the intramedullary pin (11) forms a pivoting axis for the saw jig (2), about which axis the latter can be pivoted plus or minus 10° about the horizontal.

Abstract: A subcutaneous, intramuscular support (1) is provided for a rigid transcutaneous implant (2), which can be anchored intracorporeally in a bone stump. The support has an intermediate piece (3) between the part of the implant (2) to be intracorporeally anchored and an extracorporeal coupling device (4) that can be coupled to it. A rigid bushing (5) is firmly connected with the intermediate piece (3), such that an annulus (6) is formed between the wall of the bushing (5) and the intermediate piece (3), the annulus being closed in the intracorporeal direction, and into which annulus the extracorporeal coupling device can be inserted. A tube (7) made of a flexible material is applied to the outer wall of the bushing (5), and a metallic wool (8) is applied to the flexible tube (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a reinforcement endoprosthesis for use in a femoral bone which is resected at an end of a hip joint and at an end of a knee joint. The endoprosthesis includes a stem part of an artificial hip joint and a condyle part of an artificial knee joint. The connecting part between the stem part and the condyle part is configured as a two-piece intramedullary nail which extends inside the femoral bone. One part of the intramedullary nail is a massive intramedullary nail with a connecting portion for a thread and a thread attached thereto and another part of the intramedullary nail is a hollow intramedullary nail with a female thread matching the thread of the first part. The female thread can be screwed with the thread, thereby allowing a length adjustment of the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thigh stump endoprosthesis for an exoprosthetic treatment of a patient whose leg has been amputated in the thigh area, whereby the thigh stump can be pulled into a shaft to which the replica of a lower leg part and foot part of the prosthesis is attached. The inventive prosthesis includes a proximal shaft part which can be inserted inside a femur stump, whereby the shaft part is at least partially covered by an open-mesh three-dimensional spatial network structure, and includes a conical adapter on the distal end thereof. A condyle replacement which re-creates the shape of natural condyles of a knee joint can be coupled to the shaft part by means of said adapter. A cuneiform support can be joined to the condyle replacement with a wedge angle &agr; which restores the valgity of the leg.

Abstract: A knee joint endoprosthesis is provided having a femoral part (1) that can be linked with a shank part to be anchored in the femur, the femoral part being provided with two runners (2, 3) interlinked ventrally via a bridge. A tibia plateau part (5) interacts with a shank part to be anchored in the tibia and is provided with two slide guides (6) in which the runners (2, 3) of the femoral part (1) can roll off and slide. The tibia plateau part (5) is hinged on the shank part by means of a rotation mechanism. Up to a predetermined bending angle of the knee joint the femoral part (1) and the tibia plateau part (5) are linked in a negative and in a positive fit, such that the femoral part (1) can be rotationally moved on the tibia shank part due to the fastening of the tibia plateau part (5) on the tibia shank part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow rasp for preparing a tubular bone in which a post-shaped endoprosthesis is inserted. A manipulating instrument can be proximally coupled to the rasp. The rasp comprises a metal grid network and a plurality of metal rasp elements. The metal rasp elements are studded at least at junctions of the metal grid network and are an integral part of a material forming the grid network.

Abstract: A hollow endoprosthesis including a metal grid network, metal particles mounted at least at junctions of the metal grid network, and a solid metal portion. Each of the metal particles includes a basic body and at least three pins projecting radially from the basic body, and is an integral part of a material forming the grid network.

Abstract: The invention relates an adapter for an exoprosthetic standard element such as an exoprosthetic knee joint. The adapter can be inserted with a proximal handle part into a tubular bone stump. The proximal handle part is at least partly covered with a tree-dimensional open-loop network structure and at its distal end has a coupling device for the standard element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an upper leg stump endoprosthesis for an exoprosthetic provision of a patient having undergone above-knee amputation. According to the invention, the upper leg stump can be inserted into a shank to which a below-knee prosthesis with a foot part is fitted. The inventive prosthesis includes a proximal shaft which is implantable in a truncated femur; an open-mesh, three-dimensional netting structure covering at least partially the proximal shaft; an adapter connected to a distal end of the proximal shaft; and a substitute condyle element, constituting a replica of a natural condyle of a knee joint, and linked to said shaft by said adapter.

Abstract: Pairs of partner elements for artificial joint implants have two-dimensional surface contact in which one joint part (1) rotates, rolls, slides or combines these in one movement relative to another joint part (2). A gap (10) is formed between the sliding partner elements for a film consisting of natural synovia fluid. The surface of at least one of the sliding partner elements has regularly positioned recesses (3) which serve as a reservoir for the synovia.