Abstract: A knee joint endoprosthesis has an element for the femur (2) which is substantially U-shaped when seen from a medial to a lateral angle, one horizontal, two diagonal and two vertical support surfaces facing the femur for accommodation on the resected femur bone, which is fitted with two runners (24, 25), and an element for the tibia (1) having two slide tracks (4, 5) on which the runners for the femur element can roll, and optionally slide, and a horizontal support surface (6) facing the tibia for accommodation on the resected tibia. The femur element (20) and tibia element (1) are configured without any shanks. At least both diagonal support surfaces of the femur element (2) and the horizontal support surface (6) of the tibia element (20) are fitted with an open-mesh, three-dimensional spatial network structure (7) which is an integral component of the base structures (8, 8′) of the femur element (20) and the tibia element (1).

Abstract: An implant is provided as a bone replacement having an open-meshed, three-dimensional structure which at least partially covers its surface and which is constructed from particles which are connected to a base structure (1) of the implant. The particles have four to eight studs (3) extending radially outward from each other, at least three of which are connected directly to the base structure. At least the ends (7) of the studs (3) projecting out freely from the base structure (1) form undercuts (8) and have a surface which is outwardly rounded off.

Abstract: A femur endoprosthesis for an artificial hip joint is provided with a stem (1) which can be implanted without cement in the upper region of a femur below the greater trochanter. The proximal end (8) of the stem is connectable with an adapter (2) for accommodating an artificial spherical part of a joint (20). The exterior of the stem is at least partially covered with an open-meshed three-dimensional spatial lattice structure (9). A distal end of the stem is bent caudally with a caudally oriented step (31) in the transition area and constructed as a stem end (30), which is also at least partially covered with an open-meshed three-dimensional spatial lattice structure (9).

Abstract: A femur endoprosthesis for an artificial hip joint includes (a) a shell (1) which can be implanted without cement in the upper region of a femur below the greater trochanter, the proximal end (8) of the shell being connectable with an adapter (2) for accommodating an artificial spherical joint part (20), wherein the exterior of the shell is at least partially covered with an open-meshed three-dimensional spatial lattice structure (9), and (b) a draw plate (3) in which a draw-in screw (4) can be fastened, which can be inserted in the interior of the shell through a through bore (5) in its distal end (6), and which can be screwed in with a thread (7) provided therein.

Abstract: A finger joint has first and second hollow anchorage shafts (2, 3) which can be implanted in finger tubular bones with a hinge joint (4) arranged between them. The first hollow shaft (2) can be connected with a ball cage (5) of the hinge joint (4) in which a spherical part (6) is mounted, on which a protruding stem (7) is formed. This stem (7) passes through the ball cage (5), and indeed through a slit (8) provided therefor in the wall of the ball cage (5). The slit (8) in the ball cage (5) widens continuously from the point (P) at which the stem (7) passes through the ball cage (5) in the extended position of the joint (4) to the point (M) at which the stem (7) passes through the ball cage (5) in the flexed position of the joint. In this manner, additional play is allowed to the joint in the flexed position, which largely corresponds to the physiological coordinated movement of a finger joint.

Abstract: A device for determining resection surfaces on the femur (20) and on tibia (10) in preparation for implantation of a total knee endoprosthesis includes a femoral saw template (12) and a removable tibial component (35) which can be locked in the area of the tibial tuberosity and repositioned there in exactly the same place. The tibial component has a fixed plate and a movable plate. The frontal plane of the tibia is first established and, using the movable plate, pushed in parallel in the direction of the femoral saw template (12), which at this stage is arranged on the frontal aspect of the femur (10) for pivoting around the femoral axis. The movable plate (24) of the tibial component (35) is pushed until finally at least a linear contact between tibia positioners (25) of the movable plate and the femoral saw template (12) is created.

Abstract: An implantable device for selectively opening and closing a tubular organ of the body such as the urethra has an elongate valve body which can be introduced into the tubular organ. The valve body has a shut-off means which can be selectively closed and opened, for which purpose the valve body has an elastic hose portion in which there is disposed an inflation body which can be inflated by a fluid to then close the lumen of the hose portion. The fluid can be conveyed out of the inflation body into a storage container by actuation of an implantable pump so the inflation body collapses and permits a flow through the valve body. Manual actuation of a non-return valve in the pump causes fluid to flow out of the storage container into the inflation body to inflate same and close the valve body.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a bone implant which has at least in sections a surface structure with open pores. The positive model for the implant is moulded from a base body made of a modelling material coated at least in sections with a porous coating having a predetermined pore structure. Also disclosed is a bone implant made of metal or plastics with a local distribution of pore sizes and/or densities at the surface of the implant that corresponds to the trabecular structure of the osseous environment in which the implant is implanted.

Abstract: An implant to replace a rear patella part is provided, which comprises a prosthesis part imitating the patella part and a metal attachment part fixed in the prosthesis part, with which the implant can be attached in the natural patella part. In order to produce a gentle and secure attachment for the implant, the attachment part has a convexly curved external contour, which at least in sections has an open-cell and open-pore surface structure.

Abstract: A pelvis part endoprosthesis for the replacement of a pelvis part in the region of the hip joint includes a main body (100) that has a hemispherical recess (101) for seating of an artificial hip joint socket, as well as a projecting neck (102) in which at least one locating hole (103, 104) is formed. The longitudinal axis of this hole forms with the polar axis (105) of the recess (101) an angle which lies in the range between 20.degree. and 30.degree.. The endoprosthesis further includes a first connecting element (200), by means of which a connection of the main body (100) with the ilium region (400) of the remaining pelvis is realized. The connection is produced by means of a self-locking seating of a peg (201) of the first connecting element (200) in at least one locating hole (103, 104). The peg (201), when viewed from the dorsal towards the ventral direction, is inclined at an angle in the range between 25.degree. and 45.degree., and is laterally inclined from the medial at an angle between 0.degree.

Abstract: A spherical head endoprosthesis has a spherical head and a base piece. Between the base piece and the spherical head is a conical interference fit connection, wherein the spherical head has a conical bore and the base piece has a conical pin. The axis of the conical bore and the center line of the spherical head form an angle in the range of 7.degree. to 15.degree.. The conical bore is decentralized in relation to the center line with an offset of 1 to 4 mm. On the inside of the bore are at least five grooves parallel to the axis of the bore, into which, after assembly of the conical interference fit connection, grips at least one locking projection provided on the peripheral surface of the conical pin. The grooves may be designated by markings around the periphery of the bore opening for easy identification of the proper groove for insertion of the locking projection during the replacement operation.

Abstract: A knee joint endoprosthesis includes a shaft piece (1) which is anchored in the femur bone and a connected femur component (2) with two gliding runners (3, 4), which are anteriorly connected by a bridge (6) carrying a connecting element (5) to the shaft piece (1) and defining between the runners a groove (7) extending anteriorly to posteriorly. This groove is bordered on both sides, in the femur direction, by struts (8, 8') which have channels (9, 9') with a partially circular cross section running laterally from the groove and aligned with each other. The tibia component (10) has two gliding surfaces (11, 12), on which the gliding runners (3, 4) of the femur component (2) perform a gliding movement, a strut (13) which is directed toward the femur between the two gliding surfaces (11, 12) and reaches through the groove (7) of the femur component (2) and rides tightly against its inner surfaces.

Abstract: An implant is provided for replacement of bones, especially a joint replacement with an open-mesh three-dimensional structure at least partly covering its surface. The surface structure (1) is in its surface extension divided into at least two discrete zones (A, B, C) with different mesh sizes. After the implantation, bone material grows into the three-dimensional structure. The distribution of the zones of different mesh sizes on the surface of the implant depends on the pore size of the natural spongiosa of the bone onto or into which the implant is to be inserted.

Abstract: A voice prosthesis is provided for use in a shunt between the trachea and the esophagus of a laryngectomized patient. The voice prosthesis has a tube-shaped metal part (1) with a funnel-shaped expansion (2) that opens towards its tracheal end. Within the path of the stream of air from the trachea to the esophagus there is provided at least one element (3) that is caused to vibrate by the stream of air passing through the prosthesis, thereby producing an audible tone. With this prosthesis, a laryngectomized patient can produce a much more natural sounding voice than has previously been the case.

Abstract: A composite socket of a joint endoprosthesis may be fashioned in which the inorganic component of the socket has apatite and/or wollastonite crystalline phases and additionally secondary crystalline phases providing improved hydrolysis stability. The inorganic mixture consists (in mass % proportions) of 31-34% CaO, 10-12% P.sub.2 O.sub.5, 43-46% SiO.sub.2, 3-5% Na.sub.2 O, 2-3% CaF.sub.2 and, beyond the 100% of the above components, also 0.5-11% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or Zr.sub.2 and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or TiO.sub.2 and ZrO.sub.2 or TiO.sub.2 and ZrO.sub.2 and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, whereby the proportion of TiO.sub.2 lies between 0.5 and 5%. Essential to the invention, too, is a certain grain size distribution and radius of aperture between the ball and the socket. The result is non-wearing operation of the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: An implant is produced with an open-celled structure at least partly covering its surface. The method uses a positive pattern having a basic pattern with particles bonded to it, the particles covering the areas of the pattern which correspond to the structured surface areas of the implant. The method uses the usual steps of conventional lost positive casting techniques. Importantly, the particles have a base with four to eight pins extending radially from its surface with at least three being connected to the basic pattern (e.g., by adhesive).

Abstract: A knee joint endoprosthesis is provided, having a femur component to be anchored by a shaft and equipped with two gliding runners, which between them define a hollow space extending anteriorly to posteriorly and open toward the tibia, and a tibia component also to be anchored by a shaft and having two gliding surfaces on which the gliding runners of the femur component can execute rolling and gliding movement. The knee joint endoprosthesis is characterized by the tibia component being equipped with a double truncated cone, which is arranged with its main axis toward the femur and which serves as a guiding and stress reducing element. Further, a pair of guiding surfaces is constructed in the hollow space of the femur component. These surfaces are inclined at angles corresponding respectively to the angles of inclination of the two half truncated cones that form the double truncated cone. The cone surfaces of the half truncated cones are partially surrounded by and glide upon the pair of guiding surfaces.

Abstract: A lost positive pattern comprising an open-pored plastics substrate containing pores with an average width of from one to three millimeters is used, in which, after a negative pattern has been made, the voids which it, as a core, contains are filled with metal by casting and the negative pattern is removed. The production of the negative pattern is preceded by the following method steps in which once the substrate of plastics material has been cleaned, it is wetted throughout with a keying resin film which partially dissolves the structure of its surface and in which at least one coat of an auto-crosslinking two-pack silicone is applied onto and into the whole of the substrate of plastics material to thicken the walls and/or the interlinking webs of the porous substrate of plastics material.

Abstract: Open-celled metal structures are produced which have walls and webs of uniform strength throughout. The structures may also have an irregular surface pattern. To make a strengthened positive pattern, the method comprises application of at least one layer of a strengthening agent such as poly(methyl methacrylate) or polyester resin to a plastic substrate used for ceramic mold formation. The strengthened positive pattern is embedded in a ceramic mass, and heated to incinerate and remove the plastic substrate, which results in voids in the ceramic mass. Molten metal is poured into the ceramic mass. After solidification, the ceramic mass is removed to form the open-celled metal structure.

Abstract: A friction steering drive system for electric fishing motors of the type customarily used in trolling. These trolling motors commonly have the motor-propeller assembly supported at the lower end of a motor tube that is held by a swivel bracket secured to the mounting assembly of the boat. To steer the boat, the motor-propeller assembly is turned by actuating a steering drive motor that turns the motor tube through a gear train and a friction drive connection between the steering gear and the motor tube.