Patents Assigned to Howmedica GmbH
  • Patent number: 5643262
    Abstract: Device for stabilizing, and/or compressing, and/or distracting certain portions of the spinal column is provided. The device utilizes pedicle screws, and an adapter is provided which may be connected by a screw device to the head of a pedicle screw. A roughened portion of the adapter cooperates with a roughened portion of the pedicle screw head to provide for a non-rotatable connection of the adapter with respect to the pedicle screw. The adapter has a circular opening or a recess for receiving the threaded rod which is fixed to the adapter by a threaded device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Metz-Stavenhagen, Bernd Robioneck
  • Patent number: 5573536
    Abstract: A locking nail for treating femoral fractures has a generally cylindrical proximal portion to be positioned in the medullary canal. The proximal portion has an oblique bore for positioning and guiding a femoral neck screw. The nail has a distal portion provided with at least one cross bore for receiving a bone screw. The distal portion has an annular cross-sectional profile including an axial slot. The annular profile may be in the form of a clover leaf. A transition portion of said nail is located between the proximal and distal nail portions. The longitudinal slot extends from the transition portion to the distal tip of the distal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Arsene J. Grosse, Hans E. Harder
  • Patent number: 5527311
    Abstract: The invention is an elongated plate made of deformable, body-compatible material, which is to be anteriorly attached to at least a pair of adjacent vertebrae. The plate has specially placed holes to receive bone screws to be screwed into the vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Philip Procter, Hans E. Harder, Nicola Bird
  • Patent number: 5505738
    Abstract: A surgical saw has a sector-shaped saw blade mounted on a shaft. The shaft is surrounded by a coaxial second shaft to which an eccentric member is mounted close to a saw blade and parallel therewith. Both shafts and thus the eccentric member and the cutting blade can be rotated with respect to each other and can be fixed in their rotational position. Depending on the rotational position, the saw blade is either covered by the eccentric member in a rest position to be inserted in a hollow bone, or is indexed in a position to be freely and gradually exposed to make a sawing operation possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Dietrich Hempel, Harm-Iven Jensen
  • Patent number: 5476464
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for setting a spine having damaged vertebrae, comprising an anchoring element including a shaft portion (16) to be attached to spaced vertebrae, the free end of said anchoring element including a slot (24) for receiving a distracting or, respectively, compressing bar (40) and a cap nut (42) to be screwed onto an outer thread (32) provided in the region of the receiving slot to urge an axial fixing portion (44) towards the bar received in said receiving slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Metz-Stavenhagen, Bernd Robioneck
  • Patent number: 5468241
    Abstract: Support device for the human vertebral column having an elongated dorsally implantable holding device, at least two pedicle screws which have a head and a threaded shank and the head of which is mounted on the holding device pivotally about an axis which extends approximately perpendicularly to the threaded shank axis whilst the threaded shank projects from the holding device, and a securing device for the fixing of the pedicle screws in the set angular position and at desired axial intervals from each other, wherein the holding device includes at least two separate preferably threaded bolts which cooperate with a preferably threaded sleeve and which at the head ends includes a clamping surface lying on the axis or axis-parallel, the head of the pedicle screws includes two approximately parallel clamping faces extending approximately parallel to the threaded shank axis and for each bolt a screw connection is provided which clampingly fixes with respect to each other in their position the clamping surfaces of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Metz-Stavenhagen, Klaus F. A. Behrens
  • Patent number: 5458600
    Abstract: A locking nail which is used for a plurality of bone cavities is provided in a plurality of lengths. The bone nail is suited for dynamic medical care as well as for subjecting compression and/or distraction forces.The shaft (10) of the locking nail is hollow and straight and has an outer diameter which is for the most part smaller than the inner diameter of the corticalis. Enlarging the bone cavity is generally not necessary. The nail has at least a cross bore for receiving a bone screw at the first end and a further cross bore for a bone screw at the second end adjacent the driving end. A bore at the second end (18) is formed as an elongate bore (26) and an inner threaded portion is formed at the second end (18), which threaded portion extends into the elongate bore (26) for receiving a screw bolt (54, 62) which may be brought in contact with the shaft of the bone screw (82) extending through the elongate bore (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Jouwert W. J. L. Stapert, Klaus F. A. Behrens
  • Patent number: 5441500
    Abstract: A bone nail for upper arm fractures, including a hollow first shank adapted to be inserted into the proximal end portion of a medullary canal, the first shank having a distal end that has a slotted portion provided with a plurality of slots and an internal thread extending beyond the slotted portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut R. A. Seidel, Andreas W. Speitling
  • Patent number: 5413602
    Abstract: A spacer device for supporting vertebral bodies, comprising a first supporting member to engage a first vertebral body, a second supporting member to engage a second vertebral body and an adjustment means including a sleeve having an internal thread and a pair of bolts each having an outer thread cooperating with said sleeve to adjust the supporting members in a predetermined distance with respect to each other, whereby the adjustment means is provided with clamping faces at either end, which adjustment faces are aligned with the axis of the sleeve and the bolts or alternatively are disposed parallel to said axis, the supporting members are provided with clamping faces extending substantially normally with respect to the supporting faces and a screw connection is provided for each supporting member to press the clamping faces of the adjustment means and the supporting member together in a predetermined position with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Metz-Stavenhagen
  • Patent number: 5397328
    Abstract: A bone nail for the medical care of spoke bone (i.e., radius) fractures comprises a hollow shaft (10) curved in a plane, which shaft is to be distally and posteriorly inserted into a spoke bone medullary canal and which includes a proximal end portion which is slotted so as to be able to be spread apart by a spreading body. A straddling member (36) having an outer threaded portion (44) cooperates with an inner threaded portion (18) in the slotted portion (12) of the shaft (10) of the nail so as to radially expand the proximal nail end when the straddling body (36) is rotated. A cross bore (22) at the distal end of the shaft (10) receives a bone screw extending approximately vertical to the plane of the curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus F. A. Behrens, Christian Lefevre
  • Patent number: 5372598
    Abstract: A small bone plate suitable for use, for example, on the cranial skeleton, on the facial skeleton and on micro fragments of other skeleton sections is provided. The bone plate is formed from webs joining screw hole boundaries in a particular fashion; and the plate can be bent in its plane, without deformation of the screw hole boundaries. Thus, insertion of bone screws into the small bone plate is not hindered by deformed screw hole boundaries. The bone plate can be single-legged or multiple-legged. Also provided is a special type of bone screw especially suitable for use with the small bone plate of the invention. The bone screw has a cross-slotted head, with the bottoms of the slots being concave. The screw is also preferably self-tapping and preferably has a conical tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Luhr, Hans E. Harder
  • Patent number: 5352224
    Abstract: The invention provides a correction implant for the human vertebral column which is simply structured and consists of only a few parts. The correction implant according to the invention can be simply implanted and effectively fixes reset vertebra bodies in a selected position. The correction implant includes pedicle screws having slots for the accommodation of rods. The rods serve for the bracing of pairs of pedicle screws in a crosswise manner. The longitudinal connection between pedicle screws takes place by use of plate-shaped elongated elements having openings through which the pedicle screws are extended, with at least one opening being elongated so that the pedicle screws can be screwed in an accurate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Kord Westermann
  • Patent number: 5330536
    Abstract: Femoral portion of a hip prosthesis comprising a shank, preferably a collar and a neck, with a ball-like head or a head-receiving portion being integrally formed to the neck, respectively, whereby the shank is formed as hollow body which comprises a plurality of openings interconnecting the lateral surfaces of the shank and the hollow space of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Karl H. Tager, Hans E. Harder
  • Patent number: 5330531
    Abstract: A humeral endoprosthesis for partially or completely replacing the humerus has a spherical head portion which is connected to an elongate distal shaft portion. The spherical head includes openings for fixing a number of ligaments. Distally of the opening a groove is formed around the circumference of the head for receiving a band made of body compatible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolfo Capanna
  • Patent number: 5330472
    Abstract: A device for applying a tensional force between two vertebrae of the human vertebral column, having at least two retaining members adapted to be brought into engagement with associated vertebrae, said members having a throughgoing opening for the accommodation of a threaded rod, and pairs of nuts adapted to be threaded onto said threaded rod in order to fix said retaining members in a desired position on said threaded rod, characterized in that said retaining members are configured as clamping members (10) having two legs (14, 16) which are bendable relative to each other in the plane extending through said threaded rod (26) to embrace a transverse process (22) of a vertebra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Metz-Stavenhagen
  • Patent number: 5326367
    Abstract: An endoprosthesis for cancer damaged hip bones has a recess in a distal portion to receive a prosthetic hip socket. The endoprosthesis includes an individual distal part and an individual proximal part which are secured to each other by means of a screw connection. The distal and the proximal part include mounting brackets for screwing the parts to the hip bone or, respectively, to a vertebra. In addition, the proximal and distal parts are shaped to positively inter-engage each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Robioneck
  • Patent number: 5326360
    Abstract: An expandable endoprosthesis for a joint and adjacent bone parts has first and second joint component parts. The second component has a part at one end thereof for a portion of a joint. The second component has a telescoping stem coupled to its joint part for attachment to a long bone. The telescoping stem has an inner and an outer member axially adjustable with respect to one another by means of a threaded spindle and a threaded spindle nut attached respectively to either the inner or outer member. A pinion gear is attached to either the spindle or spindle nut for rotation therewith. An indexing system is provided to rotate the pinion a predetermined amount upon movement of the first and second joint components towards one another after implantation and thereby lengthen the second joint component stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Kotz, Reinhard Windhager
  • Patent number: 5021063
    Abstract: A joint socket member for a joint prosthesis, in particular a hip joint socket member of a hip joint endoprosthesis in which, in accordance with the invention, the cup element is formed from preferably two cup portions, disposed at least in two cup planes arranged radially at a spacing with a free intermediate space relative to each other, wherein openings are provided at least in the cup portion which is towards the bone, the number, distribution, shape and size of the openings, during the operation, permitting the introduction and secure holding of spongiosa or loose bone substance into the intermediate space and thereafter ensuring growth thereinto of new strong bone substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Howmedica, GmbH
    Inventor: Karl H. Tager
  • Patent number: 4892546
    Abstract: An adjustable prosthesis for a bone joint comprising a joint component, an elongated rod having a distal end and a proximal end, a drive trunnion connected to said rod through an angular gear, an elongated inner sleeve, an outer sleeve and means for preventing rotation of said inner sleeve within said outer sleeve, said elongated rod including a threaded spindle and said inner sleeve including a threaded spindle nut which cooperates with said threaded spindle to provide longitudinal adjustment of the inner sleeve relative to the rod, said inner sleeve being telescopically slidable within said outer sleeve but being prevented by said means from rotating within said outer sleeve, said outer sleeve being secured to said joint component, said elongated rod being supported at its proximal end in said joint component for rotation relative to the joint component by said drive trunnion and angular gear, said drive trunnion being rotatably supported in said joint component, and said elongated rod having means for bein
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer T. Kotz, Hans E. Harder
  • Patent number: 4858602
    Abstract: A bone nail for the treatment of upper arm fractures comprises a hollow shank adapted to be introduced into the medullary canal and slotted at the distal end, and an expansion screw adapted to be advanced into the shank through rotation of the screw so as to radially expand the slotted end of the shank. An inner thread is formed on the inner wall of the shank outside the slotted region for cooperation with the expansion screw. At least in the slotted region, the cross sectional profile of the shank is provided with alternating elevations and depressions on the inner surface of the wall of the hollow shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Howmedica GmbH Werk Schonkirchen
    Inventors: Hartmut R. A. Seidel, Hans E. Harder, Klaus F. A. Behrens