Abstract: This invention describes a femoral twin-stem for a hip endoprosthesis. The ateral stem portion and the medial stem portion are connected by a bridge. The neck of the femoral twin-stem is connected to the proximal section of the lateral stem portion. The proximal prong of the medial stem portion and the distal prong of the lateral stem portion allow for a gradual load transfer to the bone since they can be individually designed with a proper geometry all the way to their respective tips. Gradual load transfer in turn reduces stresses in the bone cement mantle and improves the long term results of the hip replacement effected with this femoral twin-stem.

Abstract: A shaft-part for a joint-end prosthesis or bone-shaft replacement and is implantable in a tubular bone 1, including a hollow, frusto-conical braid 5 constituted by two mutually crossing series of fibers 2, 3. When traction is exerted on the fibers 2, 3, the frusto-conical braid narrows; if, on the other hand, compression is exerted on the fibers 2, 3, the diameter of the frusto-conical braid 5 widens. These effects may be used on one hand to implant while the shaft rests areally against the marrow cavity 13 and on the other hand to remove the shaft without complications in case of new operations.

Abstract: A novel method for generating orientation of short fibers in the matrix of a composite material allows for production of complex high strength components. With state of the art technologies short fibers can be oriented only by elongational flows and these are generally applicable only to extrusion products. The invention is based on the fundamental discovery that short fibers can be oriented by relative movement against a finer three-dimensional isotropic network. Gel networks are of molecular level and satisfy this scaling requirement even for whiskers. The process involves mixing-in the fibers with a gel, pouring (injecting) the mixture into a mold and then orienting the fibers by moving them relative to the gel network. The movement can be driven by sound waves. When orientation is accomplished, the gel is solidified forming the matrix of the composite.

Abstract: This hand power tool mechanism is useful for caulking guns in particular. It has a stationary handle (101), a drive lever (102) connected to said stationary handle (101) by a joint (103), a movable handle (104) connected to said drive lever (102) by a joint (105) and a linkage closure bar (106) connected to both said movable handle (104) and said stationary handle (101) by joints (107) and (108) respectively. Said stationary handle (101), drive lever (102), movable handle (104), linkage closure bar (106) and said four joints (103, 105, 107, 108) are forming a four bar linkage mechanism which allows an optimum utilization of the hand power.

Abstract: The method of preparing a self-curing two-component powder liquid bone cement comprising a powder component consisting of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles (1) containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as a polymerization catalyst (2), and methylmethacrylate (MMA) as a liquid polymerizable component (3), is performed by the following two steps: A) an evacuated, inflexible chamber (4) of a syringe (11) is filled essentially completely with the PMMA particles (1) which are at least partially solvable in the MMA monomer (3) and containing the BPO (2) distributed throughout the PMMA particles (1); B) by the action of the vacuum in the interspaces between the PMMA particles (1) the said interspaces are essentially completely flooded and the said PMMA particles are completely wetted by the said MMA monomer (3) and thereby at least a surface layer (9) of said PMMA particles (1) is dissolved and the corresponding BPO (2) contained in the said dissolved surface layer (9) initiates the polymerization process in the flood

Abstract: The scissors for household and medical use comprise an upper and lower blade defining a distal region and an upper and lower handle defining a proximal region. The lower blade and handle are formed as one piece and the upper blade and handle are formed as two separate pieces. The upper blade is movably linked to the lower blade by means of a mechanism--e.g. a four-bar linkage--allowing to move said upper blade by acting on said upper handle leaving said one-piece lower blade and handle stationary.

Abstract: The stem for joint prostheses, in particular for hip prosthesis, has a proximal neck region (1), a lateral tension region (2), a medial compression region (3) and a central region (4) lying between said lateral and medial regions (2,3). The central region (4) is provided with a regular pattern of anteroposterior cuts (5) extending from said proximal region (1) to the distal end (6) of the stem rendering the stem stiffness adaptable to the stiffness of the receiving bone cavity.

Abstract: A method of preparing a self-curing two-component cement, which is particularly useful for the preparation of bone cement used in orthopedics, from a powder component and a liquid component. The method includes providing the powder component in a first at least partially evacuated inflexible container, providing the liquid component in a second inflexible container, and adding the liquid component to the evacuated powder component, such that the liquid floods the evacuated interspaces between the powder particles. An apparatus for carrying out this process is a syringe with a slidable piston, the syringe being sealed at its dispensing end by a removable plug. Preferably, the syringe is fitted with an axially collapsible spiral mixing device, one end of which is an elongated shaft which extends through the removable plug at the dispensing end. The elongated shaft can be rotated to homogenize the contents of the syringe, but during dispensing the mixing device collapses as the piston advances.