Abstract: A screw driver for a screw having a drive socket having an axially extending shaft with a bifurcated tip, the tip having a cross-sectional profile for insertion into a cross-sectional profile of the screw socket. The shaft has a tapered section adjacent the bifurcated tip. A bushing is mounted on an outer surface of the shaft for axial movement therealong. The bushing has inwardly extending protrusions for engaging the tapered section on the shaft upon movement in the axial direction along the shaft in a direction. away from the tip. This allows the selective capture or release of the screw by the shaft tip by axial movement of the bushing away from and towards the shaft distal tip.

Abstract: A tool for implementing a correction plan in an external fixation frame having a plurality of adjustment elements or screws, for example, generally includes a driver, a motor, a controller, and a processor. The driver is adapted to engage and rotate each of the screws. The motor is coupled the driver and adapted to rotate the driver. The controller is connected to the motor and configured to control operation of the motor. The a processor adapted configured to: receive correction plan data; receive identification data including information for identifying at least one of the plurality of screws; determine movement of at least one of the plurality of the screws based on the correction plan data and the identification data; and send signals indicative of the determined movement to the controller in order to rotate at least one of the plurality of screws according to a predetermined correction plan.

Abstract: A method of connecting an intramedullary nail and a targeting and/or nailing instrument includes engaging a coupling element which has an axially parallel projection with an axially parallel recess on the hollow connection end of the nail. The engagement of the projection and recess fastens the nail under axial engagement on the connection end of the instrument in predefined rotational position on the instrument. A quick-fastener element engages in the connection end of the nail and has a first coupling element and the connection end of the nail has a second coupling element. The coupling elements are configured so that in a first rotational position relative to the axially parallel projection the instrument can be introduced into the connection end of the nail and in a second rotational position the coupling elements cooperate so that the nail is held axially fixedly on the instrument.

Abstract: A boring tool for a bone, particularly the proximal femur, which has an elongate shank having a cutting portion at the front end, and a portion to mount a rotary driving device at the rear end of the shank. The tool has an axial through bore for receiving a guide wire, wherein the shank, in a rear portion, has at least one radial aperture which is open to the axial bore.

Abstract: An osteonsynthesis implant has a plate-shaped base component having at least one hole, at least one axially extending rod-shaped tie rod having a first and a second end and at least one threaded component. The first end of the rod-shaped tie rod can be placed in the hole of the base component. The hole and the first end of the tie rod are formed such that the first end of the tie rod can be locked axially in the hole and is pivoted about an axis of the hole while locked to the plate. The second end of the tie rod is provided with a thread and the threaded component can be screwed onto the thread of the first tie rod. The tie rod can perform a pivoting movement of up to about 20° around the hole axis while locked in the plate hole.

Abstract: An improved polyaxial mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism preferably works in conjunction with a bone plate and fixation mechanism, such as a screw, rod, or the like. The improved polyaxial mechanism increases the strength of the locking among the locking mechanism, fixation mechanism, and bone plate. In addition, the improved polyaxial mechanism allows for easy locking among the elements, as well as more difficulty in unlocking the elements. A method for utilizing the improved polyaxial mechanism is also disclosed.

Abstract: An osteonsynthesis implant has a plate-shaped base component having at least one hole, at least one axially extending rod-shaped tie rod having a first and a second end and at least one threaded component. The first end of the rod-shaped tie rod can be placed in the hole of the base component. The hole and the first end of the tie rod are formed such that the first end of the tie rod can be locked axially in the hole and is pivoted about an axis of the hole while locked to the plate. The second end of the tie rod is provided with a thread and the threaded component can be screwed onto the thread of the first tie rod. The tie rod can perform a pivoting movement of up to about 20° around the hole axis while locked in the plate hole.

Abstract: An implant for osteosynthesis, for example a bone nail, has an implant body which has at least one bore with a threaded portion and a bone screw which engages the thread when it is threaded into a bone for the fixation of the implant body. The threaded bore has an annular groove the diameter of which is larger than the thread outer diameter, and which receives a ring of a deformable material with an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the thread of the bone screw so that the ring extends partially into the bore.

Abstract: A system for inserting an augmentation pin into an augmentation screw, including a pin-inserter with an axial through-bore and a lateral opening. A pin-magazine with a pin-retainer for an augmentation pin in insertable in the lateral opening. The pin-magazine is placed in the lateral opening of the pin-inserter and an augmentation pin in the pin-retainer is aligned with the axial through-bore. The augmentation pin may be pushed by means of a pusher from the pin-magazine into an augmentation screw, when the augmentation screw is arranged in front of the pin-inserter.

Abstract: A bone plate mounted on a bone. The bone plate has at least one opening for receiving a flush mounted cam. A through-bore passes from a side surface to opposing side surface of the bone plate. The through-bore has a diameter sized to allow insertion of a cable. A portion of the through-bore intersects with a peripheral portion of the opening. A second opening also passes from the side surface to opposing side surface. A cable may be inserted in the second opening, wrapped around the bone and its free end inserted in the through-bore. The cable may be tightened around the bone. The flush mounted cam can be rotated in place. Rotation of the cam results in the cam surface squeezing the cable between concave cam surface and walls of the opening, thereby locking the cable in the tightened state.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail and targeting and/or nailing instrument are provided, whereby a connection end of the targeting and/or nailing instrument has an axially parallel protrusion and a connection end of the nail has an axially parallel recess in order to couple the targeting and/or nailing instrument. The coupling system couples the targeting/nailing instrument and nail in their rotational position when they contact axially and whereby a connector is also provided in order to connect the targeting and/or nailing instrument and the nail in an axially fixed but also releasable manner. The connection end of the targeting and/or nailing instrument has an end section that engages approximately in one end of the bore-hole section of the nail and the end section and bore-hole section have a deformable element for a releasable snap connection of the parts with the simultaneous contact of the axially parallel protrusion and the axially parallel recess.

Abstract: A hybrid bone plate has a first plate portion, having a first top surface and a first bottom surface and comprises a hard titanium alloy. A second plate portion has a second top surface and a second bottom surface and comprises a pure titanium or a soft titanium alloy. The first plate portion has a higher material yield strength than the second plate portion. The first plate portion and the second plate portion are connected to each other at a transition region by for example welding wherein in the transition region the first top surface and the second top surface together form a closed top integral surface and the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface together form a closed bottom integral surface.

Abstract: A medical implant system has parts for detachably establishing a spatial orientation between a body implant such as a bone plate and an aiming device. A contoured portion of a body implant is designed in such a manner that an adapter device can be detachably fastened to the body implant by means of a mechanic form-fit connection. Preferably the form-fitting elements are grooves and protrusions which tightly engage when clamped together. The adaptor device provides a basis for aiming or targeting a device such that the targeting device may be detachably positioned in a stable spatial position with respect to the body implant. Preferably, the adaptor device comprises a dowel pin, a handling device and a clamping element, which elements allow for a quick and easy assembling and disassembling of the adaptor device in a desired alignment.

Abstract: An ultrasonic handpiece is used for augmenting a bone screw. The handpieces comprise a housing, an ultrasonic converter shiftingly accommodated in the housing, and a sonotrode connected to one end of the ultrasonic converter. The sonotrode protrudes from the housing into the bone screw. An adjuster wheel is adjustably connected to the housing. A spring is provided the ends of which are supported by the ultrasonic converter and the adjuster wheel, respectively. The ultrasonic converter is preloaded in the direction away from the adjuster wheel by setting the adjuster wheel, thereby the sonotrode is urged with a selected force into the bone screw and the augmentation material is pressed out of the bone screw and into the bone.

Abstract: An apparatus for bracing a plurality of vertebrae of the human spine has at least two pedicle screws, each having an annular head with an opening therewithin and including a slot therewithin. Each slot extends into the corresponding opening and includes internal threaded portions. A securing screw to be screwed in each slot is provided. A relatively stiff threaded rod is also provided and is to be inserted into the opening in the head of each of the pedicle screws and to be secured by the securing screws. Adjusting nuts are screwed on the rod and at least one cooperates with each head.

Abstract: A bone reamer has an ablation device for forming cavities in body tissue, the ablation device is movable with respect to a head of the reamer, and is capable of protruding at least partially beyond a surface of the head. The amount of protrusion the ablation device protrudes beyond the surface of the head has a variable geometry and the geometry is remotely modifiable. More particularly, the amount the ablation device extends beyond the outer surface of a reamer head body can be varied by an actuator located on the reamer outside the body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic handpiece is used for augmenting a bone screw. The handpieces comprise a housing, an ultrasonic converter shiftingly accommodated in the housing, and a sonotrode connected to one end of the ultrasonic converter. The sonotrode protrudes from the housing into the bone screw. An adjuster wheel is adjustably connected to the housing. A spring is provided the ends of which are supported by the ultrasonic converter and the adjuster wheel, respectively. The ultrasonic converter is preloaded in the direction away from the adjuster wheel by setting the adjuster wheel, thereby the sonotrode is urged with a selected force into the bone screw and the augmentation material is pressed out of the bone screw and into the bone.

Abstract: A humeral nail for the surgical care of fractures of the proximal humerus, with a shaft which has a longitudinal axis and is provided in a proximal portion with at least transverse bores spaced apart in the axial direction. The axis of the three bores is circumferentially offset in respect to each other in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The nail is provided with at least two additional transverse bores in a portion located towards the distal end of the nail, the proximal transverse bore running diagonally to the longitudinal axis and being located in the same plane as is the axis of the additional transverse bores.

Abstract: A bone reamer has an ablation device for forming cavities in body tissue, the ablation device is movable with respect to a head of the reamer, and is capable of protruding at least partially beyond a surface of the head. The amount of protrusion the ablation device protrudes beyond the surface of the head has a variable geometry and the geometry is remotely modifiable. More particularly, the amount the ablation device extends beyond the outer surface of a reamer head body can be varied by an actuator located on the reamer outside the body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic applicator includes an ultrasonic converter accommodated within a converter housing, a first housing, and a second housing. A rear end portion of the first housing is located in the second housing and an inner end portion of the converter housing is located in the rear end portion of the first housing. A length of the rear end portion of the first housing is adjustable. An outer end portion of the converter housing is connected with the second housing via an elastic element, so that a restoring force may be applied on the converter housing by virtue of a movement of the converter housing relative to the second housing.