Abstract: A bone implant and the method of manufacturing thereof, the bone implant, in particular an inter-vertebral implant, made of a radiation-permeable material having a circular-shaped hollow body with a sleeve. The inter-vertebral implant defining a surface and comprising a front section, a back section, and two lateral sections defining a central axis. The hollow body is subdivided by at least two partitions running essentially parallel to the central axis and which connect the front section to the back section. The surface of the bone implant has surface irregularities of at least 2 ?m, and the at least two partitions have at least one perforation.

Abstract: A device to be used in combination with a surgical navigation system for defining the position of a straight line determined by an operating surgeon within a three-dimensional coordinate system in an operating theater. The devices includes a body (1) with a surface (2) and at least three markers (3) which emit waves (19) and the position of which can be determined within a three-dimensional coordinate system by a position detector belonging to the surgical navigation system. A laser (4) mounted on the body (1) emits a laser beam (5), directed away from the body (1), which has a geometrical central beam (6) and a wavelength in the visible range. The laser beam (5) is emitted in a geometrically defined position relative to the markers (3) so that the position of the central beam (6) relative to the three-dimensional coordinate system can be calculated from the previously measured positions of the markers (3) by a computer, which is also part of the surgical navigation system.

Abstract: A bone plate includes an upper surface, a bone contacting surface, and at least one hole extending through the upper and bone contacting surfaces for receiving a bone screw. The at least one hole includes a first portion and a second portion that overlap one another. The first portion defines a substantially circular outer periphery and the second portion defines an elongated outer periphery that is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plate. The first portion may have threads configured to engage threads on the head of a bone screw, and the second portion may be configured to cooperate with the head of a different bone screw to provide compression to the fracture.

Abstract: A bone plate includes an upper surface, a bone-contacting surface, and a plurality of holes extending through the upper and bone-contacting surfaces for receiving bone screws. At least one of the holes includes a protrusion disposed on the bone-contacting surface and at least partially surrounding the hole. The bone plate may define a nominal plate thickness in regions between holes, and the protrusion may define an increased plate thickness that is greater than the nominal plate thickness. A bone plate system including a plurality of bone screws is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bone plate includes an upper surface, a bone contacting surface, and at least one hole extending through the upper and bone contacting surfaces. The bone plate defines a longitudinal axis. The at least one hole defines a central axis and is elongated in a direction substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. The hole may include a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, and the threaded portion may extend through an angle of between about 190° and about 280° with respect to the central axis.

Abstract: A bone plate includes an upper surface, a bone contacting surface, and at least one hole extending through the upper and bone contacting surfaces. The bone plate defines a longitudinal axis. The at least one hole defines a central axis and is elongated in a direction substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. The hole may include a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, and the threaded portion may extend through an angle of between about 190° and about 280° with respect to the central axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a percutaneous-point determination device for determining a location of a point associated with a surface of an animal organ. The device comprises an ultrasound device configured to emit a focused ultrasound beam along an ultrasound beam axis having a known orientation with respect to the ultrasound device. The ultrasound device is configured to output ultrasound data indicative of a distance from the ultrasound device to the point. A position measurement device is configured to output position data indicative of a location of the ultrasound device. The device includes a computer configured to process the ultrasound data and position data to thereby determine a location of the point.

Abstract: A plastic bone used as a training device or teaching aid for a surgeon for mechanically connecting bone fractures, comprising a plastic molded part, the size and dimension of which approximates that of a human extremity-shaft bone having an internal hollow compartment or cavity which extends past a marrow cavity region at the center of the shaft towards both shaft ends into the region of the spongy structured bone lacunae (spongiosa) and widens. The wall structure of the bone approximately corresponds to the solid or compact wall parts (compacta) of the natural structure in weight, strength and mechanical workability.

Abstract: Instrumentation for osteofixation including a locking bone plate and a surgical drill guide. The plate has a plurality of fastener holes with inner walls of a preselected hole diameter. The drill guide has a guide member, for guiding a drill bit, and a hollow collet disposed substantially coaxially with the guide member. A radially expandable forward end of the collet comprises a radially expandable neck and an outwardly projecting rim disposed forward of the neck. This rim defines a contracted outer rim diameter that is smaller than the hole diameter in a contracted collet position, and an expanded outer rim diameter that is larger than the hole diameter in an expanded position. Thus, the rim is freely extractable through the plate hole in the contracted position, but is unreceivable through the plate hole in the expanded position. The collet neck is configured and dimensioned to press outwardly against an inner wall of the plate hole when the neck is expanded.