Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to polymer compositions including a base material, a secondary material and an antioxidant. The composition also includes crystalline regions and amorphous regions with the crystalline regions comprising at least 62% by volume of the composition. In some embodiments, the base material is an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and the secondary material is a polyethylene material that is different than the base material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous method for the direct production of multilayer mold bodies from a highly condensed polyester melt.

Abstract: An orthopedic screw that may be used to align and stabilize a bone fracture and a method for using the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic traction apparatus for surgery, in particular for knee surgery, having at least one pair of working sections which can be adjusted relative to one another and at least one exchangeable piston in cylinder arrangement made of plastic whose piston is releasably coupled to the one working section and whose cylinder is releasably connected to the other working section and which is stiffened by an outer support mount supporting the cylinder from the outside and by at least one inner reinforcement insert which can be inserted into the cylinder together with the piston.

Abstract: A plug for covering an aperture in a prosthetic implant and a method for using the same. The aperture may include a screw hole designed to receive a bone screw for securing the implant to a patient's bone. When the aperture does not receive a bone screw, the plug is configured to fit within the aperture to prevent materials, such as bone debris and adhesive, from seeping through the aperture and onto a receiving surface of the implant.

Abstract: A textile material (21, 21?) comprising a textile substrate (22, 22?) has, at least on part of the surface of the textile substrate (22, 22?), a coating (24, 24?) that contains at least one compound chosen from the group composed of hydrogels, except keratin hydrogels, of polyurethanes, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene and any desired combinations of two or more of the aforementioned compounds. This textile material (21, 21?) can be used particularly as a substance for an artificial intervertebral disc (16?, 16??), as a replacement for the nucleus pulposus (16?, 16?), cage (16, 16?), vertebral body implant (16??), articular surface substitute, or as a tube (18, 18?, 18?, 18?) in vertebroplasty or nucleoplasty.

Abstract: The invention relates to a base component for a tibial implant, comprising a lateral compartment (14), a medial compartment (12) and an anterior connection portion (16) which connects the lateral compartment (14) and the medial compartment (12) to one another at anterior. A portion (18) open to posterior is provided between the lateral compartment (14) and the medial compartment (12). The lateral component (14) and the medial component (12) each have a lower side and an upper side, with at least one of the lower sides being configured for the fastening of the base component to the tibia. A marginal web (22, 22?) is formed at at least one of the compartments (12, 14), starting from the upper side, said marginal web forming a receiving shell for a meniscus component (30, 32) of the tibial implant together with the upper side of the compartment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustment apparatus for the selection of suitable implant sizes in knee operations having a lower work unit supportable at the tibia and an upper work unit supportable at the femur, which are vertically adjustable relative to one another and with which the spacing between the tibia and the femur can be set by spreading apart the knee, wherein the upper work unit includes a carrier vertically adjustable to the lower work unit and at least two different functional units which are releasably conducted to the carrier and of which the one is designed as an extension unit serving for the spreading apart of the knee with the femur in extension and the other is designed as a flexion unit serving for the spreading apart of the knee and for the selection of a suitable implant size with the femur in flexion, wherein the flexion unit includes a base unit couplable to the carrier and a central guide piece which can be suspended at the femur and which can alternatively be brought into a conditi

Abstract: The invention relates to an endoprosthesis for part of the pelvis having at least one base element which can be secured to a resected iliac bone and at least one hip shell attachable at a spacing thereto, with the base element having a first neck which in particular projects at an angle ? from the orthogonal to a planar connection surface and the hip shell having a second neck which in particular projects at an angle ? from its polar axis, with at least one separate intermediate element being provided which can be installed between the first neck and the second neck.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytically active composition that can be used for the production of polyesters. According to the invention, good polyester products can be obtained in this way without having to use antimony components.

Abstract: An implant (6) is provided for implantation in a condyle (21) of a proximal tibia. The implant is shaped in such a way that an anterior edge (63) at least approximately simulates the anterior contour of the tibial plateau (2). The implant is dimensioned such that it does not extend as far as the margin of the tibial plateau in the posterior and lateral directions and is shaped like a plate in such a way that it is free from form-fit anchoring elements and can be pushed in the manner of a drawer into a recess of the tibial plateau and can be cemented. The implant permits maximum preservation of the bone tissue and soft tissue, and the necessary resection and the implantation can both be performed by what is essentially a purely anterior approach.

Abstract: The pedicle screw (1) for intervertebral support elements (3) consists of a shaft (10) and a head (2) comprising at least two parts (20, 22). The head is formed as a securing means for at least one support element (3). Each support element consists of a piece of a cable-like band (31) and a cylindrical support body (30) with an axial lumen (31?) containing the band. The band is securable outside end surfaces (32) of the support body in the head. The head is formed with a contact surface (23) via which a pressure stress can be exerted on the support body in the band direction, and indeed using the band and in cooperation with a further pedicle screw.

Abstract: An intervertebral stabilization system for at least three vertebrae comprising pedicle screws attachable to the vertebrae; at least one rod for the connection of at least two pedicle screws to form a rigid stiffening system; and at least one band which is capable of being pre-stressed in tension and which is surrounded in the implanted state of the stabilization system by at least one compressible pressure member arranged between two adjacent pedicle screws for the connection of the pedicle screws to form an elastic support system, wherein a common pedicle screw is associated both with the stiffening system and with the support system and the band is can be connected or is connected to the rod by means of a band attachment.

Abstract: An interspinous process spacer and method of implanting same is provided for maintaining separation between adjacent spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae. The spacer has two lateral portions and a medial portion therebetween, the medial portion adapted to reside between the adjacent superior and inferior spinous processes in the deployed configuration to maintain separation therebetween. The lateral portions each comprise a superior lateral portion and an inferior lateral portion adapted to reside on the lateral side of the respective superior and inferior spinous process in the deployed configuration to maintain positioning of the interspinous process spacer between the two adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the fixing of the position of bone cuts for the insertion of knee implants comprising at least one cutting template which can be coupled to a base element fixed to the bone in the region of a condyle and can be fixed to the base element, wherein the cutting jig defines, in the fixed state and in each case by means of a slot for a cutting tool, a first cutting plane with respect to the base element and a second cutting plane with respect to the first cutting plane, and wherein the orientation of the second cutting plane can be set relative to the first cutting plane when the cutting jig is coupled to the base part and the respect knee anatomy is taken into account.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implant for relieving damaged areas of the surfaces of hip or shoulder joints from stress. Said implant can be introduced into the space between the joint surfaces of the condyle (11) and the socket (13) cooperating in the natural joint. The inventive implant is cup-shaped or cap-shaped, rests in the socket (13) by means of a convex external face, and sits on the condyle (11) by means of a concave internal face in the implanted state. The implant comprises at least two articulation layers (15, 17) which are movable relative to each other and encompass articulation surfaces that face one another in the implanted state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing polyesters such as for example polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate from precondensates. According to said method, vapors comprising precondensate components that are distributed therein in the form of an aerosol are guided through a polycondensation reactor in which precondensate components condense on the reactor wall and on a separator in an exit chamber of the reactor. The condensates are guided to the unstirred discharge sump and the upper layers of the discharge sump are continuously recirculated into the stirred reactor area thereby subjecting them to reconversion and additional polycondensation.

Abstract: A method of making shaped articles from highly condensed polyester melt and especially preforms for the blow molding of food and especially beverage containers. A melt is continuously withdrawn from the polycondensation reactor and is fed to the shape-imparting units, especially a multiplicity of injection-molding machines without solidification between the final reactor and the injection molders and without degassing between the final reactor and the injection molding machines.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogels having advantageous physical properties, and covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogel compositions made by such methods, as well as articles of manufacture comprising such covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogel compositions. The physical properties of the produced hydrogels can be adjusted by varying controlled parameters such as the proportion of physical associations, the concentration of polymer and the amount of radiation applied. Such covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogels can be made translucent, preferably transparent, or opaque depending on the processing conditions. The stability of the physical properties of the produced vinyl polymer hydrogel can be enhanced by controlling the amount of covalent crosslinks.