Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the preparation of a femoral condyle for the insertion of monocondylar knee implants, comprising a spreading device for the setting of a desired spacing between a femoral condyle and an oppositely disposed tibia plateau and comprising at least one functional attachment couplable in a vertically adjustable manner with the spreading device, wherein the spreading device includes a spreading section, which can be introduced between the femoral condyle and the tibia plateau and which extends substantially perpendicular to the spreading direction, and a handling section for the spreading section which includes an angle ?>90° with the spreading section (27, 29), and wherein the functional attachment supports a cutting and/or drilling jig and is adjustable at least vertically relative to the spreading device when the desired spacing is set at the handling section by means of the spreading device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implant system having at least one shaft of a prosthesis, in particular a hip joint prosthesis, which can be anchored without cement, and a set of instruments for the preparation of the bone in which the shaft is to be anchored, wherein the shaft has an arcuate base body with a trapezoidal or rectangular cross-section and the set of instruments includes a first instrument which is shaped in accordance with the arcuate shape of the shaft and with which a recess serving for the reception of the base body can be established in the bone; and wherein the shaft is provided with ribs in the proximal region and the set of instruments includes a guide body shaped in accordance with the arcuate shape of the shaft for a second instrument with which structures can be manufactured in the bone serving to fix a path for the shaft ribs when the guide body is located in the recess.

Abstract: An implant (10) for anchoring on a bone (1) has a plurality of anchoring pins (20) which extend away from a fastening side of the implant and are provided for anchoring the implant in the bone. In different areas of the fastening side of the implant, the pin arrangement and/or the geometry of the pins are chosen differently. In particular, in different areas of the fastening side of the implant, the volume of the anchoring pins (20) per unit of surface area of the fastening side of the implant is different, preferably in such a way that the geometry and/or arrangement of the pins (20) is chosen according to the proportion of bone tissue in the total tissue of the bone substance, opposite which the area of the fastening side is provided, in such a way that, in areas where there is a relatively higher proportion of bone tissue as a whole, less tissue is displaced by the anchoring pins than in areas where there is a relatively smaller proportion of bone tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a granulate with a low acetaldehyde content and improved processing properties from a high-viscosity polyester melt, wherein the polyester melt strand is fragmented under water at the highest possible temperature, the accompanying water is separated from the granulate with the least possible cooling of the granulate, the low-water granulate obtained in this way is passed after removal of the water directly into a dealdehydisation container and the granulate in the dealdehydisation container is treated with a flow of rinsing air, plus a device for carrying out this method.

Abstract: A bone anchor system anchors a support member to a bone. The bone anchor system comprises a body having a shank adapted for insertion into a hole in the bone. A head is formed on the shank. The head has a support engagement portion adapted to secure the support member to the body. A passage extends from an entry point to an exit point formed in the body. An expandable member has a flexible wall at least partially enclosing an anchoring chamber. The expandable member has an expanded state configured to conform to a cavity in the bone. The anchoring chamber is in fluid communication with the exit point. The expandable member is adapted to expand when a filler material is provided into the anchoring chamber. A portion of the expandable member conforms to the cavity and the body and the support member are substantially anchored to the bone.

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: An intervertebral endoprosthesis for insertion into the intervertebral space between two adjacent vertebrae is provided that includes first and second base members, each having a first surface configured to engage one of the vertebrae and a second opposite surface and a resilient insert disposed between the base members. The insert includes an outer shell defining an interior chamber and is disposed in contacting engagement with the second surface of each of the base members. The resilient insert further includes a core disposed within the chamber and connected to the outer shell. The intervertebral endoprosthesis further includes first and second coupling members, each of the coupling members extending between the core of the resilient insert and one of the base members.

Abstract: An implant is set forth having at least one first element and a second element, wherein the first element is provided in a pre-determined relative location to the second element, in particular at least partly in a recess of the second element.

Abstract: A spinal stabilization system generally comprises an anchor member configured to be secured to the patient's spine, a transition member received by the anchor member, and a flexible element coupled to the transition member. The transition member is positioned between a rigid member and a flexible member, which are each adjacent to the flexible element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft for a femoral neck prosthesis, which comprises an anchoring area (27, 29) which is arranged inside the femur in order to anchor the prosthesis into bone, a head area which is axially adjacent to the anchoring area (27, 29) on the proximal side, said head area comprising a device (13) which is connected to the prosthesis head (15), in addition to a distal end which is arranged opposite the head area in the axial direction of the anchoring area (27, 29). The invention is characterised in that the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the head area is at the most equal and, in particular, smaller than the maximum diameter of the anchoring area (27, 29), in such a manner that the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the shaft (11) is in the anchoring area (27, 29).

Abstract: The invention relates to an instrument for disimpacting a damaged vertebral body, comprising a unit, whose effective length can be adjusted in a longitudinal direction and whose underside can be positioned on the skin above a damaged vertebral body. According to the invention, supports that can be displaced in relation to one another are located on the adjustable unit, the distance between the exteriors of the two supports that face away from one another in the longitudinal direction defining the effective length of the adjustable unit. The adjustment range of the effective length is dimensioned in such a way that the supports can be positioned between lever elements, which are provided for the distraction of the vertebral bodies lying cranially and caudally adjacent to the damaged vertebral body and the supports are designed to maintain the mutual distance between the lever elements.

Abstract: A rongeur (40) has a stem (b), comprising a manipulating end (A) and a working end, and at the manipulating end a grip (42, 44) that is angled in a direction away from the stem. Arranged at a second, working end is a mouth (50), which lies substantially on the side of the stem away from the grip, and a pivotable mouth part (52). The mouth part is mounted at its distal end on the stem in such a way that the opening of the mouth faces the working end of the stem; it is therefore a rongeur of which the working direction, that is to say the scraping and cutting direction of the mouth part when it closes, faces the surgeon. In this case, the stem has a curvature or angling that lies in particular close to the working end, but proximal in relation to the mouth, and which likewise has at least one component pointing away from the angling direction of the grip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pedicle screw comprising a head (11) for coupling to an elastic intervertebral stabilizing or supporting system and comprising a shank, which is to be anchored inside a vertebra and which, when implanted, extends through the pedicle and into the vertebral body. The shank comprises, in its longitudinal extension measured from the head: an upper shank area (19) adjacent to the head and a stress-relief area (17), which is joined to the upper shank area, the stress-relive area having a flexural strength less than that of the upper shank area, and the stress-relief area is placed in the area of the shank provided for being placed inside the bone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor for the treatment of highly viscous plastic melts, comprising a horizontal, cylindrical container (2) with a vapour exhaust and chambers in the region of the melting bath, formed by the arrangement of panel walls, in which annular discs, fixed to a shaft (3) by spokes and serving as stirrer elements (4, 5) may be rotated, whereby, in the cavities of the annular discs (4, 5), two opposing scrapers (6, 7) are fixed to the inside of the container at an offset angle and run past at a small separation from the front faces of the annular discs and the sleeve of the shaft (3). According to the invention, the assembly and disassembly of the shaft and scraper is simplified by connection of the scraper to the inside of the container by means of a positive connection (13, 19).

Abstract: The invention relates to an implant for the relief of damaged regions of the joint surfaces of hip or shoulder joints which may be introduced into the gap between the joint surfaces of the joint head and the joint socket in the natural joint, the implant being embodied as a shell or cap which is laid in the implanted state with a convex outer surface in the joint socket and a convex inner surface sitting on the joint head. The implant has a body section forming the shell or cap with an opening and a boundary section defining the opening and the implant is made from a flexible material which may be deformed for introduction of the implant into the gap between the joint surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the analysis of refuse objects (2) containing polymers, in particular of carpets, in a recycling plant (1) and an automatic analytical device (7). In order to determine the polymer constituents of the refuse object (2), according to the invention, part of the refuse object (2) is vaporised and examined by a mass spectrometer (18). Using the method according to the invention and the automatic analytical device according to the invention, the refuse objects (2) can be classified for further processing (9, 10, 11) more accurately and more reliably during transport on a conveyor device (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to an implant system having at least one shaft of a prosthesis, in particular a hip joint prosthesis, which can be anchored without cement, and a set of instruments for the preparation of the bone in which the shaft is to be anchored, wherein the shaft has an arcuate base body with a trapezoidal or rectangular cross-section and the set of instruments includes a first instrument which is shaped in accordance with the arcuate shape of the shaft and with which a recess serving for the reception of the base body can be established in the bone; and wherein the shaft is provided with ribs in the proximal region and the set of instruments includes a guide body shaped in accordance with the arcuate shape of the shaft for a second instrument with which structures can be manufactured in the bone serving to fix a path for the shaft ribs when the guide body is located in the recess.

Abstract: An implant is set forth having at least one first element and a second element, wherein the first element is provided in a pre-determined relative location to the second element, in particular at least partly in a recess of the second element. The first element has a pre-positioning location having play with respect to the second element and allowing a fully area gas sterilization of both elements and can be displaced from this pre-positioning location into an end positioning location corresponding to a fixed connection of both elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a base platform (11) for an artificial joint, in particular for an artificial shoulder joint, wherein the platform can be anchored on the bone and serves as a support for an artificial joint component (15, 17) that can be provided both in the form of a shell component (15) for an anatomical configuration and also in the form of a ball component (17) for an inverse configuration, and wherein different joint components can be mounted on the platform.