Patents Assigned to Zimmer GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130226305
    Abstract: A prosthetic femoral component (10) for an orthopaedic prosthesis has a canted patellar groove adapted for optimal patella/component interaction, with the component configured to have a medial or lateral cant depending upon the method of implantation. The femoral component defines a distal “component transverse plane,” which is a plane tangent to the distal-most points of the component condyles (12,14). In a “mechanical” implantation, the component transverse plane is substantially normal to the mechanical femoral axis of the femur after the component has been implanted. Where the femoral component is configured to be “mechanically oriented” in this manner, the component has a medially canted patellar groove. On the other hand, an “anatomic” implantation is one in which, after the component has been implanted, the component transverse plane is substantially parallel to an “anatomic” transverse plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ZIMMER GMBH
    Inventors: Cosimo Donno, Adam D. Henderson
  • Patent number: 8518080
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Egli, Emmanuel Zylber, Michael E. Lancial
  • Patent number: 8470903
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides implantable articles and methods of forming implantable articles from a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) blend stabilized with Vitamin E. The crosslinked UHMWPE blend may be prepared by combining the UHMWPE material and vitamin E prior to irradiating the UHMWPE blend with electron beam radiation at a sufficient radiation dose rate to induce crosslinking. The crosslinked UHMWPE blend may be incorporated into a variety of implants, and in particular, into endoprosthetic joint replacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Niels A. Abt, Werner Schneider-Storrer
  • Patent number: 8394149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cap-shaped implant for implanting on a prepared stump of a femoral head. The implant is in the form of a ball section, having a flat base surface and a polar axis which is arranged in a perpendicular in relation to the base surface. According to the invention, a cavity is arranged in ball section which protrudes from the base surface, said cavity is rotationally symmetrical and comprises a hollow spatial axis which is arranged below an angle (a) which is different form zero in relation to the polar axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer, GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Howald, Peter Heuberger, Daniel Hertig, Job-Jan Greeve
  • Patent number: 8382803
    Abstract: A transition connector of a vertebral stabilization system for connecting a rigid rod and a flexible member to provide regions of rigid support and regions of dynamic support along a region of the spinal column is disclosed. A rigid rod may form one portion of the transition connector and a tubular member configured to receive a flexible member may form another portion of the transition connector. The tubular member may be configured to be secured to an end portion of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventor: Sonia Schmocker
  • Patent number: 8377376
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Baege, Hermann Breimesser, Roland Willi
  • Patent number: 8357202
    Abstract: One or both of the condyles in a femoral component for a partial or total knee prosthesis includes a J-curve with a plurality of distinct radii, such as 5 or more radii. The centers of the radii are arranged along an arcuate path extending anteroposteriorly so that successively larger radii are serially arranged along the arcuate path from the posterior side of the femoral component to the anterior side. The femoral component provides a high degree of stability throughout the range of motion of the knee prosthesis, and facilitates a close approximation to the motion of a natural knee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer, GmbH
    Inventors: Marco A. H. Heggendorn, Roger Scherrer, Matthias Schäpper
  • Patent number: 8328849
    Abstract: A spinal stabilization system including a cord extendable between first, second and third vertebral anchors. A first length of the cord includes a first set of intermingled filaments, and a second length of the cord includes a second set of intermingled filaments. The first set of intermingled filaments includes a first subset of filaments and a second subset of filaments, and the second set of intermingled filaments includes the first subset of filaments of the first set of intermingled filaments and a third subset of filaments different from the second subset of filaments of the first set of intermingled filaments. When secured to the first, second and third vertebral anchors, a first portion of the cord may be tensioned a first amount and a second portion of the cord may be tensioned a second amount different from the first amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Nydegger, Ben Alcock, Christina Niosi
  • Publication number: 20120296435
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stemless shoulder prosthesis comprising a fixation device for fixing the prosthesis to a resected humerus bone, the fixation device comprising a base portion and anchoring means, the base portion having a distal side adapted to contact a resection plane of the bone and a proximal side for carrying a humeral head. The anchoring means are connected to the distal side of the base portion and adapted to fix the prosthesis to the bone. The anchoring means define a central axis perpendicular to the distal side of the base portion and a free central space around the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER, GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Ambacher
  • Publication number: 20120296379
    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 and 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. The lateral portions each comprise an expandable lateral member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER GMBH
    Inventors: Anne Catherine Morancy-Meister, Thomas Egli, Rosemary Thompson, Nicole Gronau, Walter Gross, Michael Motzko, Fabio Bernhardsgrütter, Jochen Reinmuth
  • Publication number: 20120289967
    Abstract: In some examples, a method for at least one of preparation or machining of a femoral head formed on a neck of a femur includes selecting an instrument including probing forceps and a guide element including a centering axis. The guide element is coupled to the probing forceps at first and second coupling points disposed along the centering axis such that the centering axis is disposed in a central plane of the probing forceps independent of an opening angle of the probing forceps. The probing forceps are closed with probing jaws symmetrically contacting the neck of the femur at opposite sides with respect to an axis of the neck of the femur. The guide element self-adjusts with closing of the probing forceps so that the centering axis is automatically aligned in the middle with respect to the two oppositely disposed sides of the neck of the femur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Willi, Marcel Hinder, Andreas Marchione
  • Patent number: 8308807
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer, GmbH
    Inventors: Jörn Seebeck, Eik Siggelkow
  • Publication number: 20120265202
    Abstract: An orthopedic nail (10) of generally rod-like shape having a through hole (2) extending from a first side (4) to a second side (6) of said orthopedic nail (10) and being adapted to receive a screw (22) and/or a pin, a first end of said through hole (2) at said first side (4) defining a rim region (48), wherein at least one surface notch (8; 26) is provided in said rim region (48) at and restricted to an outer circumferential surface of said orthopaedic nail (10), said surface notch (8; 26) being arranged transverse to a nail axis (28) of said orthopedic nail (10), a width (W) of said surface notch (8; 26) in the direction of said nail axis (28) being smaller than a diameter of said through hole (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas E. Schwammberger, Jordan Velikov, Rolf Dittmann
  • Publication number: 20120265315
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stemless shoulder prosthesis comprising a fixation device for fixing the prosthesis to a resected humerous bone, the fixation device comprising a base portion and anchoring means the base portion having a distal side adapted to contact a resection plane of the bone and a proximal side for carrying a humeral head. The anchoring means are connected to the distal side of the base portion and adapted to fix the prosthesis to the bone. The anchoring means define a central axis perpendicular to the distal side of the base portion and a free central space around the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER, GMBH
    Inventors: Levent Kusogullari, Andrew Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8257362
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measuring instrument for pedicle screws which detects the spacing between two pedicle screws (3, 3?) with the ends (26, 27) of two crossing limbs (11, 12) and displays it on a crossbar (25) fixedly connected to one of the limbs at a scale (22). Since the second limb (12) is divided into a pointer (16a) and into a flexural spring extending parallel to it at which a pronounced thumb grip (21a) is fastened, and since the thumb grip is connected to a scale (24) via which a pre-determined pre-tension can be read off relative to the pointer (16a), a spacing measurement can take place under a controlled pre-tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Casutt, Nimrod Meier, Marc Huber
  • Patent number: 8252029
    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 and 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. The lateral portions each comprise an expandable lateral member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Anne Catherine Morancy-Meister, Thomas Egli, Rosemary Thompson, Nicole Gronau, Walter Gross, Michael Motzko, Fabio Bernhardsgrütter, Jochen Reinmuth
  • Patent number: 8241340
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Froehlich
  • Patent number: 8241546
    Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous method for the direct production of multilayer mold bodies from a highly condensed polyester melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Lurgi Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Brigitta Otto, Stefan Deiss
  • Patent number: D684690
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventor: Reto Senger
  • Patent number: D684691
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventor: Reto Senger