Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes an implant for mutually supporting an upper spinous process of a first vertebral body and a lower spinous process of a second vertebral body. The implant comprises a first implant component and a second implant component movable relative thereto along a clamping direction to transfer the implant out of a basic position in a spreading direction that is oriented transversely relative to the clamping direction into a spread position. The implant includes at least one introduction-side upper supporting element and at least one introduction-side lower supporting element that for laterally supporting the upper spinous process or the lower spinous process on the introduction-side. A fixing device for the implant is used for spreading the at least one introduction-side upper supporting element and the at least one introduction-side lower supporting element relative to each other along the spreading direction in an introduction position of the implant.

Abstract: This invention relates to bispecific antibodies and antibody fragments against a target protein and a hapten, wherein the hapten is PEG or biotin, most preferably digoxigenin, methods for their production, their use as a delivery platform for therapeutic or diagnostic agents, pharmaceutical 5 compositions containing said antibodies, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to complexes of a) bi-specific antibodies and antibody fragments against a target protein and b) a digoxigenin conjugated to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, methods for their production, their use as a delivery platform for therapeutic or diagnostic agents, pharmaceutical compositions containing said antibodies, and uses thereof.

Abstract: An intervertebral disk prosthesis system, which is used for forming an artificial intervertebral disk and comprises a first and a second prosthesis component wherein each of the two prosthesis components comprises a first and a second vertebral body contacting element for placement on neighboring vertebral bodies bounding an intervertebral disk space of a spinal column and a joint element that is mounted between and is moveable relative to at least one of the first and second vertebral body contacting elements, attains a substantially natural range of motion independent of the positioning of the two prosthesis components relative to each other and to the neighboring vertebral bodies. Each prosthesis component has a ball joint formed between the first and second vertebral body contacting elements.

Abstract: An implant includes two implant components, each having at least two adjacent support arms, which are connected to one another at one end by means of a bridge and can be spread apart at their free ends, and at least one of which support arms forms a support surface, such that with the free ends of their support arms both implant components are directed towards the free ends of the support arms of the respective other implant component, and that both implant components have slide faces for the support arms of the respective other implant component which are arranged and shaped such that as the two implant components approach one another, the support arms slide on the slide faces of the respective other implant component, and are pivoted thereby, so that the spacing of the upper and lower support surfaces is thereby increased.

Abstract: In order to improve a bone screw with a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and with a head which can be brought into engagement with a bone screw receiving means of a bone plate for the releasable connection of the bone screw to the bone plate, wherein a securing element for securing a connection between the bone screw and the bone plate is provided, wherein the bone screw can be brought from a position of engagement, in which the bone screw is held on the bone plate, into a release position, in which the bone screw can be released from the bone plate, wherein the securing element can be brought from a non-securing position, in which the bone screw can be brought into the release position, into a securing position for securing the connection between the bone screw and the bone plate, in which the bone screw takes up the position of engagement, such that a bone plate can be fixed to bone parts more easily and more securely it is suggested that the securing element be supported on the bone screw so as to be mov

Abstract: In order, in an intervertebral implant having a core made of a swellable material and having a vertebral-body locating face on its top and/or bottom side, which is connected to the swellable core, to reduce the shearing forces between the swellable core and the vertebral-body locating face during swelling of the swellable core, it is proposed that the vertebral-body locating face comprises a plurality of support elements, which are respectively anchored adjacent to one another and individually in the core, and a plurality of mutually separate locating elements, which are disposed adjacent to one another and outside of the core and which are carried by the support elements and are movable relative to one another in the plane of the vertebral-body locating face.

Abstract: Instruments and methods for inserting a spinal fixation rod include various components for inserting a rod with visual guidance. One kit includes a plurality of hollow elongated extension tubes and rod templates. The tube connectors connect the extension tubes in series. Another kit includes a rod guidance instrument having a sleeve. A guide member is attachable to the midsection of the sleeve, and a spinal fixation rod is attachable to the distal end of the sleeve. A method for inserting a spinal fixation rod into a plurality of rod receiving implants includes the steps of contouring a fixation rod to conform to a predetermined shape, contouring a guide member to match the shape of the contoured rod, and guiding the fixation rod into a rod receiving implant by maneuvering the guide member through a guide slot representing the location of the rod receiving implant.

Abstract: In order to improve a bone screw with a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and with a head which can be brought into engagement with a bone screw receiving means of a bone plate for the releasable connection of the bone screw to the bone plate, wherein a securing element for securing a connection between the bone screw and the bone plate is provided, wherein the bone screw can be brought from a position of engagement, in which the bone screw is held on the bone plate, into a release position, in which the bone screw can be released from the bone plate, wherein the securing element can be brought from a non-securing position, in which the bone screw can be brought into the release position, into a securing position for securing the connection between the bone screw and the bone plate, in which the bone screw takes up the position of engagement, such that a bone plate can be fixed to bone parts more easily and more securely it is suggested that the securing element be supported on the bone screw so as to be mov

Abstract: In order to improve the process of inserting a facet joint implant comprising two, flat joint surface replacement elements abutting each other face-to-face and in order to control the movement of the joint surface replacement elements relative to each other, it is proposed that both joint surface replacement elements should carry at least one arm which emerges in the plane of the joint surface replacement element from said element and projects therefrom, and in that in each case two arms of the two joint surface replacement elements which extend adjacent to one another in a pair are connected together at the end thereof remote from the joint surface replacement element.

Abstract: In a surgical severing instrument comprising two cutting jaws movable relative to each other from an open position to a cutting position by means of hand grips movable relative to each other, in order to improve the handling, in particular, of the severed parts, it is proposed that two clamping jaws movable relative to each other from an initial position to a clamping position be arranged alongside the cutting jaws, and that actuators be provided on the surgical severing instrument, which, upon movement of the cutting jaws from the open position to the cutting position, simultaneously move the clamping jaws from their initial position to the clamping position.

Abstract: An intervertebral disk prosthesis system, which is used for forming an artificial intervertebral disk and comprises a first and a second prosthesis component wherein each of the two prosthesis components comprises a first and a second vertebral body contacting element for placement on neighboring vertebral bodies bounding an intervertebral disk space of a spinal column and a joint element that is mounted between and is moveable relative to at least one of the first and second vertebral body contacting elements, attains a substantially natural range of motion independent of the positioning of the two prosthesis components relative to each other and to the neighboring vertebral bodies. Each prosthesis component has a ball joint formed between the first and second vertebral body contacting elements.

Abstract: An implant includes two implant components, each having at least two adjacent support arms, which are connected to one another at one end by means of a bridge and can be spread apart at their free ends, and at least one of which support arms forms a support surface, such that with the free ends of their support arms both implant components are directed towards the free ends of the support arms of the respective other implant component, and that both implant components have slide faces for the support arms of the respective other implant component which are arranged and shaped such that as the two implant components approach one another, the support arms slide on the slide faces of the respective other implant component, and are pivoted thereby, so that the spacing of the upper and lower support surfaces is thereby increased.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the crystallization of the compounds of the formula (I) or acid-addition salts thereof, in which R1, R2 and R3 have the meaning indicated in Claim 1.

Abstract: In order, in an intervertebral implant having a core made of a swellable material and having a vertebral-body locating face on its top and/or bottom side, which is connected to the swellable core, to reduce the shearing forces between the swellable core and the vertebral-body locating face during swelling of the swellable core, it is proposed that the vertebral-body locating face comprises a plurality of support elements, which are respectively anchored adjacent to one another and individually in the core, and a plurality of mutually separate locating elements, which are disposed adjacent to one another and outside of the core and which are carried by the support elements and are movable relative to one another in the plane of the vertebral-body locating face.

Abstract: In order to improve a bone screw with a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and with a head which can be brought into engagement with a bone screw receiving means of a bone plate for the releasable connection of the bone screw to the bone plate, wherein a securing element for securing a connection between the bone screw and the bone plate is provided, wherein the bone screw can be brought from a position of engagement, in which the bone screw is held on the bone plate, into a release position, in which the bone screw can be released from the bone plate, wherein the securing element can be brought from a non-securing position, in which the bone screw can be brought into the release position, into a securing position for securing the connection between the bone screw and the bone plate, in which the bone screw takes up the position of engagement, such that a bone plate can be fixed to bone parts more easily and more securely it is suggested that the securing element be supported on the bone screw so as to be mov

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the crystallisation of the compounds of the formula (I) or acid-addition salts thereof, in which R1, R2 and R3 have the meaning indicated in Claim 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a touch control assembly including a substrate for interfacing with a user and a touch keypad removably connected to the substrate. The touch keypad includes a sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for immobilizing adjacent bone segments. An osteosynthesis plating system is provided for fixing or immobilizing several pieces or segments of bone utilizing screws which may be screwed into the segments of bone through openings provided in the osteosynthesis plate. The osteosynthesis plate is pressed against the bone surface by the screws and fixed thereto. In particular, the invention relates to an osteosynthesis extension plate for immobilizing adjacent segments of bone in a second surgery wherein the removal of a previously implanted osteosynthesis plate is avoided. In this manner the disadvantages associated with removal of the previously implanted plate are avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for immobilizing adjacent bone segments. An osteosynthesis plating system is provided for fixing or immobilizing several pieces or segments of bone utilizing screws which may be screwed into the segments of bone through openings provided in the osteosynthesis plate. The osteosynthesis plate is pressed against the bone surface by the screws and fixed thereto. In particular, the invention relates to an osteosynthesis extension plate for immobilizing adjacent segments of bone in a second surgery wherein the removal of a previously implanted osteosynthesis plate is avoided. In this manner the disadvantages associated with removal of the previously implanted plate are avoided.