Abstract: Intervertebral disc prosthesis with two cover plates and a prosthesis core which is connected to one of the cover plates (1) by means of connection profiles (8, 8?, 14, 14?) which are undercut in a complementary manner. The connection profiles (8, 8?, 14, 14?) include at least one pair of profile sections (9, 16) which are symmetrical with respect to the AP direction (10) and are arranged at an angle to one another.

Abstract: Insertion instrument for a multi-part intervertebral endoprosthesis (9) which comprises two closure plates (91, 92) and a sliding core (93) arranged between these, said insertion instrument having a handgrip part (21, 31), gripping members which hold the closure plates between them, and a force-receiving part for applying an insertion force to the intervertebral endoprosthesis (9), the gripping members being guided movably toward and away from one another via a hinge (4) and being able to be tensioned against the intervertebral endoprosthesis (9), projections (51, 52) pointing in the tensioning direction (12) or recesses for holding the intervertebral endoprosthesis (9) with form-fit being provided on the gripping members, and a block (61) guided in the longitudinal axis direction (10) and with an abutment surface (62) being provided which can be moved by means of an actuating device (7) so as to bear on the intervertebral endoprosthesis (9) and, in its forward position, secures the intervertebral endoprosthe

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of a multi-part intervertebral endoprosthesis (9), which has a top closure plate and bottom closure plate (91, 92) and, between these, a sliding core (93), each closure plate (91, 92) being assigned a pair of receiving openings (96, 97) or projections, and of an insertion instrument (1), which has a handgrip area (21, 31) and a gripping area (22, 32) with retention projections (51, 52) or openings which, in order to hold the intervertebral endoprosthesis (9) on the insertion instrument (1), can be engaged in the receiving openings or projections. According to the invention, the receiving openings (96, 97) are arranged in lateral side faces of the intervertebral endoprosthesis (9), and at least the pair of receiving openings (96) assigned to one of the closure plates (92) has a shape extended in the direction toward the other closure plate (91).

Abstract: Knee prosthesis comprising a femoral component (1) with condylar sliding surfaces (20) which are rigidly interconnected, a tibial component (2) provided with a tibial platform (7) which is linked to it in a non-rotatable manner and has tibial sliding surfaces (21) which cooperate with the condylar sliding surfaces (20), and a coupling device (10) which forms a flexion bearing (11) with the femoral component (1) and a rotational bearing (12) with the tibial component (2), the axis (12) of said rotational bearing being inclined relative to the tibial direction (5).

Abstract: Surgical instrument for inserting an intervertebral endoprosthesis which consists of two prosthesis plates (53) and of a prosthesis core enclosed by these plates. The instrument comprises two prosthesis holders (52) for the prosthesis plates (53), which prosthesis holders (52) are open at the ends and can be spread apart from each other. In order not to have to remove the instrument from the prosthesis with the latter being under unfavourable loading, it is provided with a withdrawal device which bears on the prosthesis (53) and/or on an associated vertebra. The withdrawal device comprises a slide (81) which has a prosthesis limit stop (82) for the prosthesis (53) located in the guide (52) and/or a vertebral limit stop (96) for a vertebra which is to be connected to the prosthesis (53). The slide (81) is displaceable in a slide guide (80) between a retracted end position and an advanced end position. A special actuating device is provided for this purpose.

Abstract: Cervical intervertebral disk prosthesis with a cover plate (1) having a connection surface (10) which is provided for connection to a vertebral body and which is wider than it is deep. The limit (24) of the connection surface (10) is set back in the dorsolateral region compared to the limit (14) in the anterolateral region. The set-back limit (24) of the connection surface (10) can be connected to an edge (14), protruding above it, via a rounding or bevel (25).

Abstract: Knee prosthesis, consisting of a femoral component (1), a tibial component (3) and an intermediate piece (10) which connects these and forms a flexion bearing (11) with the femoral component (1) and a rotation bearing (14, 15) with the tibial component (3), which rotation bearing (14, 15) can be locked relative to the tibial part (3). To allow the physician to decide during the operation whether to use a rotation-free prosthesis or a rotationally fixed prosthesis, the intermediate piece (10) is alternatively provided with a projection which engages in a matching recess in the tibial component (4).

Abstract: Knee prosthesis with a flexion hinge which is formed by a hinge fork with two branches (8) lying opposite each other, by a centre part (14) which is to be fitted in the hinge fork transversely with respect to the flexion axis (19) of the latter, and by a hinge pin which, after the centre part (14) has been fitted into the hinge fork, is to be mounted, by movement in its longitudinal direction, in aligned hinge bores (11, 20) of the hinge fork and of the centre part (14). So as not to have to push the pin into the prosthesis from the outside, it is formed by two pin stumps (12, 13) which, in an assembly position, are arranged inside the centre part (14) and, in a mounted position, partially protrude from the latter.

Abstract: Instrument set for fitting an intervertebral prosthesis, comprising a guide device (4) for an instrument or a prosthesis part, which guide device (4) is to be secured on at least one vertebral body (2). To be able to attach the guide device (4) precisely on the vertebral bodies despite the difficult operating conditions, an adjustment instrument (10) is provided which positions the guide device when this is being arranged on the vertebral body (2). This adjustment instrument (10) expediently comprises an intervertebral plate (11) which is fitted into the intervertebral space so as to be positioned exactly in relation to the vertebral bodies.

Abstract: System of intervertebral disc prostheses which includes standard prostheses and corrective prostheses. The corrective prostheses serve to compensate for a ventro-dorsal offset. They are characterized in that, on one of their cover plates (15), the surface (4′) via which it cooperates in a matching manner with the prosthesis core (3′) is offset ventrodorsally relative to the contact surface (7) by comparison with the standard prostheses.

Abstract: A plastic implant having a sliding core, such as an intervertebral endoprosthesis, is formed with a peripheral, preferably circumferential, channel that is configured to receive a radiographic contrast wire. The channel may be partially or fully closed to an outside portion of the sliding core and may include a restriction in the profile of the channel that acts to partially close the channel to the outside portion of the sliding core. The restriction may have a width that is less than the diameter of the radiographic contrast wire. The channel may also include an insertion opening adapted to accept the wire.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis system includes a single-piece tibia plateau with two sliding cavities, a single-piece femur component with two condylar sliding surfaces, the distances between and shapes of which are adapted to the tibial sliding cavities and a pair of unconnected femoral condylar cups, the shapes of the sliding surfaces of which are adapted to the tibial sliding cavities. To be able also to adapt their relative positions, including their distances apart, to the sliding cavities, the system includes a position instrument which ensures this adapted relative position of the codylar cups.

Abstract: Intervertebral prosthesis, in particular for the cervical spine, consisting basically of a first cover plate (1) to be connected to a first vertebral body, a second cover plate (2) to be connected to the second vertebral body, and a prosthesis core (10) which is held by a seat (5, 6, 7) of the first cover plate (1) and forms an articulation (20, 21) with the second cover plate (2). The core (10) is movable in the AP direction relative to the first cover plate (1). Mobility can also be provided in the lateral direction and rotational direction.

Abstract: Cervical intervertebral prosthesis with two cover plates which are to be connected in each case to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of the two cover plates (1, 3) has a toothing (9) which faces toward the vertebral body (7) and whose teeth have a steep, ventrally directed flank (10) and a less steep, dorsally directed flank (11). When the prosthesis is fitted with sufficient pressing between its adjacent vertebral bodies, the combination of the serrated toothing and the abutment surface is sufficient to hold the prosthesis securely in the desired position. In many cases this makes it possible to dispense with additional screw fixation. The flange (15) carrying the abutment surface (16) is in this case expediently shortened so that it can be accommodated in a recess of the bone (7) and the prosthesis does not protrude ventrally beyond the ventral alignment surface of the adjacent vertebral bodies (7).

Abstract: System of intervertebral prostheses which comprise a prosthesis core (5) and two cover plates (4, 6) which enclose the prosthesis core (5) by way of internal engaging surfaces (7). The system includes corrective cover plates (6) whose vertebral contact surface (12) is lengthened in the AP direction dorsally beyond the extent of standard prostheses (4). In sagittal section, the corrective cover plates are dorsally thickened, in particular wedge-shaped. The inner face (11) of the part (10) constituting the dorsal lengthening is beveled or recessed.

Abstract: Intervertebral prosthesis (10) with at least one cover plate (11) which bears on a vertebral body (1) and is to be firmly connected thereto. In order to ensure that the prosthesis (10), during its insertion or during its lifetime, does not contribute to a protruding bone margin (5) breaking off, the cover plate (11) is provided with a bulge (12) corresponding to the depression (4) and/or with a bevel, a shortened end or rounded end (13).

Abstract: A series of instruments (30, 80, 120, 210, 510, 550) are provided for direct anterior and oblique-anterior disc space and end plate preparation. The instruments (30, 80, 120, 210, 510, 550) provide precise guidance for channel formation in the vertebral endplates by guiding rotating and bladed cutting instruments (122, 250, 580). Instrumentation (550) for oblique-anterior disc space preparation includes compound angulation to account for the angle of approach to the spine and the angulation between adjacent vertebrae. Methods and techniques for use of the instruments (30, 80, 120, 210, 510, 550) are also described.

Abstract: Surgical instrument for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis, having first and second prosthesis holders (52A, 52B) for a pair of prosthesis plates, which holders are connected to one another by a parallel guide (57) and can be spread by a lever arrangement (131). The first of the prosthesis holders is arranged on an elongate instrument body in order to give the surgeon an exact picture of the orientation of the prosthesis and to allow force to be exerted in exactly this direction. The actuating lever (131) is articulated with its front end on the second prosthesis holder (52B) so as to pivot about a spindle (130) extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the instrument body (51) and to the direction of spreading. Behind this spindle (130), it has a limit stop (133) which acts directly or indirectly on the instrument body (51) or the first prosthesis holder (52A). The lever arrangement can also be the other way around.

Abstract: Endoprosthesis for replacement of the ankle joint, consisting of a component (4) which is to be connected to the anklebone and which forms an upper slide surface (10), of a component (3) which is to be connected to the tibia and which forms a lower slide surface (7), and of a middle part (5). The middle part (5) forms two slide surfaces (15, 16) which interact with the slide surfaces (7, 10) of the tibial component (3) and the anklebone component (4). In frontal section, the middle part (5) is wedge-shaped with a wedge angle of between 1° and 12° (FIG. 2).

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis, in particular for the cervical spine, consisting basically of a first cover plate (1) to be connected to a first vertebral body, of a second cover plate (2) to be connected to the second vertebral body, and of a prosthesis core (10) which forms an articulation with the second cover plate (2). The prosthesis core (10) is held by a seat (9, 5) of the first cover plate (1), which seat is designed as a guide device (7, 11, 12). The core (10) can be pushed into the guide device from the ventral side in the AP direction (A) relative to the first cover plate (1). A limit-stop plate (14) is provided on the ventral edge of the first cover plate. This limit-stop plate (14) is displaceable in a slide guide (18) between a locking position and a nonlocking position.