Abstract: In an endoprosthesis including a ball-and-socket joint, the ball and a socket insert having a spherical surface are made of ceramic material. The opening edge of the socket is covered by a polyethylene protecting ring whose opening side is covered by a covering ring made of a resilient material. The inner edge of the protecting ring is appropriately covered by the protecting. The socket, the ceramic insert, the protective ring and the covering ring are configured so as to permit sliding of a ball seated in the socket and configured to conform to the spherical surface of said ceramic insert out of the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: Joint endoprosthesis with an attachment part which can be attached and removed along a guide provided on the endoprosthesis, and with a screw (5) for locking the attachment part. This screw is arranged in the area of overlapping surface portions (7, 8) of the prosthesis and of the attachment part. A first surface portion (7) includes a threaded bore (13) receiving the screw (5). The screw shank has, adjacent to the screw head (10), a threaded section (12), adjacent to this a section (14) of reduced thickness, and adjacent to this a thickened end (15). The section (14) of reduced thickness lies in the area of the second surface portion (8), and namely in a slit (6) which extends in the direction of the guide and whose width is smaller than the thickness of the thickened end (15).

Abstract: Arrangement consisting of an acetabular cup prosthesis and of an implantation instrument for same. The acetabular cup prosthesis has at least one undercut holding recess in its edge end face. The instrument has a block which fits with centring into the opening or onto the opening edge of the acetabular cup prosthesis, and at least one holding projection positionally assigned to the holding recess and fitting into the latter, which holding projection is movable transverse to the opening direction, can be locked in a position in which it catches in the undercut of the holding recess, and can be withdrawn therefrom by means of an actuating member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method which allows a femoral sliding knee endoprosthesis to be inserted with the condylar slide surface parts correctly positioned in relation to each other. An insertion appliance comprising a locking mechanism locks the unconnected prosthesis parts in place until completion of the insertion procedure.

Abstract: A saddle-type prosthesis for replacement of a hip joint; includes a shank assembly for engagement in a femur, a saddle-shaped head having a seat to form a bearing area for engagement by a portion of a pelvic bone, and a mounting for so coupling the saddle-shaped head to the shank assembly as to permit a pivoting of the saddle-shaped head relative to the shank assembly about at least two predetermined axes for rotation with at least two degrees of freedom wherein one of the predetermined axes is positioned above the bearing area of the saddle-shaped head.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis for an elbow joint, includes a humeral component having a shaft portion adapted for engagement in the bone canal of a humerus, an ulnar component having a shaft portion adapted for engagement in the bone canal of a ulnar, and a radius component having a shaft portion adapted for engagement in the bone canal of a radius, with the ulnar component being supported by a swivel bearing in an area of the humeral component. A lateral flange projects outwardly form the ulnar component and is formed with a socket for guiding a sliding member for displacement therein, with the radius component having a head portion which is swingably mounted in the sliding member.

Abstract: An air channel extends parallel to and underneath the straight runway of a travelling cleaner, and the runway and air channel extend above a row of weaving machines. Provided above each weaving machine on the underside of the air channel is a downward-directed piston-flow outlet which is supplied with suitably conditioned air by the air channel. Provided in the floor underneath each weaving machine is an air outlet which is connected to a suction channel. Via an air-treatment system, the air returned from the suction channel, after being filtered and conditioned as necessary, is fed into the air channel again. The air channel and the runway extend in parallel relation with respect to each other, form a unit, and are jointly supported.

Abstract: Endoprosthesis with a prosthesis part (4) of viscoelastic synthetic resin such as polyethylene which is intended to be fastened to a support part (1) of more resistant material such as metal by a screw element (3). The screw element has a release locking which consists of a sequence of elevations (14) and depressions which dig into a surface (13) of the synthetic resin with plastic deformation of the latter. For this purpose, a pair of surfaces on the screw element and the synthetic resin part are chosen, whose spacing is determined by the design (in particular by hard stops 8, 9) and which surfaces do not transmit the force with which the screw element is tightened.

Abstract: Knee joint endoprosthesis for replacing the articular surfaces of the tibia, the endoprosthesis comprising a bearing part (1), which is to be anchored on the bone and has an upper bearing surface (2), and a plateau (3) which is to be secured on the said bearing part. The plateau is rotatable on the bearing surface (2) about a journal (6, 15) which co-operates with a bore (12) in the plateau (3). The bore has a flange (13) which co-operates with a removable collar (14) limiting the journal at the top. The journal is composed of a projection on the bearing part (1) and a securing part arranged on the collar (14), which can be joined together by means of one of these two parts as outer part (15) containing a bore into which the other part as inner part (6) can be inserted. In order to secure these two parts on one another, fixing means (9) are provided which can be formed by a screw arranged transversely in the journal.

Abstract: Intervertebral disc endoprosthesis with two prosthesis plates which are to be connected to the end plates of the relevant vertebrae, and with a prosthesis core which cooperates with at least one prosthesis plate via an articular surface permitting a rotational movement around the vertical axis, In order indeed to make possible a rotational movement around the vertical axis but to oppose this movement by a resistance, the articular surface forms curved arches of different average radius in the median section and in the frontal section. The radius of curvature in the sagittal section is expediently less than in the frontal section. To avoid excessive twisting it is possible to provide stops on the prosthesis plates and on the prosthesis core. These are designed, for example, as ribs and grooves which run in the median plane.

Abstract: Endoprosthesis having two prosthesis parts which are connected by mutually overlapping lugs. The safety of the connection is increased due to the fact that the ends (5) of the lug clamp (3) are received in a positive-locking manner by pocket clamps (9) on the respective other prosthesis part. The engagement position of the lugs (3) is secured by screws (7). The contact surface (6) with which the lugs (3) face one another, runs at an inclination to the longitudinal axis of the connection region (2) of the prosthesis, which, on the one hand, allows the thickening of the lugs (3) near to their transition into the associated prosthesis part and a good power transition and, on the other hand, permits a clearance-free engagement of the ends (5) of the overlapping parts (3) with the pocket clamps (9) in the engagement position.

Abstract: Device for connecting bone fragments by a bone plate (1), which is to be connected to the bone fragments using screws (5). A screw (5) or group of screws is connected to a coupling part (6) at a fixed angle, which coupling part surrounds the bone plate (1) transversely, on the one hand forming with the underside (3) of the plate a swivel bearing and on the other hand having a cover plate (10), which contains at least three fixing screws (16) arranged laterally offset with respect to the swivel bearing. By adjusting these fixing screws, the coupling part with the associated screws can be angularly adjusted with respect to the bone plate.

Abstract: Acetabular cup for a hip joint endoprosthesis consisting of a socket to be introduced into the hip bone, and an insert forming the joint surface. To secure the insert in the socket, a bayonet catch is provided with screw retention in the interacting edges of socket and insert. In the one edge an elongate depression is formed in the circumferential direction, into which depression there engages a screw head which projects from the other edge and which, with one end of the depression, forms a stop for finding the locking position. At this end of the elongate depression the latter comprises a bore into which the screw head can be screwed from the stop position, in order to secure the locking position.

Abstract: A bone plate arrangement consisting of a bone plate with at least one through-opening and a bone screw to be introduced into the through-opening. The bone screw is held in the bone plate by means of a sleeve, which can be fixed in the through-opening of the bone plate independently of the screw. The sleeve can be designed in such a way that it predetermines the angular orientation of the screw relative to the bone plate. If the through-opening in the bone plate is elongate, the position of the bone screw along the through-opening can also be predetermined by the positioning of the sleeve.

Abstract: In an endoprosthesis with two or more individual parts (1, 2), of which one has a cone part (2) with a conical bore (4) and of which another has a cone part (1) with a complementary conical projection (3), the parts (1, 2) being connected by inserting the conical projection (3) into the conical bore (4), a particularly firm connection is achieved by virtue of the fact that a securing screw (6) is provided in the area of the cone connection (3, 4). The securing or fastening screw (6) advantageously cooperates eccentrically with the corresponding recess in the other part, in order to prestress the cone connection for the purpose of a still firmer connection.

Abstract: A spreading forceps (9) which has, at its front end on each spreading jaw (10, 11), an essentially U-shaped recess surrounding one stop plate on three sides and gripping the edge, the thickness of the spreading jaws (10, 11) in the spreading direction being essentially identical to the thickness of the stop plates (FIG. 1). The spreading forceps is useful for the insertion of intervertebral endoprostheses.

Abstract: A hip prosthesis wherein a saddle-shaped head has a seat flanked by two horns and engageable with the surface bounding a recess in the lower part of a damaged pelvic bone. The head is rotatably or rigidly secured to a substantially S-shaped adapter which, in turn, is rotatably or non-rotatably secured to the adjacent end of a shank that is implantable in the cavity of a femur. One or more distancing rings can be inserted between the adapter and the head.

Abstract: An internal prosthesis for the partial or total replacement of a bone such as a femur has a rod-like bridging member which spans the major part of the gap between two joints. An abutment member is mounted at either end of the bridging member and each of the abutment members engages a bone adjacent that which is to be partially or totally replaced. Each of the abutment members may constitute part of an artificial joint. The bridging member and/or the abutment members are adjustable so that the prosthesis may be fitted to the particular physical characteristics of a patient. To this end, the bridging member may be composed of sections for the purpose of length adjustment. The abutment members may be rotatable relative to one another and to the bridging member about the longitudinal axis of the latter in order that the abutment members may assume a relative angular orientation best suited to the characteristics of the patient.

Abstract: The surgical instrument set for the insertion of intervertebral endoprostheses, which consist of two stop plates and a sliding core to be arranged between them, is characterized in that it has spreading forceps (9) which have, at their front end on each spreading jaw (10, 11), an essentially U-shaped recess surrounding one stop plate on three sides and gripping the edge, the thickness of the spreading jaws (10, 11) in the spreading direction being essentially identical to the thickness of the stop plates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a femoral hip-joint endoprosthesis having a shaft to be inserted into the medullary cavity (4) of the femur (1) and a support plate (7), which terminates the shaft proximally and the under surface (12) of which is provided for support on the resection surface (16) of the bone. The overall axis (6) of the resection surface is inclined. The prerequisites for the transfer of forces from the prosthesis to the bone are improved when the under surface (12) and the resection surface (16), which is prepared to be of the same shape, are formed so that the medial part of the under surface includes an angle with the axis of the femur which is, on average, larger than its lateral part. A cylindrical shape of the two surfaces witha cylindrical axis running from anterior to posterior, or a spherical shape, are particularly advantageous. Furthermore, it is advantageous to form the under surface as a surface of revolution about a rotation axis running transverse to the under surface.