Abstract: A stent, in particular a coronary stent, for expansion from a first condition into an expanded second condition in which it holds a vessel in an expanded state, comprising a tubular body whose peripheral surface (1) is formed by a number of annular support portions (2) comprising bar elements (3) which are connected in the longitudinal direction of the stent by way of connecting bars (4), wherein the bar elements (3) of at least a first support portion (2, 2.1) extend in a meander configuration in the peripheral direction of the stent and the bar element portions (3.1, 3.2) adjoining a turning point (5) are arranged in a V-shape in the first condition of the stent, and wherein the bar element portions (3.1, 3.2) of the first support portion (2.1) extend curvedly in a first direction (7) in the longitudinal direction of the stent.

Abstract: A stent, in particular a coronary stent, for expansion from a first condition into an expanded second condition in which it holds a vessel in an expanded state, comprising a tubular body whose peripheral surface (1) is formed by a number of support portions (2) which extend in the longitudinal direction of the stent and which comprise bar elements (3) which are connected by way of connecting bars (4), wherein there is provided a number of support portion groups (1.1) with at least a first support portion (2.1) and a second support portion (2.2, 2.3) in adjacent relationship in the peripheral direction of the stent, whose bar elements (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) extend in a meander configuration in the longitudinal direction of the stent, and wherein the first engagement points (4.1, 4.2) of first connecting bars (4) engage the first support portion (2.1) and the second engagement points (4.2, 4.4) of the first connecting bars (4) engage the second support portion (2.2, 2.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic performance of diagnostic and/or therapeutic actions in body cavities is provided with a base control unit, which is to be arranged extracorporally, and with a catheter-type actuator, which is coupled therewith and which is insertable in the corresponding body cavity and which, in the vicinity of its distal end, is provided with a diagnostically active detection equipment and/or a therapeutically active treatment equipment, and which, at least in the vicinity of its distal end, is provided with an actuation mechanism, which is triggered by the base control unit, for advance and/or twist and turn control of the actuator.

Abstract: A stent, in particular a coronary stent, includes a thin-walled, hollow-cylindrical base body of an X-ray transparent material, the surface area of which has an open-worded, net-shaped design owing to recesses. The stent has at least one X-ray opaque element or region, wherein the X-ray opaque element or the X-ray opaque region extends essentially in a linear direction over at least a portion of the circumference of the stent located at least one end region of the stent while the rest of the stent remains X-ray transparent.

Abstract: A modular artificial hip joint includes a head part and at least one shaft part. The shaft part, which can be driven into the bone and forms the distal region, is connected to the distal end of the head part by insertion, preferably by means of an insert cone. A first screw or tie rod, guided through an axial bore in the head part, can be screwed into the threaded bore in the shaft part. In order to guide a second screw for separating the conical insert connection between the individual components of the artificial joint, the bore in the head part is threaded and has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the threaded bore in the shank part.

Abstract: A stent, particularly a coronary stent, which includes at least one thin-walled, tubular body (2), the surface (1) of which is divided into strap-like, expandable elements (4,4′,4″,4′″,4″″) extending in the longitudinal direction of the stent and expandable in the circumferential direction thereof and, which elements are linked by at least one joining strap (6,6′). Two expandable elements (4,4′,4″,4′″,4″″) are juxtaposed in the circumferential direction of the stent and, by means of an end attachment (8), with the end face (4.4′) of an expandable element (4,4′,4″,4′″,4″″) adjoining in the longitudinal direction of the stent. The surface (1) in the non-expanded condition is substantially free of apertures and is divided by partition lines (3), which have a considerably smaller width compared with the strap width of the expandable elements (4,4′,4″,4′″,4″″).

Abstract: A modular hip joint prosthesis is assembled from a head section having a connection for the ball of the joint and from a shaft section. The shaft section is joined by a insert connection to the head section, and provision is made for fixing the insert connection. The insert connection is situated in the region of Shenton's arc. The respective contours, in longitudinal section, of the head and shaft sections in the region of the connection merge smoothly, without any substantial change in direction, irrespective of the relative mutual alignments of the sections at any given time, with the exception of a gap in the immediate vicinity of the connection.

Abstract: A modular endoprosthesis having a plurality of shaft elements, wherein a first shaft element has a longitudinal axis, an outer wall, a circumferential indentation and a substantially conical bore. The bore has an open mouth and a closed base. The circumferential indentation is located on the outer wall close to the open mouth of the conical bore for the purpose of reducing mechanical stresses in the vicinity of the mouth of the bore when the endoprosthesis is subjected to a bending force. A second shaft element has a longitudinal axis, an outer wall and a substantially conical pin adapted to fit the bore in the first shaft element, for joining the two shaft elements together with a conical socket connection.

Abstract: A stent, especially a coronary stent, comprising at least one thin-walled, tubular member with an openly reticular outer surface containing recesses, which are defined by narrow weblike members. Weblike members are formed from the remaining material from the tube wall once the material has been removed from the recess area. The weblike members are shaped in such a way as to substantially reduce the deformation to which a weblike member is subjected between connecting areas with other weblike members during expansion. The invention also relates to a method of producing the like.

Abstract: A joint prosthesis includes a shaft part insertable into a tubular bone and a head part joining the shaft part and including a joint connection element. The head part includes a sleeve region having a through bore adapted to a cross section of a shaft of the joint connection element. The longitudinal axis of the shaft part and the joint connection element form an obtuse angle when the joint connection element is introduced into the through bore of the head part.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant for insertion between adjacent vertebrae. The implant includes a spacer having two end faces and defining a continuous hollow channel therein configured to receive natural bone substance; and flanges disposed on respective end faces of the spacer and extending in each respective end plane thereof for connection to the adjacent vertebrae. Each flange projects laterally beyond the spacer at at least one region of the spacer for reducing surface pressure exerted by the spacer on the vertebrae, at least one flange defining an aperture therein within a region of the hollow channel, the aperture being configured to receive a substrate therein for supporting the natural bone substance, the flanges further defining at least one perforation within a region thereof projecting laterally beyond the spacer through which the natural bone substance may grow along an outside region of the spacer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing a gradient coating of calcium phosphat phases and metal oxide phases on metallic implants, in particular made of titanium or titanium alloys, for use as dental, jaw or joint implants. A solution containing calcium ions and phosphate ions is used as electrolyte of which the pH is slightly acidic to approximately neutral. The substrate electrodes are alternately polarized cathodically and anodically. The layer deposited in a gratuated manner is adherent, has a fine structure and is distinguished by a high degree of biocompatibility.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes a tubular, curved shaft having a shaft cavity, a length, proximal and distal ends; and an outer diameter and a wall thickness both decreasing towards the distal end. The shaft cavity is closed throughout, and the tubular shaft has, in a zone of the distal end, a flattened, essentially plate-shaped wall portion having a length coextensive with the length of the shaft, and a thickness of approximately between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

Abstract: Endoprosthesis, in particular a hip joint prosthesis, provided with a hollow shaft being implantable in a hollow space of a bone, being of a tubular and curved shape and diminishing with respect to its diameter and material cross-cut, whereby, from the end that is near to the joint towards the end that is far away from the joint, the bending rigidity of the shaft diminishes to a relatively larger extent than the longitudinal rigidity of the shaft.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes an elongated shaft terminating in a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft has a center axis and an outer surface provided with grooves having side walls forming an essentially wedge-shaped cross section terminating in a bottom edge line. The grooves extend substantially longitudinally on the outer surface from the proximal end to the distal end in a substantially uniform density. The bottom edge lines are oriented toward the center axis, whereby a separate imaginary plane longitudinally dividing each groove contains both the center axis and the respective bottom edge line. The number of grooves in an imaginary angular sector, having a vertex line coinciding with the center axis, increases with increasing distance of the outer surface from the center axis. The proximal end has an enlarged surface region and the grooves extend from the distal end upward toward the enlarged surface region.

Abstract: An intramedullar nail for the treatment of fractures of long tubular bones, made of a shaft having a nail tip and at least one fixation screw. A portion of the nail tip is made of absorbable material. The fixation screws penetrate the bone and a section of the nail, causing the bone and nail to be attached.

Abstract: Method for producing a hollow shaft endoprosthesis, in particular a hip joint prosthesis, comprising the following stages:Producing two half-tubings, which may be connected together to form the shape of the shaft of the prosthesis, whereby they touch in the region of two welding seams substantially running in a longitudinal direction, by moulding or forging,welding together both moulded or forged half-tubings in the region of the welding seams.

Abstract: An intervertebral disk endoprosthesis is filled with an elastic material and provided with cover plates at its end faces, and has a circular or elliptical corrugated tube surrounding the viscoelastic material, the tube being terminated by cover plates.

Abstract: A marrow nail for the treatment of bone fractures, including a marrow nail body having a hollow tubular cross section, the marrow nail body having a constricted marrow nail head, and a marrow nail tool for driving in, extracting and changing the position of the marrow nail during repositioning of a constricted marrow nail head. The marrow nail tool includes two generally parallel gripper jaws which are pivotable relative to one another, each of the two gripper jaws having a respective distal end which extends toward the other one respective distal end, a generally rectangular mandrel disposed between the two gripper jaws, and a securing ring which can be moved into a position encircling the two gripper jaws.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis is equipped with a collar and a prosthesis shaft and is adapted to be anchored longitudinally in a bone without the use of cement. A hip endoprosthesis can be constructed for anchorage in the proximal femur, in which the prosthesis shaft is composed of a plurality of parallel interconnected thin plates which are configured as plate-shaped partial faces and which have peripheral cutting edges which face away from the prosthesis collar. A tibial plateau prosthesis can be similary constructed, and includes a tibial plateau and a supporting structure formed of thin plates which extend in a common direction and which are interconnected. Both types of prosthesis can be driven into the bone without destruction of existing bone tissue and without removal of spongiosa.