Abstract: The invention concerns a bone plate system comprising: a bone fastening element comprising a shaft with a first thread, the fastening element further comprising a head with a second thread on its outer surface, the outer surface having a first hardness; and a bone plate having a second hardness which is smaller than the first hardness, the bone plate comprising a through hole for receiving the bone fastening element. The head is oxygen diffusion hardened.

Abstract: The invention concerns a distal radius fracture fixation device for securing at least two fractured bone segments together. The device comprises: a body portion comprising at least two insertion channels each extending through the body portion and each being configured for receiving a bone fixation element therethrough; and an insertion device connection portion connected to the body portion, and for coupling a separate insertion device to the fracture fixation device. The insertion device connection portion is arranged to be decoupled from the body portion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bone plate system comprising: a bone fastening element comprising a shaft with a first thread, the fastening element further comprising a head with a second thread on its outer surface, the outer surface having a first hardness; and a bone plate having a second hardness which is smaller than the first hardness, the bone plate comprising a through hole for receiving the bone fastening element. The head is oxygen diffusion hardened.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bone anchor element for inserting into a bone and/or fixing tissue to the bone, wherein the bone anchor element has in a longitudinal direction a proximal end, a proximal section, a distal section and a distal end, and the proximal section has on the outside a contoured indentation to prevent the bone anchor element inserted into the bone from being pulled out and on the inside a continuous hollow space in the longitudinal direction having a proximal opening and a distal opening, and the distal section is formed in a flattened, plate-shaped manner having a plate plane, wherein the bone anchor element has at least one transverse through-hole for receiving a suture material, and the distal section has in the longitudinal direction to the distal end a first transverse through-hole through the plate plane, wherein the first transverse through-hole is connected to the continuous hollow space of the proximal section via the distal opening, and subsequently has a second transverse through-

Abstract: Intramedullary fixation assemblies (4, 8) and intramedullary fixation devices (1, 24) can be used in orthopaedic surgery for the fixation of bone fractures. Also disclosed is an insertion device (30) for inserting an intramedullary fixation device, and a method of fixing a bone fracture. The fixation devices are preferably for addressing fractures of the distal radius, and are preferably styloid nails. The styloid nails preferably have a head portion that can accept up to three bone screws; one of the bone screws is designed to extend across a fracture line between a proximal and a distal bone fragment while the other bone screws are designed to be retained in the distal bone fragment.

Abstract: A device for bone fixation comprising: a bone plate (1) which has a plate hole (2) suitable for receiving a bone screw (20), the plate hole (2) having an inner wall (4) made of a material which has a hardness Hp; and a hollow cylinder- or hollow cone-shaped insert which is mounted in the plate hole (2), at least partially abuts the inner wall (4) and is suitable for accommodating the head (21) of a bone screw (20), the insert (10) being arranged in the plate hole (2) such that it is secured against rotation and consisting of a material that has a hardness HE<Hp.

Abstract: A therapy device for treating left-side and right-side body parts comprises a single-piece base plate having a left surface and a right surface, a moving segment having a support surface for a left- or right-side body part to be treated, and a drive for pivoting the moving segment back and forth relative to the base plate. The moving segment is fastened to the base plate so as to be pivotable around an axis of rotation. The left surface of the base plate is shaped for supporting thereon a left-side body portion assigned to a left-side body part to be treated. The right surface of the base plate is shaped for supporting thereon a right-side body portion assigned to a right-side body part to be treated.

Abstract: A bone implant that is elongate along a longitudinal axis includes an implant body including first and second wire segments extending between first and second ends along the axis. The wire segments are spaced from each other along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to define first and second apertures each extending through the implant body along respective directions that are offset from the axis. At least one of the first and second apertures is configured to receive a bone fixation element for securing the implant to bone. The first and second wire segments abut each other at least at one end of the first and second apertures. The first and second wire segments define respective first and second prongs each located at the second end and configured to be inserted within bone so as to further secure the bone implant to bone.

Abstract: A bone fixation system has a bone implant with an implant body. The implant body defines an upper surface, a bone-facing surface spaced from the upper surface along a transverse direction, and at least one aperture defined by an inner wall. A bone fixation element is configured for insertion at least partially through the aperture. The bone fixation element has a head and a shaft that extends relative to the head in a distal direction. The head defines a ridge and at least one thread that is spaced from the ridge in the distal direction. The ridge is configured to compress a bone implant against the at least one thread so as to fixedly retain the bone implant with respect to the head.

Abstract: A system for treating a bone fracture includes an intramedullary nail sized and shaped to be inserted through a medullary canal of a bone to extend across a fracture site of the bone, the intramedullary device extending from a first end to a second end and including a plurality of openings extending laterally therethrough, the openings sized and shaped to receive bone fixation elements therethrough, and an insertion device including a base portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the base portion integrally formed with the intramedullary nail and connected thereto via a plurality of connection points which, when a force is exerted thereon, break to disconnect the insertion device from the intramedullary nail, the base portion including a plurality of guide channels extending therethrough, each of the guide channels being aligned with a corresponding one of the openings of the intramedullary nail.

Abstract: A system for treating a bone fracture includes an intramedullary nail sized and shaped to be inserted through a medullary canal of a bone to extend across a fracture site of the bone, the intramedullary device extending from a first end to a second end and including a plurality of openings extending laterally therethrough, the openings sized and shaped to receive bone fixation elements therethrough, and an insertion device including a base portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the base portion integrally formed with the intramedullary nail and connected thereto via a plurality of connection points which, when a force is exerted thereon, break to disconnect the insertion device from the intramedullary nail, the base portion including a plurality of guide channels extending therethrough, each of the guide channels being aligned with a corresponding one of the openings of the intramedullary nail.

Abstract: A device for bone fixation comprising: a bone plate (1) which has a plate hole (2) suitable for receiving a bone screw (20), the plate hole (2) having an inner wall (4) made of a material which has a hardness Hp; and a hollow cylinder- or hollow cone-shaped insert which is mounted in the plate hole (2), at least partially abuts the inner wall (4) and is suitable for accommodating the head (21) of a bone screw (20), the insert (10) being arranged in the plate hole (2) such that it is secured against rotation and consisting of a material that has a hardness HE<Hp.

Abstract: A system for treating a bone fracture includes an intramedullary nail sized and shaped to be inserted through a medullary canal of a bone to extend across a fracture site of the bone, the intramedullary device extending from a first end to a second end and including a plurality of openings extending laterally therethrough, the openings sized and shaped to receive bone fixation elements therethrough, and an insertion device including a base portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the base portion integrally formed with the intramedullary nail and connected thereto via a plurality of connection points which, when a force is exerted thereon, break to disconnect the insertion device from the intramedullary nail, the base portion including a plurality of guide channels extending therethrough, each of the guide channels being aligned with a corresponding one of the openings of the intramedullary nail.

Abstract: A bone implant can be made from a wire that defines an aperture for receiving a bone fixation means. The wire can be selected to stably fix a bone across a fracture location.

Abstract: A bone implant that is elongate along a longitudinal axis includes an implant body including first and second side wire segments that are spaced from each other so as to define at least one apertures extending through the implant body. The at least one aperture is configured to receive a bone fixation element so as to secure the bone implant to bone.

Abstract: A bone fixation system has a bone implant with an implant body. The implant body defines an upper surface, a bone-facing surface spaced from the upper surface along a transverse direction, and at least one aperture defined by an inner wall. A bone fixation element is configured for insertion at least partially through the aperture. The bone fixation element defines a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end along a central axis. The bone fixation element has a head and a shaft that extends relative to the head toward the distal end. The head defines a first ridge, a second ridge spaced from the first ridge, and a groove disposed between the first and second ridges. The groove can receive at least a portion of the inner wall to couple the bone fixation element to the bone implant.

Abstract: A method for elongating a tendon including by moving a cutting blade along the tendon in a helical path so as to make a helical cut in the tendon which allows elongation of the tendon.

Abstract: A bone fixation system has a bone implant with an implant body. The implant body defines an upper surface, a bone-facing surface spaced from the upper surface along a transverse direction, and at least one aperture defined by an inner wall. A bone fixation element is configured for insertion at least partially through the aperture. The bone fixation element defines a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end along a central axis. The bone fixation element has a head and a shaft that extends relative to the head toward the distal end. The head defines a first ridge, a second ridge spaced from the first ridge, and a groove disposed between the first and second ridges. The groove can receive at least a portion of the inner wall to couple the bone fixation element to the bone implant.

Abstract: An intramedullary fixation system is configured to be fixed to first and second bone segments that are separated by a defect. The system includes an intramedullary fixation member that includes first and second wire segments that are twisted about each other so as to define a plurality of intersections. A distal one of the intersections is separable, such that rotation of the fixation device in a medullary canal causes bone material in the medullary canal to apply a counterforce to the wire segments that causes the distal intersection to separate, thereby driving respective distal ends of the wire segments into the bone segment, such that subsequent movement of the intramedullary fixation member a toward the first bone segment causes the second bone segment to move toward the first bone segment. The intramedullary fixation system can further include a fixation clip that anchors the intramedullary fixation member to the first bone segment.

Abstract: An adjustable length bone screw is provided that has a shaft that can be cut at any of several predetermined positions. The adjustable length bone screws can be provided in a kit containing many bone screws having the same or different initial lengths, and these screws can be cut to the desired length for use in the surgical procedure prior to, or during, the surgical procedure. The adjustable length bone screws have a plurality of threaded shaft sections that are separated by a plurality of unthreaded shaft sections along the length of the shaft. The threaded sections have preferably at least two cutting flutes extending longitudinally along the shaft. The invention provides the adjustable length bone screws, a tool for cutting the bone screws to a desired length, kits containing the bone screws and optionally the cutting tool, and methods for using the screws and/or the cutting tool in preparation for or during a surgical procedure.