Abstract: A disposable medical handpiece configured for phaco emulsification surgery includes an ultrasonic drive coupled to a phaco tip for vibrating the phaco tip at an ultrasonic frequency for emulsifying cataract. The phaco tip has an aspiration passage coupled to a cannula disposed within the ultrasonic drive for aspirating the emulsified cataract. The ultrasonic drive and the phaco tip are disposed in a housing having an integrated irrigation tube for irrigating the surgery site with an irrigation liquid. The disposable medical handpiece is configured to allow the ultrasonic drive to be reusable while the cannula and the housing to be disposable. The medical handpiece can include haptic feedback to allow the surgeon to know the status of the handpiece and the characteristics of the cataract. The medical handpiece can include a frequency selector to allow the surgeon to change the ultrasonic frequency based on the characteristics of the cataract.

Abstract: A spinal device and associated method are provided for spreading of first and second vertebral elements, each of the first and second vertebral elements having a circumferential surface defining a vertebral body and a pedicle having a pedicle root portion adjacent the circumferential surface. The device includes a first end member having at least one surface adapted to conform to at least one of the circumferential surface and the pedicle root portion of the first vertebral element, and a second end member having at least one surface adapted to conform to at least one of the circumferential surface and the pedicle root portion of the second vertebral element. The device further includes a resilient member extending between the first and second end members and being adapted to exert a force against the first and second vertebral elements.

Abstract: A spinal device and associated method are provided for spreading of first and second vertebral elements, each of the first and second vertebral elements having a circumferential surface defining a vertebral body and a pedicle having a pedicle root portion adjacent the circumferential surface. The device includes a first end member having at least one surface adapted to conform to at least one of the circumferential surface and the pedicle root portion of the first vertebral element, and a second end member having at least one surface adapted to conform to at least one of the circumferential surface and the pedicle root portion of the second vertebral element. The device further includes a resilient member extending between the first and second end members and being adapted to exert a force against the first and second vertebral elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intervertebral disk implant having two implant plates contacting prepared vertebral body surfaces in the implanted state and an implant core which can be introduced between the implant plates. The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of an intervertebral disk implant.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intervertebral disk implant having two implant plates contacting prepared vertebral body surfaces in the implanted state and an implant core which can be introduced between the implant plates. The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of an intervertebral disk implant.

Abstract: A spinal stabilization system includes a pair of vertebral anchors and a flexible construct extending between the anchors to provide dynamic stabilization of the spine. The flexible construct includes first and second spring arms coupled to the anchors at first ends thereof and second ends coupled at a joint. The spring arms are capable of flexing toward and away from each other during movement of the spine. The system may include a biasing member for biasing movement of the spring arms toward and/or away from each other. The system may further include an adjustment feature that allows the distraction to be adjusted in situ. The stiffness characteristic of each of the spring arms may be selectively adjusted to meet the specific application. A method of stabilizing a spine includes securing anchors to selected vertebrae and coupling the flexible construct to the anchors through a top loading procedure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an injectable annular ring useful in treating a deteriorating spinal disc. When used, the annular ring may be collapsed or folded in order for it to be placed through a small opening in a prepared intervertebral space within the annulus using minimally invasive techniques. Deployment or unfolding the ring in the intervertebral space provides an interior cavity bordered by the ring that is in direct contact with the vertebral endplates. When an internal volume of the ring is inject or filled with a load-bearing, hardenable material, the filled ring maintains the intervertebral spacing and prevents the ring from being expelled from the interior cavity through the small annular opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intervertebral disk implant having two implant plates contacting prepared vertebral body surfaces in the implanted state and an implant core which can be introduced between the implant plates. The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of an intervertebral disk implant.

Abstract: A textile material (21, 21?) comprising a textile substrate (22, 22?) has, at least on part of the surface of the textile substrate (22, 22?), a coating (24, 24?) that contains at least one compound chosen from the group composed of hydrogels, except keratin hydrogels, of polyurethanes, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene and any desired combinations of two or more of the aforementioned compounds. This textile material (21, 21?) can be used particularly as a substance for an artificial intervertebral disc (16?, 16??), as a replacement for the nucleus pulposus (16?, 16?), cage (16, 16?), vertebral body implant (16??), articular surface substitute, or as a tube (18, 18?, 18?, 18?) in vertebroplasty or nucleoplasty.

Abstract: A rongeur (40) has a stem (b), comprising a manipulating end (A) and a working end, and at the manipulating end a grip (42, 44) that is angled in a direction away from the stem. Arranged at a second, working end is a mouth (50), which lies substantially on the side of the stem away from the grip, and a pivotable mouth part (52). The mouth part is mounted at its distal end on the stem in such a way that the opening of the mouth faces the working end of the stem; it is therefore a rongeur of which the working direction, that is to say the scraping and cutting direction of the mouth part when it closes, faces the surgeon. In this case, the stem has a curvature or angling that lies in particular close to the working end, but proximal in relation to the mouth, and which likewise has at least one component pointing away from the angling direction of the grip.

Abstract: A spinal stabilization system includes a pair of vertebral anchors and a flexible construct extending between the anchors to provide dynamic stabilization of the spine. The flexible construct includes first and second spring arms coupled to the anchors at first ends thereof and second ends coupled at a joint. The spring arms are capable of flexing toward and away from each other during movement of the spine. The system may include a biasing member for biasing movement of the spring arms toward and/or away from each other. The system may further include an adjustment feature that allows the distraction to be adjusted in situ. The stiffness characteristic of each of the spring arms may be selectively adjusted to meet the specific application. A method of stabilizing a spine includes securing anchors to selected vertebrae and coupling the flexible construct to the anchors through a top loading procedure.

Abstract: A spinal device and associated method are provided for spreading of first and second vertebral elements, each of the first and second vertebral elements having a circumferential surface defining a vertebral body and a pedicle having a pedicle root portion adjacent the circumferential surface. The device includes a first end member having at least one surface adapted to conform to at least one of the circumferential surface and the pedicle root portion of the first vertebral element, and a second end member having at least one surface adapted to conform to at least one of the circumferential surface and the pedicle root portion of the second vertebral element. The device further includes a resilient member extending between the first and second end members and being adapted to exert a force against the first and second vertebral elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides an injectable annular ring useful in treating a deteriorating spinal disc. When used, the annular ring may be collapsed or folded in order for it to be placed through a small opening in a prepared intervertebral space within the annulus using minimally invasive techniques. Deployment or unfolding the ring in the intervertebral space provides an interior cavity bordered by the ring that is in direct contact with the vertebral endplates. When an internal volume of the ring is inject or filled with a load-bearing, hardenable material, the filled ring maintains the intervertebral spacing and prevents the ring from being expelled from the interior cavity through the small annular opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to an instrument system for the insertion of intervertebral disk implants including two implant plates and one implant core comprising at least one trial unit including two trial elements of preferably plate shape for the determination of an implant suitable for the respective patient, at least one machining unit for the preparation of the surfaces of the bodies of the vertebra of the patient which includes operating elements having two sections of preferably forked shape and at least one holding unit which can be coupled to the implant plates for the insertion of the implant, with the trial unit, the machining unit and the holding unit each being able to be coupled to a traction instrument in particular in the manner of forceps for the pressing apart of the trial elements, the operating elements or the implant elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a targeting aid for the spatial fixing of a target device relative to spinal vertebrae of a patient, comprising a clamping tool which is formed as a pair of forceps and which has at least two clamping jaws with which the clamping tool can be fixedly clamped to the spinal vertebrae while bridging at least two adjacent spinal vertebrae, and comprising at least one target base which is fixedly connected to the clamping tool and which is formed for coupling to a separate target device.