Abstract: A pedicle screw system, including a pedicle screw having a screw shaft with an external thread and having a screw head supported on the screw shaft in a ball-and-socket joint relationship. The screw head includes a connecting element receptacle for a connecting element of a spinal stabilization system. The pedicle screw system further includes: a bone alignment apparatus and a coupling device for at least one of force-locking coupling and form-locking coupling of the bone alignment apparatus and the pedicle screw in an alignment position in which a mobility of the screw head and the screw shaft is reduced from three degrees of freedom of movement in rotation of the screw head supported on the screw shaft in a ball-and-socket joint relationship therewith by at least one degree of freedom of rotation.

Abstract: A disposable surgical instrument includes an instrument grip forming a receiving housing. A separate handle is mounted in the instrument grip in the manner of a rocker. A shaft tool includes a shaft having at least two relatively axially movable bar or rod components and an instrument head having patient engagement elements which can be actuated by the bar or rod components, of which one bar or rod component is fixed at the proximal end thereof to the instrument grip and the other bar or rod component has an articulation point on which the handle is directly articulated in such way that a manually actuated rocker movement of the handle about the articulation point on the handle side is transformed directly into an axial movement of the other bar or rod component on the articulation point on the shaft side.

Abstract: Medical instrumentation includes two or, in particular, more anchoring elements for anchoring on body tissue, and a stabilization element via which the two or more anchoring elements are connectable. The instrumentation includes a sensor unit, a coupling unit for percutaneous selective coupling of the sensor unit to at least one anchoring element or to the stabilization element, and a data processing unit which determines from sensor signals of the sensor unit the position of the anchoring elements relative to one another and/or the position of at least one anchoring element relative to the stabilization element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection element for a spine stabilization system comprises a first end for fixing to a first bone fixation device, a second end for fixing to a second bone fixation device and an intermediate portion arranged or formed between the two ends and defining a longitudinal axis. At least one of the two ends takes the form of a coupling element for fixing the connection element to a bone fixation device in at least one defined orientation relative to the longitudinal axis. The coupling element has a shape other than a circular cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection element for a spine stabilization system comprises a first end for fixing to a first bone fixation device, a second end for fixing to a second bone fixation device and an intermediate portion arranged or formed between the two ends and defining a longitudinal axis. At least one of the two ends takes the form of a coupling element for fixing the connection element to a bone fixation device in at least one defined orientation relative to the longitudinal axis. The coupling element has a shape other than a circular cylinder.

Abstract: An implant is provided which allows for widening of the vertebral canal of vertebrae with less stress on the patient than in heretofore customary surgical procedures, wherein the vertebral arch of a vertebra is cut through, forming an incision gap, or is partially removed and the implant is inserted in the incision gap, wherein the incision gap is bounded by incision faces opposed to each other and the implant comprises an implant body having two contact faces which in the inserted state in the incision gap contact the incision faces of the vertebral arch.

Abstract: A system for anchoring a pedicle screw in a patient's vertebra uses a pedicle screw having a threaded portion sinkable in the vertebral arch. The space between the threaded portion and cortical edge layer of the pedicle is at least partially filled by a spacer that enables an all-round support of the threaded portion at the cortical edge layer. A kit includes a pedicle screw and a spacer which at least partially fills the space between the threaded portion and cortical edge layer of the pedicle. A spacer has an essentially oval cross-section for form-locking fit in a corresponding axial recess sunk in the pedicle and having an axial through-hole to accommodate the threaded portion of a pedicle screw, as well as a spacer in the form of an essentially cylindrical pedicle augmentation in the form of a bone screw or a bone bracket.

Abstract: A stent retractor/distractor includes a radially flexibly enlargeable, pipe-shaped sheath which is divided up in the circumferential direction in at least two sections, namely one stiffening section and one enlarging section with differing radial flexibilities, which are connected with each other in one piece of material. The stent retractor/distractor defined in that way is made on the whole by a laser or water jet cutting procedure, preferably from a pipe blank.

Abstract: To provide a method with which expansion of the vertebral canal of vertebrae is possible with less stress for the patient than with the surgical methods used to date, it is proposed that herein the vertebral arch be split and an incision gap thereby be formed, and the incision gap bounded by opposed incision surfaces be expanded to a prescribed gap width and the bone substance of the resulting vertebral arch sections thereby be elastically/plastically deformed.

Abstract: A pedicle screw system, including a pedicle screw having a screw shaft with an external thread and having a screw head supported on the screw shaft in a ball-and-socket joint relationship. The screw head includes a connecting element receptacle for a connecting element of a spinal stabilization system. The pedicle screw system further includes: a bone alignment apparatus and a coupling device for at least one of force-locking coupling and form-locking coupling of the bone alignment apparatus and the pedicle screw in an alignment position in which a mobility of the screw head and the screw shaft is reduced from three degrees of freedom of movement in rotation of the screw head supported on the screw shaft in a ball-and-socket joint relationship therewith by at least one degree of freedom of rotation.

Abstract: A pedicle screw system, including a pedicle screw having a screw shaft with an external thread and having a screw head supported on the screw shaft in a ball-and-socket joint relationship. The screw head includes a connecting element receptacle for a connecting element of a spinal stabilization system. The pedicle screw system further includes: a bone alignment apparatus and a coupling device for at least one of force-locking coupling and form-locking coupling of the bone alignment apparatus and the pedicle screw in an alignment position in which a mobility of the screw head and the screw shaft is reduced from three degrees of freedom of movement in rotation of the screw head supported on the screw shaft in a ball-and-socket joint relationship therewith by at least one degree of freedom of rotation.

Abstract: An orthopaedic fixation system includes an anchoring element, which can be anchored to a bone and can be connected to a further anchoring element by means of a stabilization element. The anchoring element may include a stabilization element seating, into which the stabilization element can be guided. The orthopaedic fixation system may also include an extension device for the anchoring element having a longitudinal extent with a proximal section and a distal section. The distal section can be detachably fixed to the anchoring element. The fixation system may further include a holding device with a probe seating for an extracorporeal ultrasound probe and a coupling device for coupling the holding device to the proximal section of the extension device. A targeting device for a fixation system and an orthopaedic fixation method are also described.

Abstract: An implant for stabilizing spinous processes of adjacent vertebral bodies can include first and second contact elements. The first contact element is placed onto a first side of the spinous processes and the second contact element is placed onto a second side of the spinous processes. The implant includes at least one clamping element which couples to the first contact element, can be moved relative to the second contact element, and extends through the intervertebral space between the spinous processes and the second contact element. The implant also includes at least one fixing element on the second contact element which can be brought into engagement with the at least one clamping element to clamp the second contact element in the direction of the first contact element along the at least one clamping element. The first contact element is movable relative to the at least one clamping element.

Abstract: Medical instrumentation includes two or, in particular, more anchoring elements for anchoring on body tissue, and a stabilization element via which the two or more anchoring elements are connectable. The instrumentation includes a sensor unit, a coupling unit for percutaneous selective coupling of the sensor unit to at least one anchoring element or to the stabilization element, and a data processing unit which determines from sensor signals of the sensor unit the position of the anchoring elements relative to one another and/or the position of at least one anchoring element relative to the stabilization element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical K-wire for guiding a bone screw comprising a longitudinal channel, which said K-wire comprises a proximal and a distal end, wherein a closure element for closing-off the distal end outlet opening of the longitudinal channel of the bone screw is arranged or formed at the distal end. Furthermore, an improved surgical screw system is proposed comprising a bone screw and such a surgical K-wire.

Abstract: To improve a connecting element for a stabilization system for the vertebral column, which includes a first attachment section for fixing to a first bone fixation device, a second attachment section for fixing to a second bone fixation device, and an at least partially flexible intermediate section having at least one recess which is open at the sides, that at least one mechanical property of the intermediate section can be individually set in a simple and safe way, at least one movement limiting member is provided, which comprises a filling body and at least one stop device acting parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and/or in the circumferential direction, and that the filling body, in a normal position in which no external forces act on the intermediate section, engage at least partially in the at least one recess.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection element for a spine stabilization system comprises a first end for fixing to a first bone fixation device, a second end for fixing to a second bone fixation device and an intermediate portion arranged or formed between the two ends and defining a longitudinal axis. At least one of the two ends takes the form of a coupling element for fixing the connection element to a bone fixation device in at least one defined orientation relative to the longitudinal axis. The coupling element has a shape other than a circular cylinder.

Abstract: A surgical device is used for temporarily stiffening an at least partially flexible intermediate section of a connecting element for a spinal column stabilization system. The connecting element includes a first attachment section for fixing to a first bone fixation device and a second attachment section for fixing to a second bone fixation device. The at least partially flexible intermediate section is arranged between the first and second attachment sections. The intermediate section defines at least one recess configured to enable deformation of the intermediate section. The surgical device includes at least one blocking element which is adapted to be brought into engagement with the intermediate section at least partially with a positively locking connection for temporarily preventing deformation of the flexible intermediate section. An improved spinal column stabilization system includes at least one first bone fixation device, at least one second bone fixation device and a connecting element.

Abstract: An implant for stabilizing spinous processes of adjacent vertebral bodies can include first and second contact elements. The first contact element is placed onto a first side of the spinous processes and the second contact element is placed onto a second side of the spinous processes. The implant includes at least one clamping element which couples to the first contact element, can be moved relative to the second contact element, and extends through the intervertebral space between the spinous processes and the second contact element. The implant also includes at least one fixing element on the second contact element which can be brought into engagement with the at least one clamping element to clamp the second contact element in the direction of the first contact element along the at least one clamping element. The first contact element is movable relative to the at least one clamping element.

Abstract: A system for anchoring a pedicle screw in a patient's vertebra uses a pedicle screw having a threaded portion sinkable in the vertebral arch. The space between the threaded portion and cortical edge layer of the pedicle is at least partially filled by a spacer that enables an all-round support of the threaded portion at the cortical edge layer. A kit includes a pedicle screw and a spacer which at least partially fills the space between the threaded portion and cortical edge layer of the pedicle. A spacer has an essentially oval cross-section for form-locking fit in a corresponding axial recess sunk in the pedicle and having an axial through-hole to accommodate the threaded portion of a pedicle screw, as well as a spacer in the form of an essentially cylindrical pedicle augmentation in the form of a bone screw or a bone bracket.