Abstract: An expandable cage for intercorporal fusion of lumbar vertebrae comprises a main body with two expandable parallel arms. Each arm has a supporting surface pointing outside and configured to contact an adjacent vertebral body, a groove pointing inside and extending along a transverse direction, and a channel pointing inside and extending along a longitudinal direction. An expansion element is instrument actuated and presses the arms apart expanding the cage. The expansion element is between the arms and comprises a cylindrical base body, two opposing radially aligned ribs on the base body, and a rectangular plate. Both the base body and ribs have curved, pair-wise opposed bearing surfaces. Depending on the cage's expansion state, either the base body bearing surfaces or the rib bearing surfaces contact channels provided in the arms, while the plate engages in the grooves of the arms.

Abstract: An expandable cage for intercorporal fusion of lumbar vertebrae comprises a main body with two expandable parallel arms. Each arm has a supporting surface pointing outside and configured to contact an adjacent vertebral body, a groove pointing inside and extending along a transverse direction, and a channel pointing inside and extending along a longitudinal direction. An expansion element is instrument actuated and presses the arms apart expanding the cage. The expansion element is between the arms and comprises a cylindrical base body, two opposing radially aligned ribs on the base body, and a rectangular plate. Both the base body and ribs have curved, pair-wise opposed bearing surfaces. Depending on the cage's expansion state, either the base body bearing surfaces or the rib bearing surfaces contact channels provided in the arms, while the plate engages in the grooves of the arms.

Abstract: A polyaxial connector for spinal fixation systems has a lateral connector element having a first receptacle for a polyaxial connection to a spherical head of a pedicle screw and a second receptacle for a polyaxial connection to a spherical head of tulip that is configured to receive a connection rod clamped in the tulip by a locking element. A clamping piece is mounted in longitudinally-movable manner in the connector element between the receptacles. If the locking element is tightened, a pressure ram received in the tulip exerts a clamping force on the pedicle screw head, thereby fixing the connector element to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: An instrument set for screwing an implant into an intervertebral disc space comprises a guide sleeve and a screwing-in instrument. The latter has a shank having a distal end at which the implant can be fixed in a rotationally rigid manner. At the proximal end a rotary handle is fastened in a rotationally rigid manner. The screwing-in instrument further has a residual-advance indicator, which is configured to quantitatively indicate to the surgeon, during the screwing-in procedure, how far the implant is distant in the axial direction from an axial specified position that is fixed relative to the location at which the guide sleeve is supported on the vertebrae.

Abstract: In an orthopaedic fixing system comprising at least one implant part which has at least one through-opening, and comprising fixing elements which are inserted into the through-openings, the through-openings having widened portions which receive a head-shaped thickening of the fixing elements, in order to fix the fixing elements in the implant part in an axial direction without however impairing their ability to rotate, it is proposed that the head-shaped thickenings of the fixing elements are compressible, that the widened portions have an outside diameter which is slightly smaller than the non-resiliently-compressed head-shaped thickening, and that the widened portions have undercuts, into which the head-shaped thickening after insertion into the widened portion engages resiliently.

Abstract: In order to connect the core undetachably to the holding element in the case of a pin-type holding element for an orthopaedic holding system with an elastically compressible, head-shaped widened portion and with a central opening, into which a core may be inserted, which prevents an elastic compression of the head-shaped widened portion by filling out the central opening in the region of the widened portion without expanding this, it is proposed that the core is displaceable in the opening between a locking position, in which it fills out the central opening in the region of the widened portion, and a release position plunging deeper into the central opening, in which it releases the central opening in the region of the widened portion and thus allows its elastic compression

Abstract: A tubular-handled surgical instrument has two mutually articulated grip shanks. A tube is secured on one of the shanks, with a tool fitted at its end. A rod-like actuator for the tool is fitted to move longitudinally in the tube and articulated on the other shank via a cylindrical or spherical end. A releasable connection is provided between the tube and the actuator on the one hand and between the two shanks on the other. The tube is insertable into a tubular recess in one shank and axially securable therein by at least one radially movable spherical locking member making a friction fit with the tube in one end position. The radial movement of the locking member is limited by a stop bearing on the outside of the locking member formed by a sleeve axially movable on the tubular recess. The sleeve is movable in relation to the locking member in such a way that the locking member can be moved radially outwards to differing extents.