Abstract: The stem of the femoral prosthesis is provided with a slot in the medial narrow side which communicates with a through-bore within the stem adjacent to the collar. In addition, an elastomeric filling is disposed within the through-bore and cooperates with an arch which connects the proximal end of the stem to the collar or neck in order to adapt the resilience of the stem in the proximal zone to the resilience of the cortical bone. The filling may be made of polyurethane or silicone material.

Abstract: The shank for a femur head prosthesis is provided with a cavity in the approximate region which is filled with a plastic or elastic filler. A covering is provided over the filler to avoid contact between the filler and the bone or the bone cement surrounding the shank. The covering reduces the area of contact between the bone the filler to a minimum and limits the "flow" of the filler under compressive loadings on the head of the prosthesis.

Abstract: The ligament prosthesis is formed of concentric tubes of filaments threads. In addition, a layer of elastomer is disposed over at least the outermost tube to act as an impermeable layer to the passage of abraded material from within the tubes into the lining. The thickness of the elastomer layer is at most 0.1 millimeter. The elastomer may also be provided on and about the threads of the inner tubes to reduce a migration of abraded particles therein.

Abstract: A hip joint prosthesis in the form of a femur head prosthesis or acetabulum has a mesh secured over at least part of the implant surface to define a cavity between the mesh and the supporting member of the prosthesis. The mesh is made of elastically deformable material to permit inward deformation during implantation. In addition, bone cement can be injected into the cavities so that the mesh then follows the individual shape of the cavity in the bone to mesh into the internal structure of the bone with hardened bone cement.

Abstract: The ligament anchor is used for fastening an artificial ligament in a bone. The ligament anchor is formed of a clamp sleeve which tapers on the outside and is deformable radially to a smaller inner diameter. The clamp sleeve has projecting saw tooth segments on the inside with steep flanks against the direction of loading for engaging in the inserted ligament. The clamp sleeve is supported by an anchoring sleeve which tapers internally and is inserted in the opening of the bone. For anchoring, the ligament is pulled outwards under pressure against the direction of loading and the clamp sleeve is pressed into the anchoring sleeve in the direction of loading until the saw tooth elements embrace and hold the ligament such that under the built-up pressure and the ligament tension in the direction of loading, self locking of the sleeves take place.

Abstract: A finger joint prosthesis is provided with consists of two pegs of sintered hydroxylapatite for anchoring in adjacent finger bones and which is provided with an intermediate slide layer of polyurethane between the pegs to permit relative movement therebetween. The pegs together with the intermediate layer which may be anchored on one of the pegs form concave and convex bearing areas mating with each other to allow a guided motion in the bend-stretch plane.

Abstract: The stem of the endoprosthesis comprises a core which provides the necessary strength to the endoprosthesis and a jacket or sleeve of thermoplastic having a softening temperature below 60.degree. C. The jacket can be made flowable upon heating so that during implantation, the jacket can be adapted to the bone cavity. In addition, the jacket can be heated at any subsequent time to return to a plastically deformable state in order to facilitate re-operations.

Abstract: The rasp-like reaming instrument is constructed as a hollow body with exterior teeth and openings adjacent the teeth. During use, bone material which is peeled off by the teeth is directed through the openings into the interior of the body to avoid accumulation of the material under the teeth. The cutting edges of the teeth remain unencumbered during a reaming operation.

Abstract: The stem of the prosthesis is fixed in a medullated bone by means of a plurality of spacers which are distributed over the length of the stem. The spacers serve to stabilize the stem over the entire length of the stem within the bone cavity. Bone cement is charged into each peripheral opening defined between a pair of spacers via bores drilled transversely through the cortex of the bone in stages from the distal end toward the proximal end.

Abstract: A metal grid is embedded in the contact surface of a plastic implant in order to increase the wear resistance of the plastic implant. The ridge dimensions of the metal grid are chosen so that the elasticity of the plastic implant is not unduly reduced. An additional anchoring surface formed of layers of porous metal may be secured to the embedded grid to provide a surface into which bone tissue may grow in a cementless anchorage.

Abstract: The porous metal overlay for an implant surface is comprised of a plurality of layers of stacked metal grids. Each layer is provided with pores which are of a size which decrease in the direction of the implant surface steadily, that is, without enlargement in an intermediate layer. The progressively decreasing porous sizes provide for a steady ingrowth and nourishment of the ingrowing tissue.

Abstract: The bone implant is made of a cobalt-based alloy and can be anchored to a bone through the accretion of tissue. The tissue friendly surface of the implant is provided by a coating and a structural element which is secured to the coating with each of the coating and structural element being made of titanium, tantalum or niobium or an alloy of one or more of these materials.

Abstract: The acetabular cup prosthesis has a metal socket having a socket shell for receiving a spherical joint head as well as a plastic ring which covers the equatorial edge surface of the metal socket and which has an inner diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the shell. In the event of a dislocation of the joint head, the polished surface of the joint head contacts the plastic ring to deform the ring without imposing a point load on the metal joint head.

Abstract: The tibial anchoring part is formed of a flat semi-circular bearing element which defines a tibia plateau for receiving a plastic bearing element as well as a blade-like fixing element. This fixing element extends at an incline from ventral to dorsal in a distal direction and has a cutting edge at the dorsal edge for penetrating into the bone. An enlargement is also provided distally of the fixing element to prevent inadvertent pullout of the part and is also provided with a cutting edge at the dorsal edge of the anchoring part.

Abstract: The metal sleeve which is formed with the slot along a generatrix, comprises zones of relatively large wall thickness (D) and zones of relatively reduced wall thickness (d) in alternative relationship around the periphery. The zones of reduced wall thickness are in the form of annular sectors of finite length having parallel walls and radiused transitions into zones of relatively large wall thickness (D). When an insert is pressed in, the sleeve is expanded very uniformly over the entire periphery.

Abstract: A multi-layered porous wire mesh defining a trough shape is used in association with an artificial acetabulum to strengthen the edge of a hip bone near the main load direction. The porous wire mesh is of trough shape and is filled with compacted fragments of spongy tissue for intimate uniting with the edge of the hip bone.

Abstract: The bone implant is formed of a plastic body having a multi-layer wire fabric secured to the outside surface. A separating layer is disposed between the wire fabric and two wire layers embedded within the plastic body. The separating layer serves to block the ingrowing bone tissue from contact with the plastic body while embedded layers are securely enveloped by the plastic of the body to prevent a break out of the fabric.

Abstract: The metallic intervertebral prosthesis is formed of a kidney-shaped body having fishplates extending upwardly and downwardly from the body. Each fishplate has an opening for passage of a bone screw in order to secure the prosthesis to and between adjacent vertebrae. The body is tapered conically from ventral to dorsal and may be fitted in place in the ventral direction. A metal wire mesh may be provided on opposed surfaces of the body for the ingrowth of tissue and ribs may be provided to enhance lateral stability.

Abstract: The cavity of the stem of the tumor or re-operation prosthesis is subdivided by support elements into sub-cavities filled with bony material. The support elements are formed with central apertures through which the bony material can be supplied and re-vascularized from the living bone tissue of the femur stump. Wire mesh may cover over the apertures in the support elements as well as the slots between the circumferentially disposed webs which define the cavity of the stem.

Abstract: The prosthesis stem is provided with a recess on each side having boundary walls concentric to a common center of curvature. Each recess receives a molding which carries a wire mesh structure for the invasion of bone tissue after implantation. Bending of the proximal zone of the stem occurs without movement of the molding so that shear stresses are not imposed upon the bone tissue invading the wire mesh. A peg-like projection on each molding fits with a clearance in a further recess in the metal stem to avoid accidential sliding out of each recess.