Abstract: A universal drill guide system includes a universal drill guide, interchangeable drill tubes, and interchangeable drill bits. Each interchangeable drill tube corresponds to one of the interchangeable drill bits, and can be detachably coupled to the universal drill guide. A cannulated drill with K-wire retention features a drill bit with a retention mechanism that prevents axial advancement of a K-wire during drilling. A drill removal tool includes a drill remover that can be placed around a drill bit to remove it from bone after a hole is drilled, while leaving a K-wire in place in the bone. A bone screw driver with K-wire retention includes a shaft that can be passed over a K-wire, a distal end for attachment to a cannulated bone screw, and a K-wire retention module for preventing advancement of the K-wire as the screw driver drives the cannulated bone screw into bone.

Abstract: A universal drill guide system includes a universal drill guide, interchangeable drill tubes, and interchangeable drill bits. Each interchangeable drill tube corresponds to one of the interchangeable drill bits, and can be detachably coupled to the universal drill guide. A cannulated drill with K-wire retention features a drill bit with a retention mechanism that prevents axial advancement of a K-wire during drilling. A drill removal tool includes a drill remover that can be placed around a drill bit to remove it from bone after a hole is drilled, while leaving a K-wire in place in the bone. A bone screw driver with K-wire retention includes a shaft that can be passed over a K-wire, a distal end for attachment to a cannulated bone screw, and a K-wire retention module for preventing advancement of the K-wire as the screw driver drives the cannulated bone screw into bone.

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: 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: 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 method to scale a vector-based graphic design by a non-integer scaling factor. The relationships of control points of the vector-based graphic design, with respect to each other and with respect to the coordinate system of the workspace, are determined prior to rescaling the vector-based graphic design. Subsequent a multiplication of the coordinate values of the control points by the non-integer scaling factor to scale the original vector-based graphic design, the relationships of the control points, in the scaled vector-based graphic design, are determined and compared to the relationships of the control points in the original vector-based graphic design. Adjustments of the position of the control points in the scaled vector-based graphic design are effected to obtain, within a pre-determined tolerance, the same relationships.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and instrumentation are suggested, with which expansion of the vertebral canal of vertebrae is possible with less stress for the patient than with operating procedures customary up to now, this instrument having proximally a gripping part and distally two branches which can be moved relative to one another with tool elements held thereon as well as a lever mechanism arranged between the gripping part and the branches, wherein the tool elements are held with the lever mechanism so as to be movable relative to one another from a closed rest position into an open spread position (distraction position).

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 device for precisely placing instruments or implants in body organs with the aid of a targeting device (40) interacting with a computer tomograph, characterized in that the targeting device is arranged in the form of a navigation device (30) on a carrier (2) which is diplaceable on a substructure like a carriage which can be fixed in relation to the substructure and in that the navigation unit (30) comprises a retaining element for holding and guiding a targeting instrument, implant or other object. The navigation unit (30) can be displaced and/or rotated on one or several planes in relation to the carrier and the retaining element can be displaced and/or rotated on one or several planes in relation to the navigation unit (30), being reciprocally fixable in the adjusted position thereof.