Abstract: A surgical treatment system comprises a drill bit extending along a proximo-distal drill bit axis suitable for drilling a hole in the pedicle of a vertebra when the bit is rotated. The bit includes, successively along the drill bit axis, a distal end, a cylindrical drill centred on the drill bit axis for drilling the hole by cutting into and removing bone material from the pedicle to give a distal end portion of the hole a cylindrical shape, and a milling cutter for cutting bone material from the pedicle of the vertebra to give a proximal end portion of the hole a funnel shape gradually widening from the distal end portion of the hole. A pedicle screw extends along a proximo-distal screw axis and is designed to be screwed into the hole by being rotated after the drill bit has drilled the hole and has been removed from this hole.

Abstract: The installation according to the invention has a practical and effective arrangement, comprising an operating table, a robot for posterior spine surgery, as well as a bridge table that comprises, in part, two uprights designed to be separated from the operating table when the installation is in use, while being arranged and rising from the ground on either side of a patient recumbent on the operating table and, in part, a support platform for the robot, this platform resting on the uprights so that, during use, it lies over the patient recumbent on the operating table and being designed, during use, to support the robot extending directly above the spine of the patient recumbent on the operating table.

Abstract: A method of designing a pair of fixation rods for implantation on a patient's spine includes: modelling the spine: determining a corrected vertebrae position; modelling the corrected spine by: realigning the vertebrae in the frontal plane, rotating the sacral plateau in the sagittal plane, modifying angulation in the sagittal plane between the adjacent plates of the discs, changing angulation between one or two vertebrae in the sagittal plane, and modifying the height of each disc; calculating a point cloud passing through the centers of the vertebral bodies; deducing two point clouds on either side of the first, spaced in the frontal plane by the width of the vertebra multiplied by X, and located in the sagittal plane at a distance equivalent to the depth of the vertebra in the sagittal plane multiplied by Y, X and Y being a function of the instrumentation connecting the rod to the spine.

Abstract: The installation according to the invention has a practical and effective arrangement, comprising an operating table, a robot for posterior spine surgery, as well as a bridge table that comprises, in part, two uprights designed to be separated from the operating table when the installation is in use, while being arranged and rising from the ground on either side of a patient recumbent on the operating table and, in part, a support platform for the robot, this platform resting on the uprights so that, during use, it lies over the patient recumbent on the operating table and being designed, during use, to support the robot extending directly above the spine of the patient recumbent on the operating table.

Abstract: A surgical treatment system comprises a drill bit extending along a proximo-distal drill bit axis suitable for drilling a hole in the pedicle of a vertebra when the bit is rotated. The bit includes, successively along the drill bit axis, a distal end, a cylindrical drill centred on the drill bit axis for drilling the hole by cutting into and removing bone material from the pedicle to give a distal end portion of the hole a cylindrical shape, and a milling cutter for cutting bone material from the pedicle of the vertebra to give a proximal end portion of the hole a funnel shape gradually widening from the distal end portion of the hole. A pedicle screw extends along a proximo-distal screw axis and is designed to be screwed into the hole by being rotated after the drill bit has drilled the hole and has been removed from this hole.

Abstract: This image-processing method comprises steps of: defining, in a three-dimensional digital image of a target object, a plurality of observation directions passing through the three-dimensional digital image and emanating from a predefined observation point; for each observation direction, calculating a resulting value from the respective brightness values of the voxels of the digital image that are passed through by said observation direction; constructing a two-dimensional digital image whose pixel brightness values correspond to the calculated resulting values.

Abstract: An intersomatic implant to be inserted into the intervertebral space is defined by two adjacent vertebrae, comprising a body having an upper face and a lower face, parallel to each other. The peripheries of the faces are connected by a vertical peripheral wall. Each of the faces has substantially the shape of a triangle with rounded angles, and each face includes three bearing surfaces located at the three rounded angles of the triangle. At least one of the upper and lower faces is provided with guiding means for the insertion of the implant into the intervertebral space. The guiding means comprises a plurality of ridges directed along an arc of circle, the center of which would be located in the anterior region external to the implant.

Abstract: An intersomatic implant to be inserted into the intervertebral space is defined by two adjacent vertebrae, comprising a body having an upper face and a lower face, parallel to each other. The peripheries of the faces are connected by a vertical peripheral wall. Each of the faces has substantially the shape of a triangle with rounded angles, and each face includes three bearing surfaces located at the three rounded angles of the triangle. At least one of the upper and lower faces is provided with guiding means for the insertion of the implant into the intervertebral space. The guiding means comprises a plurality of ridges directed along an arc of circle, the center of which would be located in the anterior region external to the implant.

Abstract: According to the invention, the patient (4) is placed upon a patient support (3) between an X-ray source (1) and a support for the target plate (2) sensitive to the X-rays. The patient support (3) is connected to a device for detecting the horizontal position of the global axis of gravity (5) of the patient when the X-ray source (1) is in operation. The patient (4) can, for example, remain standing. The inventive device can superimpose an image (Hg) of the global axis of gravity (5) on the digital radiographic image of the patient (4).

Abstract: A connector (1) for a spinal osteosynthesis device, for connecting two rods to a plate fixed in a vertebra, includes a first orifice (2) opening onto two opposed faces (3, 4) of the connector (1), and two other orifices (5, 6) opening onto two other opposed faces (7, 8) of the connector (1). Each of the two other orifices (5, 6) are each designed to receive a rod (14, 15) of the osteosynthesis device. The connector (1) includes a mechanism making it possible, when the connector (1) is push-fitted onto a protrusion (100) of a bone anchor member, to tighten the rods (14, 15) simultaneously in the two other orifices (5, 6) when a nut (22) is screwed onto the protrusion (100). An assembly for spinal osteosynthesis device includes a plate (16) that includes a protrusion (100), a connector (1) as previously described, and a nut (22).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists in producing a radiographic image of the skeleton to be studied, determining the position of the body's global axis of gravity (5), selecting on the image segments of the skeleton (S1-S7) to be considered and their articulations (A5), locating the main tensor muscles (M1-M6, M62), and determining by calculation the intensity of the return forces exerted by said tensor muscles to compensate the gravitational force.

Abstract: Anchoring plate for a device for osteosynthesis of the vertebral column, including means for connecting it to one or more rods or to a plate. Its lower face is configured to match the shape of a contact zone situated to straddle two vertebrae, and it has openings for the passage of screws. The device for osteosynthesis of the vertebral column includes one or more rods or plates connected to vertebrae by way of connectors and anchoring plates. At least one of the anchoring plates is of the above type described above.

Abstract: A connector (1) for a spinal osteosynthesis device, for connecting two rods to a plate fixed in a vertebra, includes a first orifice (2) opening onto two opposed faces (3, 4) or the connector (1), and two other orifices (5, 6) opening onto two other opposed faces (7, 8) of the connector (1). Each of the two other orifices (5, 6) are each designed to receive a rod (14, 15) of the osteosynthesis device. The connector (1) includes means making it possible, when the connector (1) is push-fitted onto a protrusion (100) of a bone anchor member, to tighten the rods (14, 15) simultaneously in the two other orifices (5, 6) when a nut (22) is screwed onto the protrusion (100). An assembly for spinal osteosynthesis device incldues a plate (16) that includes a protrusion (100), a connector (1) as previously described, and a nut (22).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists in producing a radiographic image of the skeleton to be studied, determining the position of the body's global axis of gravity (5), selecting on the image segments of the skeleton (S1-S7) to be considered and their articulations (A5), locating the main tensor muscles (M1-M6, M62), and determining by calculation the intensity of the return forces exerted by said tensor muscles to compensate the gravitational force.

Abstract: Anchoring plate for a device for osteosynthesis of the vertebral column, including means for connecting it to one or more rods or to a plate. Its lower face is configured to match the shape of a contact zone situated to straddle two vertebrae, and it has openings for the passage of screws. The device for osteosynthesis of the vertebral column includes one or more rods or plates connected to vertebrae by way of connectors and anchoring plates. At least one of the anchoring plates is of the above type described above.

Abstract: According to the invention, the patient (4) is placed upon a patient support (3) between an X-ray source (1) and a support for the target plate (2) sensitive to the X-rays. The patient support (3) is connected to a device for detecting the horizontal position of the global axis of gravity (5) of the patient when the X-ray source (1) is in operation. The patient (4) can, for example, remain standing. The inventive device can superimpose an image (Hg) of the global axis of gravity (5) on the digital radiographic image of the patient (4).

Abstract: This instrumentation comprises at least one vertebral rod (1), bone anchoring elements (2) spaced along the rod, a connector (3) connecting the rod to each anchoring element, and pressure means (4) for clamping together the rod, the anchoring element and the connector; each anchoring element has a bearing surface (7) for the rod which is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (XX) of the anchoring element; in the connector there is provided a cavity (11) providing at least one bearing point for the rod held trapped between said inclined bearing surface and a wall (12) of the cavity, and the latter is extended by a lateral aperture (18) permitting insertion of the vertebral rod radially in its cavity; this instrumentation is easy to use by the surgeon owing to the convenience of insertion of the rod in the connector, and the direct bearing of the rod against the surface (7) of the anchoring element (2) reduces its transverse overall size.

Abstract: A prosthesis for the knee articulation is provided which has a femoral implant having two condyles which are of convex shape, each having a variable radius, and a tibial implant having two cavities, each of which interacts with a respective one of the condyles. In its posterior region, the internal condyle has a spherical prominence which projects from the contact plane of the internal condyle and is intended to interact with a spherical cap hollowed into the posterior region of the internal cavity of the tibial implant.

Abstract: An apparatus including vertebral anchoring elements, such as a bone screw (1) or a hook (2), with a threaded cylindrical portion (5) and a locking plate (7). A nut (8) may be screwed onto the threaded cylindrical portion (5) to tighten the tightening portion of a slide (4) on a rigid connecting rod (3) with a circular cross-section. The rod (3), the slide (4) and the anchoring element (1,2) may be sufficiently rigidly connected by means of non-slip projections on the engaged side of the locking plate (7), on the corresponding side of the slide (4), and on the surface thereof which surrounds the rod (3). The stiffness of the apparatus may thus be enhanced, so that improved support of the vertebrae and easier fitting and adjustment of the apparatus may be achieved.

Abstract: The stabilizing device can be adapted to an anchor such as a hook (1) of the usual shape, with a hook body (4) and an incurved lug (7). The device including a stabilizing staple fastener (3) having a body (21) and staple legs (22-25). Said fastener body (21) is adapted so that the securing member secure the hook (1) to an attachment rod (52) also attach the fastener (3) to the hook (1), by forcing back the legs (22-25) in the direction of the incurved lug (7) so as to pierce a portion of the vertebra located in the hollow of the hook (1). The hook (1) is thereby effectively stabilized on the vertebra.