Abstract: Content in digital form like pictures, music files, videos, software etc. from a plurality of content providers (110) is sold to a plurality of users (130) over a communication network like the internet. The content provider submits to a service provider (100) information about the content to be sold and the service provider provides controlled user access to the content for sale under the conditions defined by the information submitted by the content provider. Purchase data about sold items are stored and the user authentification and payment process for all content providers is carried out centrally through a payment system (120) thus offering low transaction costs.

Abstract: A surgical rod cutter includes first and second device parts adapted to be rotated relative to one another about an axis of rotation. The device parts each have a continuous opening for accommodating a rod to be severed, the opening having its longitudinal axis oriented in the direction of the axis of rotation and a cutting edge. The cutting edge of the second device part is formed in opposed relationship with the cutting edge of the first device part. The openings are arranged with the same amount of eccentricity with respect to the axis of rotation. The device parts are operatively connected to one another by teeth and can be positioned relative to one another. At least one of the openings can have replaceably arranged therein a bushing provided with the cutting edge.

Abstract: Described is a rod insertion instrument for the insertion of a fixation rod in the tulips of adjacent pedicle screws in the context of a dorsal spinal column stabilization. It has a grip portion, a tube section adjoining it and a gripping head carried by the tube section, in which gripping head the fixation rod is rotationally fixedly and angularly stably receivable with its proximal end. In order to minimize accidental tissue compression during the fixing of the fixation rod into the pedicle screws, the gripping head is attached to the tube section exclusively via a lockable joint with which there is enabled an unconstrained pivoting movement of the tube section toward the fixation rod during the process of fixing the fixation rod to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical sterile packaging, which defines a receiving space for at least one implant, which is formed for temporary or permanent insertion in a human or animal body, which receiving space is closed in a sterile and germ-proof manner in a storage disposition of the sterile packaging for the sterile packaging of the at least one implant, wherein the sterile packaging is produced from one or more cleanable and sterilisable materials.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device for a spinal column fixation system includes an anchoring part, a bearing part for mounting at least one connection element thereon and a fixing element. The connection element is adapted for fixing to at least two bone anchoring devices. The anchoring part and the bearing part are mounted on each other, movable relative to each other in an assembly position and fixable relative to each other by the fixing element in an implantation position. The fixing element is of integral construction and has a proximal fixing element section, a distal fixing element section and a predetermined break-off area formed between the proximal and distal fixing element sections. The distal fixing element section has a receptacle for engagement with a tool for transferring the bone anchoring device from the assembly position to the implantation position. The device may be part of an improved spinal column fixation system.

Abstract: In a vertebral body replacement implant having a bottom locating part for positioning against a lower vertebral body and having a top locating part for positioning against an upper vertebral body, wherein both locating parts are steplessly displaceable relative to one another along a displacement path so that the height of the vertebral body replacement implant is variable, having a clamping device for fixing the two locating parts in any desired intermediate position along the displacement path, which clamping device comprises a clamping element that is mounted on one locating part so as to be variable in position and can be pressed towards a clamping face on the other locating part, in order to improve the clamping action it is proposed that the clamping face is inclined slightly relative to the displacement path, so that when the locating parts are pushed together the clamping face moves progressively closer to the clamping element.

Abstract: In a vertebral body replacement implant having a bottom locating part for positioning against a lower vertebral body and having a top locating part for positioning against an upper vertebral body, wherein both locating parts are telescopically displaceable relative to one another in the manner of a piston-cylinder unit, having a sealed hydraulic chamber formed by the locating parts, having a charging opening leading into the hydraulic chamber for a hydraulic medium, which upon entering the hydraulic chamber pushes the two locating parts apart from one another, and having a locking device, which may be activated by means of an instrument and upon activation fixes the two locating parts non-displaceably relative to one another, in order to facilitate the handling of the vertebral body replacement implant it is proposed that the locking device is disposed on the vertebral body replacement implant in the region of the charging opening.

Abstract: In an intervertebral implant having an abutment element for abutment on at least one vertebral body, in order to be able to apply pulling forces to the abutment element without the risk of damage to the abutment element, it is proposed that the abutment element carry at a side edge a pull element which extends along the side wall of the abutment element and is held on the abutment element by pull members extending at the sides of the abutment element in the direction towards the opposite side edge, the pull element being made of a material whose tensile strength is greater than the tensile strength of the material of the abutment element, and that an interspace for receiving a handling instrument engaging the pull element from behind be arranged at least in a section along the pull element between the pull element and the abutment element. A handling instrument for handling such an intervertebral implant is also described.

Abstract: In order to improve an orthopedic fixation device for connecting a first anchoring element (12) which has a connecting section (26) and can be anchored in or on a bone (18) to a connecting element (14) which can be connected to a second anchoring element which can be anchored in or on a bone, wherein the fixation device is movable relative to the connecting element and to the anchoring element in an adjusting position and can be secured on the connecting element and on the anchoring element in a fixing position, such that the connecting element can be secured on the anchoring element in a particularly simple manner it is suggested that a single tensioning member (50; 122; 166; 172) which is supported so as to be movable be provided for transferring the fixation device from the adjusting position into the fixing position and vice versa.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device for a spinal column fixation system includes an anchoring part, a bearing part for mounting at least one connection element thereon and a fixing element. The connection element is adapted for fixing to at least two bone anchoring devices. The anchoring part and the bearing part are mounted on each other, movable relative to each other in an assembly position and fixable relative to each other by the fixing element in an implantation position. The fixing element is of integral construction and has a proximal fixing element section, a distal fixing element section and a predetermined break-off area formed between the proximal and distal fixing element sections. The distal fixing element section has a receptacle for engagement with a tool for transferring the bone anchoring device from the assembly position to the implantation position. The device may be part of an improved spinal column fixation system.

Abstract: In order to improve the process of inserting a facet joint implant comprising two, flat joint surface replacement elements abutting each other face-to-face and in order to control the movement of the joint surface replacement elements relative to each other, it is proposed that both joint surface replacement elements should carry at least one arm which emerges in the plane of the joint surface replacement element from said element and projects therefrom, and in that in each case two arms of the two joint surface replacement elements which extend adjacent to one another in a pair are connected together at the end thereof remote from the joint surface replacement element.

Abstract: In an intervertebral implant having an abutment element for abutment on at least one vertebral body, in order to be able to apply pulling forces to the abutment element without the risk of damage to the abutment element, it is proposed that the abutment element carry at a side edge a pull element which extends along the side wall of the abutment element and is held on the abutment element by pull members extending at the sides of the abutment element in the direction towards the opposite side edge, the pull element being made of a material whose tensile strength is greater than the tensile strength of the material of the abutment element, and that an interspace for receiving a handling instrument engaging the pull element from behind be arranged at least in a section along the pull element between the pull element and the abutment element. A handling instrument for handling such an intervertebral implant is also described.

Abstract: A vertebral body replacement implant having an upper and a lower support plate and two load-bearing elements, the mutual spacing of which is adjustable and of which at least one is connected in an articulated manner to a support plate, the load-bearing element in the region of the articulated connection to the support plate having a bearing projection with a spherical lateral support surface having a complimentary design to the contact surface of the support plate or a bearing part connected thereto, the contact surface extending in peripheral direction at least over 180°, the support plate or the bearing part is mounted on the bearing projection pivotably about a pivotal axis that extends parallel to the support plate, and a releasable clamping device that clamps the bearing projection and the support plate or the bearing part in the contact region of the lateral surface and/or of the contact surface against one another.

Abstract: In a vertebral body replacement implant having a bottom locating part for positioning against a lower vertebral body and having a top locating part for positioning against an upper vertebral body, wherein both locating parts are telescopically displaceable relative to one another in the manner of a piston-cylinder unit, having a sealed hydraulic chamber formed by the locating parts, having a charging opening leading into the hydraulic chamber for a hydraulic medium, which upon entering the hydraulic chamber pushes the two locating parts apart from one another, and having a locking device, which may be activated by means of an instrument and upon activation fixes the two locating parts non-displaceably relative to one another, in order to facilitate the handling of the vertebral body replacement implant it is proposed that the locking device is disposed on the vertebral body replacement implant in the region of the charging opening.

Abstract: In a vertebral body replacement implant having a bottom locating part for positioning against a lower vertebral body and having a top locating part for positioning against an upper vertebral body, wherein both locating parts are steplessly displaceable relative to one another along a displacement path so that the height of the vertebral body replacement implant is variable, having a clamping device for fixing the two locating parts in any desired intermediate position along the displacement path, which clamping device comprises a clamping element that is mounted on one locating part so as to be variable in position and can be pressed towards a clamping face on the other locating part, in order to improve the clamping action it is proposed that the clamping face is inclined slightly relative to the displacement path, so that when the locating parts are pushed together the clamping face moves progressively closer to the clamping element.

Abstract: In order to improve an orthopedic fixation device for connecting a first anchoring element (12) which has a connecting section (26) and can be anchored in or on a bone (18) to a connecting element (14) which can be connected to a second anchoring element which can be anchored in or on a bone, wherein the fixation device is movable relative to the connecting element and to the anchoring element in an adjusting position and can be secured on the connecting element and on the anchoring element in a fixing position, such that the connecting element can be secured on the anchoring element in a particularly simple manner it is suggested that a single tensioning member (50; 122; 166; 172) which is supported so as to be movable be provided for transferring the fixation device from the adjusting position into the fixing position and vice versa.

Abstract: In order, in a vertebral body replacement implant having an upper and a lower support plate for positioning against end faces of vertebral bodies and having two load-bearing elements, the mutual spacing of which is adjustable and of which at least one is connected in an articulated manner to a support plate, to improve the fixing of the articulated connection, it is proposed that the load-bearing element in the region of the articulated connection to the support plate has a bearing projection with a spherical lateral surface, that the support plate or a bearing part connected thereto rests with a contact surface, which is of a complementary design to the spherical support surface, against the lateral surface over an angular range that extends in peripheral direction at least over 180°, that the support plate or the bearing part is mounted on the bearing projection pivotably about a pivotal axis that extends parallel to the support plate, and that a clamping device that clamps the bearing projection, on the on

Abstract: An intervertebral implant is provided, including an upper support body including a dorsal edge, a lower support body including a dorsal edge, and a saddle joint. The saddle joint includes two pivot axes and two saddle-shaped joint surfaces in contact with one another rotated by 90° in relation to one another. The upper and lower support bodies are supported pivotably in relation to one another via the saddle joint.

Abstract: A spinal column implant is provided for contact with a vertebral body. The implant includes at least one contact surface including a contact plane having a cross-sectional area in contact with the vertebral body. The shape and arrangement of the at least one contact surface is adjustable such that the cross-sectional area of the contact plane is larger in a contact position than in an insertion position.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant is provided, including an upper support body including a dorsal edge, a lower support body including a dorsal edge, and a saddle joint. The saddle joint includes two pivot axes and two saddle-shaped joint surfaces in contact with one another rotated by 90° in relation to one another. The upper and lower support bodies are supported pivotably in relation to one another via the saddle joint.