Abstract: A rod system, in particular, for the spine, includes a first rod, a second rod, and a connector for connecting the first rod and the second rod. The connector includes a main body defining a first rod seat configured to hold the first rod in a fixed manner and a second rod seat configured to accommodate a second rod, and a fixation member and a closure member that are interchangeably mountable to the main body. When the fixation member is mounted to the main body, the fixation member is engageable with the portion of the second rod to hold the second rod in a fixed manner relative to the main bod, while when the closure member is mounted to the main body, the closure member is configured to hold the second rod to the main body in a slidable manner.

Abstract: An implant that is implantable between vertebrae includes a monolithic body with a first end and a second end opposite the first end, an outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end, a plurality of teeth at the first end, each of the teeth extending axially away from the second end to a free end, and an abutment surface facing away from the second end that is positioned radially inwardly relative to at least one of the teeth. The abutment surface is recessed axially relative to the free ends of the teeth to an extent such that the abutment surface is configured to contact a vertebra when the implant is implanted. The monolithic body is configured to extend axially over a majority of an entire axial length of the implant.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a rod to a bone anchor includes a receiving part configured to receive a head of the bone anchor, the receiving part having a first end and a second end, a central axis that extends between the first and second ends, and two legs at the first end that define a recess extending in a longitudinal direction transverse to the central axis for receiving the rod, and a monolithic pressure member positionable in the receiving part, the pressure member including a rod support surface and an engagement portion to adjust the pressure member to exert pressure on the head. The engagement portion is positioned farther radially from the central axis in the longitudinal direction than a first portion of the rod support surface, and extends closer axially to the first end of the receiving part than the entire first portion of the rod support surface.

Abstract: A system for coupling a rod to bone includes first and second bone anchors that are different from one another and a coupling device including a receiving part with a central axis and a head receiving portion for interchangeably receiving a head of either the first or second bone anchors, and a pressure member configured to exert pressure on the head of either the first or second bone anchors when the head is in the receiving part to clamp the inserted head at a particular position relative to the receiving part. The coupling device includes a restraining surface configured to cooperate with the first bone anchor to restrict pivoting of the first bone anchor to a single plane. The coupling device is configured to cooperate with the second bone anchor to restrict pivoting of the second bone anchor differently than the restricted pivoting of the first bone anchor.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device includes an anchoring element having a shank for anchoring in a bone and a head, a receiving part configured to pivotably receive the head, and a pressure member for exerting pressure on the head to clamp the head in the receiving part, the pressure member defining a head receiving recess for pivotably holding at least a portion of the head therein and comprising a first surface configured to restrict removal of the head from the head receiving recess. The head includes a first position indication structure configured to engage a second position indication structure of the bone anchoring device when the shank assumes a first angular position relative to the receiving part. The first and second position indication structures disengage from one another when the shank is moved out of the first angular position to a different angular position.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a rod to a bone anchor includes a receiving part having first and second ends, a central axis, and two legs defining a recess at the first end for receiving the rod, a pressure member configured to exert pressure on an inserted head, and an actuating member with an engagement surface configured to engage the pressure member. When a first portion of the actuating member moves axially in a first direction, the engagement surface is configured to move from a first axial position to a second axial position to adjust the pressure member from a non-locking position where the head is pivotable to a locking position where the head is locked. When a second portion of the actuating member moves in the first direction, the pressure member is adjusted from the locking position back to the non-locking position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is connectable to a bone anchor insertion device having a drive shaft that defines a coaxial channel for receiving a needle therethrough. The instrument includes a handle portion configured to be coupled to the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner to transmit torque to the drive shaft, a needle holder configured to hold a needle and movable axially relative to the handle portion, an actuator rotatable relative to the handle portion, and a transmission member connectable to the needle holder and movable axially relative to the actuator and comprising a first advancement surface engageable with a second advancement surface of the handle portion to convert rotational movement of the actuator into axial movement of the needle holder relative to the handle portion for axially advancing and retracting a needle held by the needle holder relative to the handle portion.

Abstract: A receiving part of a bone anchoring device has a first end, a second end, and a central axis, a rod recess adjacent to the first end for receiving a rod, the rod recess forming two legs, a groove that extends circumferentially around an outer surface of at least one of the legs, the groove having a downwardly facing upper surface and an upwardly facing lower surface, and a second recess formed on the outer surface of the at least one of the legs that extends radially inwardly closer to the central axis than the groove is to the central axis, the second recess having a downwardly facing upper surface and an upwardly facing lower surface. The groove and the second recess are respectively configured to facilitate engagement by two different instruments to the receiving part.

Abstract: An instrument for use in surgery includes a hollow shaft connectable to a drive shaft of a bone anchor insertion device in a rotationally fixed manner, a needle holder configured to hold a needle and movable axially relative to the hollow shaft, an actuator rotatable relative to the hollow shaft, and a transmission member connectable to the needle holder and movable axially relative to the actuator. The transmission member is positionable around at least part of the hollow shaft and includes a first advancement surface engageable with a second advancement surface of the hollow shaft to convert a rotational movement of the actuator into axial movement of the needle holder relative to the hollow shaft for axially advancing and retracting the needle held by the needle holder.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device includes a receiving part for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element, the receiving part having a first end, a second end, a recess at the first end for receiving the rod, and a compressible head receiving portion at the second end for accommodating a head of the bone anchoring element, a pressure member positionable in the receiving part to exert pressure on the head, and a clamping ring positionable around the head receiving portion and movable towards the first end of the receiving part to a locking position where the clamping ring exerts force on and compresses the head receiving portion. In the locking position, at least part of the clamping ring that faces the first end of the receiving part is exposed to the outside to facilitate movement of the clamping ring away from the first end of the receiving part.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device includes a bone anchoring element, a receiving part having an accommodation space for pivotably accommodating a head of the bone anchoring element, a pressure element movable in the receiving part to engage and exert pressure on the head to clamp the head at an angular position relative to the receiving part, and at least one restraining element separate from the pressure element and positionable in the receiving part. The pressure element defines at least one opening that provides access laterally through the pressure element to the head in the receiving part. The restraining element is movable relative to the pressure element to engage the head laterally through the opening of the pressure element to restrict the pivoting of the head in at least one radial direction while the head remains pivotable in at least one other radial direction.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element includes a receiving part having a first end, a second end, an accommodation space for accommodating the head of the bone anchoring element, and an opening at the second end, and a pressure element positionable at least partially in the accommodation space, the pressure element configured to engage the rod and having an expandable portion configured to engage and exert pressure on the head. The pressure element is insertable through the opening into the accommodation space while at a first rotational orientation, and is rotatable to a second rotational orientation to engage a first engagement surface of the receiving part with a second engagement surface of the pressure element to restrict movement of the pressure element towards the first end.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device for anchoring a rod to a bone or vertebra includes a receiving part with two legs defining a channel for the rod and a variable configuration member with a first rod contact surface configured to extend axially above a bottom of the channel to contact the rod. When a rod is inserted in the channel, the variable configuration member is adjustable from a first configuration where the first rod contact surface is at a first axial position relative to the receiving part and blocks the rod from contacting a second rod contact surface below the first rod contact surface, and a second configuration where the first rod contact surface is at a second axial position below the first axial position relative to the receiving part to permit the rod to contact the second rod contact surface.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device includes a receiving part with a recess for receiving a rod and a flexible head receiving portion for pivotably holding a head of a bone anchoring element, a pressure member configured to exert pressure on the head when the head is held in the head receiving portion, and a clamping ring positionable around the head receiving portion and movable from a first position where the head is pivotable relative to the receiving part, to a second position where the clamping ring exerts a radial force on the head receiving portion to lock the head relative to the receiving part. When the clamping ring is at the first position, the clamping ring abuts the receiving part to restrict upward movement, while a surface of the clamping ring that faces upwards is exposed for engaging an instrument to move the clamping ring to the second position.

Abstract: A bone anchoring device includes an anchoring element, a receiving part having a first end, a second end, a channel for receiving a rod, an accommodation space at the second end for accommodating a head of the bone anchoring element, and at least one hole that extends transversely through the receiving part, a pressure element configured to engage the rod and the head to lock the head in the receiving part, and a restriction element selectively insertable into the hole. When the pressure element is in the receiving part, the head is insertable from the second end into the receiving part. The restriction element is movable transversely in the hole from a first position where the head is pivotable polyaxially relative to the receiving part, to a second position where the restriction element restricts the pivotability of the head in at least one direction relative to the receiving part.

Abstract: A device for use in spinal surgery or musculoskeletal surgery, or in simulated surgery, where the device is non-implantable, includes a first component having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, wherein the first end is connectable to a second component in an adjustable manner, and a detection device configured to monitor position changes of the second component relative to the first component and to deliver position data corresponding to the position changes to an evaluation unit that is separate from the device. At least part of the detection device at or near the first end of the first component is movable laterally away from the longitudinal axis to monitor movement of at least part of the second component away from the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An instrument for use with a bone anchoring device including a bone anchoring element and a receiving part for coupling a rod to the bone anchoring element, wherein the instrument includes at least one tube having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, and including an engagement surface at the first end engageable with the bone anchoring device, and an alignment member configured to facilitate connecting of the tube to the bone anchoring device. The alignment member is rotatable relative to the tube from a first position where the tube is connectable and separable from the bone anchoring device to a second position where the tube is restricted from being separated from the bone anchoring device.

Abstract: A bone anchor includes a shank with a first end, an opposite second end, and a longitudinal axis. The shank includes a core, a thread that extends in a helix around the core and that has a lower flank directed towards the first end and an upper flank directed towards the second end, wherein the upper flank and the lower flank define a first cross-sectional thread shape, and an additional thread structure including a recess that extends together with part of the thread in the helix around the core. The thread and the additional thread structure together define a second cross-sectional thread shape different from the first cross-sectional thread shape. An axial length of the portion of the thread that has only the first cross-sectional thread shape is greater than an axial length of the entire portion of the thread that includes the second cross-sectional thread shape.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element includes a receiving part having a rod receiving portion with a recess that extends downwardly to a bottom for receiving the rod, and a flexible head receiving portion defining a seat to pivotably hold and clamp a head of the bone anchoring element therein, and a locking ring positionable around the head receiving portion and configured to exert a force on the head receiving portion to lock the head. A passage in the receiving part includes a widening section that widens while extending upwardly from a lower end closer to the seat to an upper end closer but positioned axially lower than the bottom of the recess, where an inner diameter of the upper end of the widening section is greater than an inner diameter of another section of the passage located above the bottom of the recess.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant has a hollow space formed within the implant and accessible through an elongate opening extending through a recessed portion of the side wall, and the hollow space is shaped to receive an engagement portion of a drive shaft of an insertion tool; and the intervertebral implant includes at least two guiding surfaces facing each other and being configured for sliding engagement by a portion of a sleeve of the insertion tool movably holding the drive shaft.