Abstract: Bone replacement material to be used by being packed into a bone defective part, wherein the bone replacement material consists essentially of a calcium phosphate based compound and is formed into a pellet and satisfies both of the following conditions (I) and (II): (I) porosity is equal to or less than 75%; and (II) collapsing strength is equal to or more than 15 Mpa. The pellet has a roughly polyhedral shape and is defined by a plurality of surfaces including a pair of opposite, non-parallel surfaces and a surface adjoining to the pair of opposite, non-parallel surfaces, one of the opposite, non-parallel surfaces being inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the other of the opposite, non-parallel surfaces. The one of the opposite, non-parallel surfaces is non-adjoined with the other of the opposite, non-parallel surfaces in the pellet. The other of the opposite, non-parallel surfaces is perpendicular to the surface adjoining to the pair of opposite, non-parallel surfaces.

Abstract: A bone replacement material that can be introduced or packed into a bone defective part smoothly, reliably and safely is provided. The bone replacement material is formed into a pellet and a plurality of the pellets are packed into the bone defective part Each pellet defined by a plurality of surfaces has a pair of opposite surfaces, in which one of the opposite surfaces is inclined with respect to the other surface at a predetermined angle. The angle is preferably in the range of 10 to 60°. Further, the bone replacement material preferably satisfies at least one of the conditions including the porosity of equal to or less than 75% and the collapsing strength of equal to or more than 15 Mpa, and more preferably satisfies both of them. Furthermore, the volume of each pellet of the bone replacement material is in the range of 13 to 239 mm3. Moreover, the bone replacement material is formed of calcium phosphate based compound having the Ca/P ratio of 1.0 to 2.0.

Abstract: A bone replacement material for use in a treatment for repairing a vertebral body compression fracture is formed into a pellet having a roughly polyhedral shape. Each pellet having the roughly polyhedral shape has a pair of opposite surfaces, in which one of the opposite surfaces is inclined with respect to the other surface for a predetermined angle. The angle is preferably in the range of 10 to 60°. Further, the volume of each pellet of the bone replacement material 1 is in the range of 13 to 239 mm3. Furthermore, the bone replacement material is formed of calcium phosphate based compound having the Ca/P ratio of 1.0 to 2.0. By using such a bone replacement material, it is possible to carry out packing operation of the bone replacement material into a collapsed vertebral body smoothly, reliably and safely.

Abstract: Various surgical instruments for use in the treatment of vertebral body compression fractures, used respectively for: widening a working path; reducing deformity; inserting a filler; and impacting a filler are provided. A set of surgical instruments including these instruments makes it possible to treat collapsed vertebral bodies easily and reliably are provided. The set includes a guide rod 1 (an instrument for widening a working path), a vertical elevator 2 (an instrument for reducing deformity), a horizontal elevator 3 (an instrument for reducing deformity), an inserter 4 (an instrument for inserting a filler), and an impactor 5 (an instrument for impacting a filler). The guide rod 1 is used for widening a path 93 formed in a collapsed vertebral body 91. The vertical elevator 2 is used for returning the upper anterior portion of the collapsed vertebral body 91 to a substantially original shape.

Abstract: There is provided a surgical instrument that includes an elongated body of which distal end is formed to press and drive a bone plug into a bone tunnel. The elongated body also has a guiding hole which is preferably formed along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and in communication with a front opening formed at the distal end. The guiding hole is formed such that a guide wire can be inserted therein and extend out from the front opening. The guide wire is used to guide the bone plug towards the distal end of the surgical instrument and keep the bone plug there during driving it into the bone tunnel.

Abstract: A bone replacement material for use in a treatment for repairing a vertebral body compression fracture is formed into a pellet having a roughly polyhedral shape. Each pellet having the roughly polyhedral shape has a pair of opposite surfaces, in which one of the opposite surfaces is inclined with respect to the other surface for a predetermined angle. The angle is preferably in the range of 10 to 60°. Further, the volume of each pellet of the bone replacement material 1 is in the range of 13 to 239 mm3. Furthermore, the bone replacement material is formed of calcium phosphate based compound having the Ca/P ratio of 1.0 to 2.0. By using such a bone replacement material, it is possible to carry out packing operation of the bone replacement material into a collapsed vertebral body smoothly, reliably and safely.

Abstract: Various surgical instruments for use in the treatment of vertebral body compression fractures, used respectively for: widening a working path; reducing deformity; inserting a filler; and impacting a filler are provided. A set of surgical instruments including these instruments makes it possible to treat collapsed vertebral bodies easily and reliably are provided. The set includes a guide rod 1 (an instrument for widening a working path), a vertical elevator 2 (an instrument for reducing deformity), a horizontal elevator 3 (an instrument for reducing deformity), an inserter 4 (an instrument for inserting a filler), and an impactor 5 (an instrument for impacting a filler). The guide rod 1 is used for widening a path 93 formed in a collapsed vertebral body 91. The vertical elevator 2 is used for returning the upper anterior portion of the collapsed vertebral body 91 to a substantially original shape.

Abstract: There is provided a surgical instrument that includes an elongated body of which distal end is formed to press and drive a bone plug into a bone tunnel. The elongated body also has a guiding hole which is preferably formed along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and in communication with a front opening formed at the distal end. The guiding hole is formed such that a guide wire can be inserted therein and extend out from the front opening. The guide wire is used to guide the bone plug towards the distal end of the surgical instrument and keep the bone plug there during driving it into the bone tunnel.

Abstract: A prosthetic bone material comprising a bonded and sintered product of granules of calcium phosphate compound having a particle size of at least 100 &mgr;m, each of the granules being bonded with particulates of calcium phosphate compound having a particle size of about 1 to 40 &mgr;m, in which the granules are bonded to each other while retaining their original shape, and their bonding strength is a level sufficient to maintain their own shape when the bonded and sintered product is disintegrated, produced by mixing the granules and the particulates, followed by firing the mixture at a temperature of about 800 to 1,200° C.

Abstract: Production process for spherical ceramic granules which includes pulverizing a dried product of a ceramic material; calcinating the pulverized product at a temperature of about 300 to 900.degree. C.; rotating the calcinated granules to make spherical granules; and firing the spherical granules. The spherical ceramic granules have no corner or sharp edge and projection, and thus show a high fluidity property and excellent operability.