Ao Technology Ag

Synthes Gmbh

Markus Windolf

Michael Schuetz

Christoph Nötzli

Devakara Epari

Christoph Martin Noetzli

Tim Pohlemann

Christoph Martin Nötzli

Viktor Varjas

Peter Varga

Jan Buschbaum

Bone plate () with a lower surface (), an upper surface (), a maximum thickness measured between the lower and upper surfaces a left lateral surface (), a right lateral surface (), a longitudinal axis () and a plurality of plate holes () miming from the lower surface to the upper surface, the bone plate further having a slot () in the lower surface extending from the left lateral surface to the right lateral surface having a width measured in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and a central plane () between the lateral surfaces, wherein (i) the hollow space defined by the slot extends in the form of a straight cylinder from the left lateral surface to the right lateral surface and (ii) the slot comprises an undercut feature () limiting the opening of the slot when the bone plate is bent longitudinally in a direction aimed at widening the slot.

Biphasic bone plate

Reference device () for real-time tracking of bone and/or surgical objects in computer-assisted surgery, the device () comprising: A) an upper member () having at least one circular cylindrical hole () penetrating through the upper member () from the upper surface () to the lower surface (), wherein the hole () defines a circular cylindrical reference element () having a diameter d and a height h, the ratio between the diameter d and the height h of the reference element () is minimum ⅓, and B) a lower member () configured to cover the lower orifices () of the holes (); and wherein C) the upper member () is configured as a plate shaped body.

Reference device for real-time tracking of bone and/or surgical objects in computer-assisted surgery

A device () for drilling holes in bone and configured to determine bone screw length, the device () including a surgical power drill () comprising: a) a housing () and; b) a measuring device () releasably attached or fixed to the housing (), wherein the measuring device () is configured to measure the distance (x) covered by the housing () in the direction of the longitudinal axis () and relative to a surface of an implant () or a bone during a drilling process, wherein the measuring device () comprises a processing unit () to record the distance (x) covered with respect to time; the processing unit () comprises one or more differentiators to determine at least the first and second derivatives of the distance (x) covered with respect to time; and the processing unit () further comprises a peak detector to analyze one or more peaks occurring in the graph of the highest derivative with respect to time, and wherein the measuring device () comprises a laser device or an ultrasound position sensor for displacement assessment.

Surgical power drill including a measuring unit suitable for bone screw length determination

A surgical instrument (), in particular a surgical cutting or drilling instrument, the surgical instrument () comprising: a drive unit; a cutting tool or drill bit () engageable with the drive unit; a measuring device () which is configured to measure the distance [x(t)] covered by the cutting tool or drill bit () along a cutting or drilling path with respect to time and relative to a reference position; a processing un and a digital data storage, wherein in the digital data storage reference data are stored which include at least N one data set specifying a reference graph Gwithin a time window () in the range of a transition and defining a reference point of a transition (′), wherein the time window () includes a first time period before the reference point of a transition (′) and a second time period after the reference point of a transition (′) and wherein the processing unit () suitably programmed to compare the recorded graph G with the at least one reference graph Gand to find 1 lion of a transition () in the recorded graph G.

Surgical instrument

An assembly for correcting unbalanced growth plate activity including: (a) an implant formed of wire having (i) a longitudinal central section (), (ii) a first end () configured as a first loop () in a form of a first helical coil () having a central axis () that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the central section, and (iii) a second end () configured as a second loop () having a central axis () that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the central section; (b) a first bone screw having a shaft section that is insertable through the first loop; and (c) a second bone screw having a shaft section that is insertable through the second loop. A kit for correcting unbalanced growth plate activity and to a method for correcting unbalanced growth plate activity are also disclosed.

Device for correcting unbalanced growth plate activity and for orthodontic applications

A method for computer assisted determination of values of correction parameters for positioning a medical device relative to a target structure or to a reference base. The method includes a numerical procedure that includes the steps of:

Method and a device for computer assisted surgery

Kit for assembling an implantable medical device () provided with a data acquisition device (), the kit comprising: a medical implant (); a data acquisition device () which includes: one or more sensors (); an electronic data processing device () electrically connectable or connected to the one or more sensors (); a data memory (); a data transmission device (); and a biocompatible sterilisable housing () encapsulating at least the data processing device (), the data memory () and the data transmission device (); wherein the housing () comprises means () for releasably affixing the housing () to the implant (), the data processing device () is programmed to calculate statistical data based on measurement data received from the one or more sensors () and to store the statistical data in the data memory (); and wherein the one or more sensors () are either arranged in the housing (); or the one or more sensors () are separately fixable to the implant () in a selected position.

Kit for assembling a medical device provided with data acquisition means

The bone plate () has a lower surface (), an upper surface (), a thickness T measured between the lower and upper surfaces (), a longitudinal axis () and a plurality of plate holes () running from the lower surface () to the upper surface (). The bone plate () further has a slot () extending from the lower surface () towards the upper surface () and having a width W measured at the lower surface () and parallel to the longitudinal axis (). The slot () extends to a maximum distance D measured from the lower surface () towards the upper surface () of 0.4-0.9 times the thickness T of the bone plate (). The slot () has a width measured parallel to the longitudinal axis () which at its maximum extension E is at least 0.8 mm, preferably of at least 3 mm. The slot () allows the plate () to bend longitudinally&#x2014;additionally to the intrinsic bendability of the unslotted plate ()&#x2014;at most to the amount of 20&#xb0;, preferably at most to the amount of 10&#xb0;. Due to the bi-phasic properties of the bone plate () optimal bending properties and adaptability to anatomical surfaces are achieved.

Bone plate

A device () for processing and transmitting measured signals which correspond to implant parameters or biological parameters for monitoring and/or controlling medical implants, diagnostic devices or biological processes including: a biocompatible sterilizable covering (); an electronic signal processing device () electrically connectable to at least one sensor () for processing measured signals received from the at least one sensor; a data memory () electrically connected to said signal processing device for storing data received from said signal processing device; and a data transmission device () electrically connected to said data memory for transmitting data received from said data memory to a remote data receiving device () which is connectable to an external data processing device (). The signal processing device calculates statistically relevant data obtained from the measured signals, reducing the volume of stored data. Methods for monitoring or controlling bone healing or bone distraction implants are also disclosed.

Device for processing and transmitting measured signals for monitoring and/or controlling medical implants, diagnostic devices or biological processes

Disclosed is a device () for processing and transmitting measured signals which correspond to implant parameters or biological parameters for monitoring and/or controlling medical implants, diagnostic devices or biological processes comprising: A) a biocompatible sterilizable covering (); B) an electronic signal processing device () arranged in said covering () and electrically connectable to at least one sensor () allowing to process measured signals received from said at least one sensor (); C) a data memory () arranged in said covering () and electrically connected to said signal processing device () allowing to store data received from said signal processing device (); and D) a data transmission device () arranged in said covering () and electrically connected to said data memory () for transmitting data received from said data memory () to a remote data receiving device () which is connectable to an external data processing device (), wherein E) said signal processing device () is programmed to calculate statistically relevant data obtained from the said measured signals to reduce the stored data. Disclosed are furthermore methods to monitor or control bone healing or bone distraction implants.

A cannula with a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen penetrating from the proximal end to the distal end. The cannula includes a shaft portion including a rear end and a front end, a tip portion coaxially extending from the front end of the shaft portion to the distal end of the cannula, and a cutting edge. A coupling portion, which is suitable for being connected to a surgical tool or instrument, is terminally arranged towards the proximal end of the cannula and extends to the rear end of the shaft portion. A removable obturator is insertable in the lumen. The obturator seals the lumen at the distal end of the cannula. A method for improved fracture fixation using the cannula, a method for intraoperative surgical decision making using the cannula and a method for irrigation of bone tissue and subsequent injection of bone cement using the cannula.

Cannula and kit for evaluation and preparation of bone tissue

A device and a method for guiding an instrument, tool or implant with respect to a three-dimensional body. The device includes a rod shaped member with a central axis, a rear end, a front end and a length L. A first targeting element is fixed to the rod shaped member coaxially to the central axis. The first targeting element has a first center, and is arranged on the rod shaped member with the first center at a distance A&#x3e;0 from the rear end. A second targeting element with a second center is fixed to the rod shaped member coaxially to the central axis with the second center at a distance A&#x3c;Afrom the rear end. The first targeting element has a diameter Dmeasured orthogonal to the central axis of a minimum of 10 mm.

Growing community of inventors

Davos, Switzerland

Markus Windolf