Zimmer Gmbh

Centerpulse Orthopedics Inc.

Nimrod Meier

Simon Casutt

Marc Huber

Emmanuel Zylber

Thomas Egli

Michael Filippi

Insertion of a spinal stabilization element into a patient generally includes positioning a cord within a sheath and inserting the sheath and cord through the patient's body along a path generally toward an anchor member. An advancement member may be mounted on the leading end of the cord to further facilitate this insertion. The sheath is then retracted to expose a first portion of the cord within the patient's body, and the first portion of the cord is moved into a desired position relative to the anchor member. After advancing a spacer over the sheath and cord, the sheath is retracted to expose a second portion of the cord. The second portion of the cord is then moved into a desired position relative to another anchor member such that the spacer is positioned between the two anchor members.

System and method for insertion of flexible spinal stabilization element

The invention relates to a distance measuring instrument for pedicle screws which detects the spacing between two pedicle screws () with the ends () of two crossing limbs () and displays it on a crossbar () fixedly connected to one of the limbs at a scale (). Since the second limb () is divided into a pointer () and into a flexural spring extending parallel to it at which a pronounced thumb grip () is fastened, and since the thumb grip is connected to a scale () via which a pre-determined pre-tension can be read off relative to the pointer (), a spacing measurement can take place under a controlled pre-tension.

Distance measuring instrument for pedicle screws

The invention relates to a distance measuring instrument for pedicle screws which detects the spacing between two pedicle screws (') with the ends () of two crossing limbs () and displays it on a cross-bar () fixedly connected to one of the limbs at a scale (). Since the second limb () is divided into a pointer () and into a flexural spring extending parallel to it at which a pronounced thumb grip () is fastened, and since the thumb grip is connected to a scale () via which a pre-determined pre-tension can be read off relative to the pointer (), a spacing measurement can take place under a controlled pre-tension.

The invention relates to an instrument system for pedicle screws having a thread in their head which has a clamping screw in the direction of their screw axes, which can be actuated by a power screw driver, with holders for the absorbing of a torque contacting the head of the pedicle screw in a shape matched manner. Since the holders have a tubular part which is coordinated with its inner diameter to the guiding of the clamping screw and with centring parts being able to be fastened in the heads of the pedicle screws instead of the clamping screws, said pedicle screws being engageable when the holder is mounted on, the contact to the inserted pedicle screw can also be maintained with a non visible, i.e. smaller operation field, in order mount the same holder or other holders a plurality of times.

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Schaffhausen, Switzerland

Nimrod Meier