Sulzer Orthopedics Inc.

Zimmer Gmbh

Centerpulse Orthopedics Inc.

Suler Orthopedics Ltd.

Simon Casutt

Nimrod Meier

Marc Huber

Reto Braunschweiler

Cosimo Donno

Hermann Breimesser

Markus Fr&ouml;hlich

Robert Eberlein

Marco Steiger

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 a screw-driving tool for implant screws having an elongate handle () and having a bar-shaped tool which is anchored in the elongate handle (). An elastic, hollow spiral () is provided for the transmission of a predetermined torque, with a bar () being guided through the spiral () and being fixedly connected to the rotatable side of the spiral and indicating a rotational angle or a torque respectively at the opposite side.

Screw-driving tool for implant screws

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.

Instrument system for pedicle screws

An operating tool ( ) for use in the operating room comprises a grip part ( ) and a tool part ( ) which is firmly connected to this grip part ( ), with the connection of the grip part ( ) and the tool part ( ) being formed as a releasable connection.

Operating tool

The invention relates to an artificial intervertebral disc for implanting between two vertebral bodies (W) comprising two end plates ( ) which bound a hollow space ( ), which is filled with an elastically and/or plastically deformable nucleus ( ), at two opposite sides, with the hollow space ( ) being enclosed by a tubular fiber ring ( ) such that the end plates ( ), together with the fiber ring ( ), bound the hollow space ( ) and the end plates ( ) are in tensile connection with the fiber ring ( ). The fiber ring ( ) is designed as elastically extensible in the radial and axial directions, with the fiber ring ( ) having a larger modulus of elasticity than the nucleus ( ) and the nucleus ( ) and the fiber ring ( ) interacting such that the elastic properties of the artificial intervertebral disc show a non-linear behavior with increasing deformation at least with respect to a compression force (F).

Artificial intervertebral disc

The invention relates to an artificial intervertebral disc for implantation between two vertebral bodies (W) comprising two end plates ( ) and an elastically deformable disc ( ) pre-stressed between the end plates ( ) in the axial direction, with the disc ( ) lying within a tubular, elastically deformable, fibre ring ( ) and the end plates ( ) being in tensile communication with the fibre ring ( ). The disc ( ) has a contact surface ( ) which enlarges with a compression of the artificial intervertebral disc and which adjoins one of the end plates ( ) so that the elastic properties of the artificial intervertebral disc show a non-linear behaviour with increasing deformation at least with respect to a compression force (F).

The surgical instrument for tensioning a cable-like, a band-like or a cord-like tensioning element ( ) comprises a manually actuatable lever system. Two levers ( )&mdash;the first and the second actuation lever&mdash;are jointedly connected by a third lever ( ). In a basic position of the system the tensioning element can be laid into a laying-in opening ( ) of the first lever and into a clamping gap ( ) at the second and at the third lever. One of the actuation levers ( ) is formed in one section as a beam ( ) which is elastic in bending. The extent of a shape change of the beam can be measured. A relationship between this shape change and a tension in the tensioning element is known. The tension can be set as a result of this knowledge and of a measurement ( ) of the shape change, or a means a tension monitor or sensor, serving for the same purpose is provided for determining a torque which acts at the corresponding actuation lever ( ).

Surgical instrument for tensioning a cable-like tensioning element

With the invention the connection of a bone screw ( ) to a bone plate ( ) is shown. The head ( ) of the bone screw ( ) lies with a ring-shaped outer surface ( ) in contact on a counter-surface ( ) and can be fixed with a securing screw ( ) which can be screwed in in the direction towards the counter-surface ( ). In this the height ( ) of the bone plate ( ) is chosen such that it is less than or equal to the shaft diameter ( ) of the bone screw ( ), whereas the screw head ( ) dips into a cut-out ( ) of the securing screw ( ) and the upper side of the securing screw ( ) terminates with the upper side of the bone plate ( ).

Connection of a bone screw to a bone plate

The medical/technical tool holder apparatus ( ) with torque limitation comprises a receiver ( ) for at least one shear body ( ) and a shearing means ( ) which is rotatably connected to the receiver ( ) and which is arranged in such a manner with respect to a shear body ( ) located in the receiver ( ) that the shearing means ( ) contacts the shear body ( ) as soon as a torque acts on the shearing means ( ), with the shearing means ( ) and the shear body ( ) being mutually matched and arranged in such a manner that the shearing means ( ) at least partly severs the shear body ( ) when a specific torque is exceeded.

Growing community of inventors

Gossau, Switzerland

Simon Casutt