Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/30—Joints
  • A61F2/44—Joints for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
  • A61F2/442—Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient
  • A61F2/4425—Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient made of articulated components
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/30—Joints
  • A61F2002/30001—Additional features of subject-matter classified in A61F2/28, A61F2/30 and subgroups thereof
  • A61F2002/30316—The prosthesis having different structural features at different locations within the same prosthesis; Connections between prosthetic parts; Special structural features of bone or joint prostheses not otherwise provided for
  • A61F2002/30329—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
  • A61F2002/30331—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
  • A61F2002/30362—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit with possibility of relative movement between the protrusion and the recess
  • A61F2002/30364—Rotation about the common longitudinal axis
  • A61F2002/30365—Rotation about the common longitudinal axis with additional means for limiting said rotation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/30—Joints
  • A61F2002/30001—Additional features of subject-matter classified in A61F2/28, A61F2/30 and subgroups thereof
  • A61F2002/30316—The prosthesis having different structural features at different locations within the same prosthesis; Connections between prosthetic parts; Special structural features of bone or joint prostheses not otherwise provided for
  • A61F2002/30329—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
  • A61F2002/30331—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
  • A61F2002/30362—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit with possibility of relative movement between the protrusion and the recess
  • A61F2002/30369—Limited lateral translation of the protrusion within a larger recess
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/30—Joints
  • A61F2002/30001—Additional features of subject-matter classified in A61F2/28, A61F2/30 and subgroups thereof
  • A61F2002/30621—Features concerning the anatomical functioning or articulation of the prosthetic joint
  • A61F2002/30649—Ball-and-socket joints
  • A61F2002/30662—Ball-and-socket joints with rotation-limiting means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/30—Joints
  • A61F2/44—Joints for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
  • A61F2/442—Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient
  • A61F2/4425—Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient made of articulated components
  • A61F2002/443—Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient made of articulated components having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2220/00—Fixations or connections for prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2220/0025—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
  • A61F2220/0033—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2310/00—Prostheses classified in A61F2/28 or A61F2/30 - A61F2/44 being constructed from or coated with a particular material
  • A61F2310/00005—The prosthesis being constructed from a particular material
  • A61F2310/00011—Metals or alloys
  • A61F2310/00023—Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2310/00—Prostheses classified in A61F2/28 or A61F2/30 - A61F2/44 being constructed from or coated with a particular material
  • A61F2310/00389—The prosthesis being coated or covered with a particular material
  • A61F2310/00592—Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of ceramics or of ceramic-like compounds
  • A61F2310/00856—Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of compounds based on metal nitrides
  • A61F2310/0088—Coating made of titanium nitride

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an artificial intervertebral disc, which is designed such that the degrees of freedom of movement of a natural intervertebral disc are imitated as best as possible.
• the spine represents the physical center of movement of the human body. It bears the body weight, is capable of complex movements and is able to intercept and balance the forces acting on it.
• the human spine consists of a total of 24 vertebrae, the sacrum and the coccyx.
• the individual eddies are through
• the spine is divided into five sections, namely the cervical spine (7 cervical vertebrae, C1 - C7), the thoracic spine (12 thoracic vertebrae, Th1 - Th12), the lumbar spine (5 lumbar vertebrae, L1 - L5), the sacrum and the coccyx ,
• Each vertebra consists of a bony vertebral body, a vertebral arch that spans the spinal cord, a transverse process on each side and a posterior spinous process.
• US 2002/0128715 A1 discloses an artificial intervertebral disc which consists of a deformable, elastic inner body which can be deformed within certain predefined limits and is surrounded by a rigid outer skeleton. This artificial intervertebral disc achieves the natural degrees of freedom of movement through a predetermined, limited deformation of the inner body.
• the object of the present invention is to provide an intervertebral disc implant which achieves a maximum of anatomical compatibility and imitates the degrees of freedom of movement of a natural intervertebral disc in the best possible way even under permanent load and can thus permanently replace a natural intervertebral disc.
• the present invention relates to an intervertebral disc implant, which is characterized in that the center of gravity of the joint can be changed in the same way as a natural vertebral segment during a rotation and / or flexion movement.
• the complex movement of a vertebral segment can be represented, for example, by moving the current movement center (ICR). Since the intervertebral disc implants according to the invention are natural
• the invention can be expressed simply by the fact that the intervertebral disc implants according to the invention allow the movements which are possible in a natural vertebral segment.
• One of these physical quantities is the current movement center or the migration of the current movement center.
• the intervertebral disc implants described herein allow the current movement center to be moved, as is also not possible in the case of natural vertebral segments in the intervertebral disc implants of the prior art.
• the degrees of freedom of movement of a vertebral joint are diverse, which results in complex movement possibilities and complex movement patterns.
• the movement of a vertebral segment can be described as an immediate rotational movement around and a direct translational movement along an axis in space, the so-called IHA (Instantaneous Helical Axis).
• the parameters of the current position of the screw axis (IHA), angle of rotation, direction and position of the IHA and screw pitch must be taken into account.
• the segmental mobility can be represented by an immediate spiral surface.
• the external parameters of the force system can be kept constant as functions of time, namely force, torque, direction and position of the force action line.
• the curve shown in FIG. 2 results, for example, for an L3 / 4 vertebral segment.
• the axial rotation of the flexed vertebral segment is kinematically limited.
• the sagittal joints create a mechanical guide, which forces the IHA to move backwards with increasing rotation (see Fig. 2).
• This increases the area moment of inertia with respect to the IHA and thus the rotational stiffness of the vertebral segment, so that a further increase in the torque causes a decreasing increase in the angle.
• the IHA runs in a ventral arch from one joint to another (see curve 1 in FIG. 2), while in extension the IHA moves on a dorsal arch (see curve 2 in FIG. 2).
• Hikes of 40 mm to more than 60 mm can be covered.
• the IHA is again in the center of the intervertebral disc (see black area at number 3 in Fig. 2).
• intervertebral disc implants Such kinematic movements are not possible with the conventional intervertebral disc implants of the prior art. According to the invention, however, the intervertebral disc implants described herein permit such translational movements. Thus, the intervertebral disc implants according to the invention allow movement of the IHA as is the case with a natural intervertebral disc.
• the migration that is possible with a natural vertebra segment is accomplished in the embodiments according to the invention in that the intervertebral disk is mounted on the base plate so as to be translatable.
• the screw axis (IHA) is capable of migrating like a natural vertebral segment.
• the screw axis (IHA) in the intervertebral disc implants according to the invention can thus move along a ventral or dorsal arch.
• the IHA takes into account the translational and rotary motion sequences when the pivot point of the motion is constantly changing (ICR: Instantaneous Center of Rotation) and is thus able to describe the motion continuously. Recording the segmental movements between two rigid vertebral bodies with the IHA allows the true axis of rotation to be displayed. This is one way, the complex three-dimensional
• Connecting lines represent the hike of the rotation center.
• the same movement patterns as with a natural vertebral segment are also possible with the artificial vertebral segment according to the present invention.
• This best possible imitation of the natural movement patterns, i.e. of the centrode pattern are made possible by the inventive storage of the intervertebral disk on the base plate.
• ICR Intelligent Center of Rotation
• planar rotational movement i.e. the rotational movement of a planar body in a plane
• the movement of the individual areas of this planar body can be represented as a rotational movement about a rotation axis running perpendicular to this plane.
• the axis of rotation intersects the plane at a certain point, the ICR.
• the spatial position of certain points on this planar body can now be defined, for example, by their speeds. If, for example, the speed of two points A and B is known and these two points do not lie on top of one another (see FIG. 4a), the ICR can be determined by a point perpendicular to the speed vector of point A [v (A)] Straight line and perpendicular to the speed vector of point B [v (B)] through point B determines a second straight line and the intersection of both straight lines. The intersection of both lines is the ICR.
• ICR Instantaneous Axis of. Rotation designates an axis about which the body rotates in a current view, where no translation takes place, in the case of a body which performs rotational and translation movements in one plane.
• the current movement center has a characteristic course in flexion and extension, as shown for example in FIG. 5.
• the paradoxical accompanying rotation in a e.g. Rightward inclination of a vertebral segment usually leads to left rotation, with the spinous processes shifting to the right.
• intervertebral disc implants according to the invention enable both
• the invention consists in providing intervertebral disc implants which enable the ICR to move like a natural vertebral segment.
• This moving movement is made possible by a movable mounting of the intervertebral disk on the base plate, which is described in detail below.
• the artificial intervertebral disc according to the invention is preferably constructed in three parts.
• the center piece of the intervertebral disc implant forms an intervertebral disc, which is preferably mounted on the base plate in such a way that both translational and rotational movements are possible.
• the storage of the intervertebral disk on the base plate in such a way that translational movements of the intervertebral disk and base plate are possible relative to one another can be realized in different ways.
• One possible implementation includes the use of fasteners. Pins, bulges, brackets, pins, flanges and the like, as well as other conceivable means for restricting the translational movement of the intervertebral disk on the base plate, which are preferably attached to the base plate, are suitable as fastening means.
• the base plate can have a preferably centered guide and / or locating pin, which extends in the direction of the torsion axis.
• the guide and / or locating pin can also be attached decentrally, for example in a dorsally or ventrally offset manner.
• This pin preferably has a diameter of 2 to 15, preferably 3 to 12 mm, more preferably 5 to 10 mm and particularly preferably 6 to 9 mm and a height of 1 to 5 mm, preferably 2 to 4 mm and in particular preferably from 3-4 mm.
• a pin preferably has a cylindrical or conical shape, although ellipsoidal shapes can generally be used.
• a single pin should be largely centered on the base plate.
• the intervertebral disk has a cutout suitable for receiving this pin or the fastening means, this cutout having a larger diameter than that of the pin.
• a recess is preferably O-shaped to ellipsoidal, but can also be designed in a circular shape. In the O-shaped or ellipsoidal configuration, the radius in the lateral direction is smaller than the radius in the anteflexion and retroflexion direction.
• the radius of the recess in the anteflexion and retroflexion direction is preferably from one to three times the length of the radius of the pin.
• the radius of the recess in the lateral direction is the same size or up to twice as large as the radius of the pin.
• the vortex washer on the base plate can preferably move from a centered position 0 to 10 mm, preferably 1-6 mm, further preferably 2-5 mm and particularly preferably 3-4 mm in the lateral direction and Move 2 to 15 mm, preferably 3 to 10 mm, more preferably 4 to 7 mm and particularly preferably 5 to 6 mm in the anteflexion as well as in the retroflexion direction. This information relates to the total distance from one extreme position to another. Half the lengths are covered starting from a centered position to an extreme position.
• a fastening means in the form of a pin which is largely centered on the base plate does not restrict the rotational movement of the intervertebral disk on the base plate.
• the rotational movement about the torsion axis is determined by the natural conditions and / or by additional fasteners.
• Such fasteners are preferably attached to the base plate. If the rotation is not technically limited to the implant, the free rotation is of course limited by the physiologically existing structures.
• the intervertebral disk implant according to the invention permits rotational movements of up to 3 degrees, preferably of 1-2 degrees and particularly preferably of approximately 1.5 degrees in both directions.
• the fastening means can not only consist of a pin, pin, flange or the like, but can also comprise two or more of these fastening means.
• fasteners are preferred which are completely covered by the intervertebral disk. Lateral boundaries on the base plate or on the edge of the base plate in the form of, for example, edges, brackets, beads, splints or the like are less preferred, since these represent a point of attachment for tissue and can be overgrown with trade and / or cartilage, as a result of which the mobility of Vortex washer on the base plate is restricted again.
• fasteners that are completely covered i.e. are not accessible to tissues, cartilage and muscles.
• the fastening means are completely concealed if they lie, for example, inside the implant, for example are covered by the intervertebral disk.
• Another preferred embodiment comprises two pins, which are preferably offset on the base plate in a dorsally or ventrally offset manner.
• the intervertebral washer has two recesses which have a larger diameter than the diameter of a pin. This allows the intervertebral disc to move within the
• the base plate which is limited by the brackets attached to the side of the base plate, is larger than the surface area of the base plate of the swirl intermediate plate, so that the intermediate plate of the swivel plate can perform translational and / or rotational movements on the base plate or relative to the base plate, specifically within the scope of side brackets.
• Such holders can be, for example, a solid or interrupted bead on the edge or a raised edge.
• the vortex washer does not have to be as in FIGS. 7 and. 8 shown, have a round or cylindrical shape, but can take any common shapes from oval to angular, angular to banana-shaped, flat to hump-shaped, asymmetrical to square or rectangular.
• the vortex washer may be tapered, i.e. change their thickness and taper in particular in the dorsal direction.
• Possible basic forms of intervertebral washer are disclosed, for example, in European patent EP 0 505 634 B1 as FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 (a) - (e).
• the possible basic shapes of the intervertebral disk also do not need to have a uniform thickness, so that the intervertebral disk can also have different thicknesses at different points, which can be, for example, 3 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm or 12 mm. Furthermore, the intervertebral disk is preferably not deformable.
• a preferred embodiment comprises intervertebral disc implants in which the cover plate is mounted on the intervertebral disc in such a way that the articulating surface of the intervertebral disc as well as the articulating surface of the cover plate each lie on an ellipsoidal partial surface.
• Articleating surface is to be understood as the surface of the intervertebral disk or the surface of the cover plate, which can come into contact with the other surface during the possible movements.
• the contact surface is to be understood as the area where both parts come into contact with each other at a certain frozen position of the intervertebral washer and cover plate.
• the articulating surface of the intervertebral disk is the entire surface of the intervertebral disk, which can come into contact with the surface of the cover plate in all possible positions of the intervertebral disk relative to the cover plate.
• the articulating surface of the cover plate is the entire surface of the cover plate, which can come into contact with the surface of the swirl intermediate plate in all possible positions of the cover plate relative to the swirl intermediate plate.
• a denotes the radius in the direction of the x-axis (anteflexion-retroflexion axis), b in the direction of the Y-axis (torsion axis) and c the radius in the direction of the Z-axis (lateral axis).
• a denotes the radius in the direction of the x-axis (anteflexion-retroflexion axis)
• b in the direction of the Y-axis (torsion axis)
• c the radius in the direction of the Z-axis (lateral axis).
• the radii (a, b and c; or a and c; or a) of the ellipsoid surface or the spherical surface on which the articulating surfaces of the cover plate lie are of the same size as the radii (a ⁇ b 'and c'; or a 'and c'; or a ') of the ellipsoidal surface or the spherical surface on which the articulating surfaces of the intervertebral disc lie.
• the articulating surface of the cover plate lies on a spherical surface cutout and the articulating surface of the intervertebral disk also lies on a spherical surface cutout, furthermore particularly preferably both spherical surface cutouts having the same radius.
• the radii increase according to the size of the intervertebral disc implant.
• Intervertebral disc implants for the lumbar area have radii of 25 - 45 mm, for the throacial area of 20 - 40 mm and for the cervical area of 15 - 35 mm.
• the contact area is at least an area of 400 mm 2 , preferably of at least 450 mm 2 , more preferably of at least 500 mm 2 and particularly preferably of at least 550 mm 2 . It should also be taken into account here that the contact area depends on the size of the implant and that larger intervertebral disc implants also have a larger contact area. Contact areas of this size distribute the mechanical load on the intervertebral disc and lead to a longer service life of the implant.
• This configuration according to the invention maximizes the contact area between the cover plate and the intervertebral washer even in the case of complex movements, since it is not a point-like or linear contact area, but a spherical contact area that is obtained.
• the articulating surface of the cover plate can be made convex or plano-convex and the surface of the swirl intermediate plate that is articulated with the cover plate can be concave or plano-concave (see FIG. 10) or the articulated surface of the cover plate becomes concave or plano-concave and that with the cover plate Articulating surface of the intervertebral disc is convex or plano-convex (see Fig. 11).
• the first-mentioned embodiment is preferred.
• the radii of the spherical surface cutouts on which the articulating surfaces of the intervertebral disk and cover plate lie are largely identical.
• a preferred embodiment of the intervertebral disc implant thus comprises a base plate, a vertebral intermediate disc and a cover plate, the intervertebral disc being mounted on the base plate in such a way that translational and / or rotational movements are possible and the cover plate is supported on the intervertebral disc so that the articulating surface of the intervertebral disc is as the articulating surface of the cover plate also lies on an ellipsoidal partial surface, preferably a spherical surface.
• the cover plate can also be inclined up to 20 degrees relative to the base plate, starting from a position parallel to one another.
• cover and base plates are preferred which are tapered, as shown in FIG. 10.
• the top and base plates are thicker on their ventral side than on their dorsal side in order to better reproduce the natural shape of a vertebral segment.
• Cover plate or base plate or cover and base plate are preferably twice as thick on their ventral side as on the dorsal side.
• the cover plate or base plate or cover and base plate have a gradient of 3%, preferably 6% and particularly preferably 8% from the dorsal to the ventral end. It is particularly preferred if the sides of the cover plate and base plate facing each other have no bevel and only the sides of the cover plate and base plate facing away from one another are beveled.
• either only the base plate or only the cover plate is tapered.
• the bevel of the cover plate and / or base plate can be up to 10 degrees, preferably 2 to 8 degrees (ventrally wide and tapering dorsally). It is further preferred if, according to the curvature of the spine, the angle of the cover plate and / or the base plate is adapted to the physiological conditions, the cover plate preferably having a different degree of angle in the cranial (towards the head) direction than the base plate in the caudal direction (towards the foot) direction.
• the spine describes from viewed from the side, a double S (kyphosis / lordosis).
• the vertebral bodies are at an anteriorly open angle to each other.
• the implant with its cover and base plates should be adaptable to these vertebral bodies which are at an angle to one another.
• the background here is to ensure an ideal application of force to the implant, to minimize the risk of luxation of the intervertebral disc and to adjust the band structures of the spine according to the physiology. These aspects would of course benefit the longevity of the implant. If the intervertebral disc compartment is filled in accordance with the anatomical structures and if the intervertebral disc is ideally loaded, the wear on the polyethylene of the intervertebral disc is reduced. There one
• Vortex washer made of polyethylene or other plastics is most exposed to wear, a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a vortex washer made of metal, optionally coated with a ceramic coating.
• the base plate and the cover plate have a convex curvature of the surface facing the bone.
• the convex curvature of the cover plates towards the bone is particularly preferred, since the vertebral bodies also have a curvature (concave) and can thus prevent sintering of the implant in the bone.
• the advantages would be that the bone trabecular structure would be loaded according to the physiology, that there would be more space for the bone to grow and that the risk of dislocation of the implant would be reduced.
• the convexity is preferably in a range of 1-5 mm, i.e. at the highest point the elevation is up to 5mm.
• intervertebral washer and base plate can be moved relative to one another.
• Intervertebral disc implant is designed in such a way that the intervertebral disc is mounted on the base plate in such a way that the intervertebral disc can be rotated a few degrees in the horizontal plane around the axial torsion axis.
• the movement of the base plate and cover plate relative to one another is comparable to a movement of two identical parallel plates, between which there is an ellipsoid and ideally a ball, the respective plate touching the ellipsoid or the ball in the center of the plate.
• the movement of the plates towards one another is comparable to the movement of the base plate and cover plate of the intervertebral disc implant according to the invention, whereby due to the design of the base plate and cover plate, a lateral diffraction movement and a retroflexion movement can only be carried out to a lesser extent than an anteflexion movement.
• the base plate and cover plate can rotate up to a maximum of 10 degrees relative to one another, preferably up to 8 degrees, more preferably up to 6 degrees and particularly preferably up to 4 degrees.
• a flexion movement in the lateral direction can take place up to 8 degrees, preferably up to 12 degrees and particularly preferably up to 15 on both sides, starting from a centered position.
• a retroflexion flexion movement can take place up to 10 degrees, preferably up to 15 degrees and particularly preferably up to 20 degrees, starting from a centered position.
• Anteflexion diffraction movement can take place up to 20 degrees, preferably up to 25 degrees and particularly preferably up to 30 degrees, starting from a centered position.
• the intervertebral disc is also preferably designed such that it is of such a size that the cover plate does not touch the base plate in all possible movements.
• the edges of the top and base plates have an angle (see FIG. 10) of the mutually facing corners away from one another.
• the intervertebral disc i.e. the intervertebral disc is preferably made of a hard plastic, preferably polyethylene and in particular ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).
• a hard plastic preferably polyethylene and in particular ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).
• HDPE high density PE
• UHMWPE melt mass flow rate of less than 0.1 g / 10 min defined as UHMWPE (whereby this would correspond to a molar mass of over 106 g / mol), according to ASTM D 4020 the limit is 3.1 * 106 g / mol.
• Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene is a polyethylene according to ISO 5834-2 standard, Chirulen® and TIVAR® Premium are high-purity implant materials made of PEUHMW for use in endoprosthetics They are used in articulation partners in artificial hip, knee, elbow and shoulder joints.
• titanium or a titanium alloy is also used to produce the intervertebral disk.
• these further preferred embodiments which have a base plate made of titanium or a titanium alloy, a cover plate made of titanium or a titanium alloy and also a swirl intermediate plate made of titanium or a titanium alloy, so-called hard-hard pairings result, namely between the cover plate and the swirl intermediate plate and also between Base plate and intervertebral washer.
• the titanium or the titanium alloy is provided with a ceramic coating.
• embodiments are preferred which use a plastic or a metal alloy for the intervertebral washer, rather than plastic, which is preferably also provided with a ceramic coating.
• titanium materials approved for medical technology should in particular meet DIN ISO 5832-3. Basically, the approval of titanium and titanium alloys as medical material is regulated according to DIN ISO 5832-1 to 5832-12 standards.
• titanium alloys such as Ti-6AI-4V, Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr, Ti-AI6-Nb7 (according to ISO 5832-11) or Ti-29Nb-13Ta- 4.6Zr can also be used according to the invention. Titanium alloys in which the titanium content is at least 50% by weight, further preferably 65% by weight, even more preferably 80% by weight and particularly preferably 90% by weight are preferred.
• the use of pure or medical titanium is preferred for producing the entire intervertebral disc implant.
• the base and base plates can be cemented or implanted in the bone without cement or attached to the vertebral bone, with cementless anchoring being preferred.
• Titanium is also used as the material for the base body of the base and / or cover plate. Titanium as the base material of the base and cover plate according to the invention is biologically inert, therefore grows firmly with the bone, can be anchored without cement and is not allergenic.
• biocompatible, inert materials significantly improves the acceptance of the physiological tissue on the implant. Due to the use of materials that are particularly suitable to withstand tribological loads, the wear of the artificial material is minimized and thus the life (service life) of the implant is significantly increased.
• Bone cells can anchor themselves directly on biocompatible materials if they have a structured surface with an open roughness in the range of 50 to 400 ⁇ m.
• the surface of the base and the cover plate facing the bone has a roughness of at least Rz 50 ⁇ m, preferably of at least Rz 60 ⁇ m.
• Rz 50 ⁇ m preferably of at least Rz 50 ⁇ m.
• Rz 60 ⁇ m preferably of at least Rz 60 ⁇ m.
• other degrees of roughness can be used up to cancellous metal.
• the roughness is given as either Rz or Ra (DIN 4762, 4768, 4775, ISO 4288).
• Rz denotes the average roughness.
• the average roughness depth Rz is the arithmetic mean of the greatest individual roughness depths of several adjacent individual measuring sections.
• Ra denotes the arithmetic mean roughness.
• Ra is the generally recognized and internationally used roughness parameter. It is the arithmetic mean of the absolute values of the profile deviations within the reference distance.
• the measured numerical value Ra is always smaller than the Rz value determined on the same roughness profile.
• the base and / or cover plate of the intervertebral disc implant according to the invention are preferably coated with a metallic or ceramic coating, which can have a variable number of individual layers or a different layer thickness.
• Ceramic coatings include nitrides, carbides and phosphides of preferably semi-metals and metals or metal alloys.
• Ceramic coatings are boron nitride, titanium niobium nitride, titanium calcium phosphide (Ti-Ca-P), Cr-Al-N, Ti-Al-N, Cr-N, TiAIN-CrN, Ti-Al- C, Cr-C, TiAIC-CrC, Zr-Hf-N, Ti-Hf-CN, Si-CN-Ti, Si-CN and DLC (Diamond Like Carbon).
• a ceramic layer of titanium-niobium nitride (Ti-Nb-N) is also preferably applied as the coating.
• Ti-Nb-N titanium-niobium nitride
• This ceramic coating of the particularly articulating implant surfaces has a hardness that is many times higher than that of conventionally used materials. This hardness makes the surface highly polishable and protected against titanium abrasion.
• the geometry of the articulating compartments is chosen in such a way that the areas which are exposed to the wear and tear can be maximized.
• the geometry of the joint partners is selected such that the tribologically loaded surfaces are maximized via a flat contact surface between the base plate and the intervertebral washer and an ellipsoidal area cutout, preferably a spherical cutout between the intervertebral washer and the cover plate, which ultimately reduces wear. This results in a reduction in the effective forces per unit area, which in turn has a positive effect on the service life of the implant by reducing the abrasion.
• the physiological mobility of the vertebral body segments to each other is met as best as possible. Due to this almost perfect imitation of a natural intervertebral disc or its mobility, the forces acting on the bone-implant boundary are considerably reduced, which has a positive effect on the longevity (reduction of wear and minimization of loosening) of the implant.
• the prior art prostheses can usually only be used on a maximum of two levels in the back.
• the intervertebral disc implants according to the invention can also be used on more than two floors in the backbone.
• the individual intervertebral disc implants are adapted to their respective position according to their size and geometry, so that such multiple implants can also treat spinal problems, spinal damage and spinal disorders.
• spinal disorders spinal damage as well as spinal disorders, which can be treated by an intervertebral disc implant according to the invention or by a set of intervertebral disc implants according to the invention include, for example, scoliosis, i.e. the lateral bending of the spine, also called backbone curvature, herniated disc, which means the protrusion of the disc core against the adjacent vertebral body or the nerve roots, and kyphosis, which means the bending of the spine to the rear.
• scoliosis i.e. the lateral bending of the spine
• herniated disc herniated disc, which means the protrusion of the disc core against the adjacent vertebral body or the nerve roots
• kyphosis which means the bending of the spine to the rear.
• spinal disorders, spinal column damage as well as spinal column diseases can be treated by the intervertebral disc implants according to the invention: disc fracture (ie intervertebral disc damage), black disc (degenerative intervertebral disc, which appears black in the X-ray image), spontaneous deformation, ie the deformation of vertebral bodies due to diseases, bone changes or swelling , Lumbago or more commonly referred to as lumbago or lumbar pain, which is a severe, usually sudden pain in the cross and lumbar region. Lumbago is most often caused by changes in the intervertebral discs.
• disc fracture ie intervertebral disc damage
• black disc degenerative intervertebral disc, which appears black in the X-ray image
• spontaneous deformation ie the deformation of vertebral bodies due to diseases, bone changes or swelling
• Lumbago or more commonly referred to as lumbago or lumbar pain which is a severe, usually sudden pain in the cross and lumbar region. Lumbago is most often caused
• Spondylosis deformans ie disease of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs with severe movement pain
• widow's hump which includes a curvature of the spine in older women, caused by bone loss due to the changed hormonal Situation after the climate (menopause) understands spondylomyelitis, ie inflammation of the vertebrae and spinal cord, osteochondrosis, what the
• spondylotosis i.e. the sliding of a vertebral body by a whole width of the vertebra, mostly the 5th lumbar vertebra on the sacrum
• schipp disease which denotes the tear fracture caused by severe overexertion, mostly the 7th cervical vertebra or the 1st thoracic spine process, myelomeningocele, among which the specialist congenital malformation of vertebral arches understands brachialgia, which means the pain in the arms and shoulders due to changes in the area of the cervical vertebrae
• Baastrup sign which means the bending of the spine forward with widening of the spinous processes and crushing of the intervening tissue, mostly with severe lower back pain and pressure pain the spinous processes are connected
• vertebral ankylosis denotes the bony stiffening of the spine with severe pain in the trunk, arms and legs and paralysis of the limbs
• Scheuermann's disease with which the expert bone
• Figure 1 shows two vertebrae with a vertebral body, vertebral canal, vertebral arch, transverse process and spinous process as well as the associated intervertebral discs;
• Figure 2 shows a horizontal section through an L3 / 4 intervertebral disc and the IHA migration during a rotational movement. With flexion, the IHA runs in a ventral arc from one joint to the other (1)
• FIG. 1 is an illustration of the ventral and dorsal portion of a vertebral joint at levels L1 to L4 and L5, respectively. It can be seen that at L5 the joint runs more in the frontal plane. There, the axial rotation is also approx.
• FIG. 4 shows a possibility for determining the ICR (Instantaneous Center of Rotation) by means of vectors for the speed of two points lying in one plane;
• FIG. 5 shows the current movement center (ICR: Instantaneous Center of Rotation) during flexion or extension according to Gertzbein.
• ICR Instantaneous Center of Rotation
• FIG. 6 shows the distant base plate of the implant. An anchoring is shown which is suitable for the central reception of the intervertebral disc and which permits rotational as well as translational movements;
• FIG. 7 shows the intervertebral washer viewed from the side facing the base plate.
• a round recess can be seen, which is suitable for receiving a fastening means, for example a pin, attached to the base plate;
• FIG. 8 shows the intervertebral washer viewed from the side facing the cover plate. You can see the concave articulating
• the radii R indicate that the surface of the surface articulated with the cover plate
• Intervertebral washer lies on a spherical surface cutout
• Figure 9 shows the cover plate with the vertebral washer facing
• the convex bulge arranged in the center has the same radius as the articulating surface of the intervertebral disk according to FIG. 8, so that the articulating surface of the cover plate lies on a spherical surface cutout with the radius R;
• Figure 10 shows an embodiment of a
• FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of a
• Example 1 An embodiment of an intervertebral disc implant according to the invention consists of a cover plate as shown in FIG. 9, a vertebral intermediate disc as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and a base plate as disclosed in FIG. 6.
• the intervertebral disc implant has a size that is suitable for replacing an L3 / 4 vertebral segment.
• Smaller embodiments of the intervertebral disc implant described in Example 1 can be produced by a person skilled in the art without problems.
• the contact areas, in particular between the intervertebral disk and cover plate, but also between the intervertebral disk and base plate, can be correspondingly smaller in accordance with the size of the smaller embodiments. The same applies to the values given above for the translational movements in the lateral as well as retroflexion-anteflexion direction.
• the cover plate consists of titanium used in medical technology.
• the surface of the cover plate facing the bone is rough, so that ingrowth or growth of bone cells is made possible.
• the roughness Rz is approx. 60 ⁇ 5 ⁇ m.
• the articulating surface of the cover plate is plano-convex as shown in Fig. 9 and covered with a ceramic layer of Ti-Nb-N.
• the layer thickness is 3 - 5 ⁇ m.
• the base plate is also made of titanium and has a shape as shown in FIG. 6.
• the surface of the base plate facing the bone is rough with a roughness Rz of approx. 60 ⁇ 5 ⁇ m.
• the contact surface for the intervertebral disc is covered with a ceramic coating made of Ti-Nb-N.
• the layer thickness is 3 - 5 ⁇ m.
• the surface of the tibial component facing the intervertebral disc is planar, except for the pin arranged in the center.
• This pin has a cylindrical shape with a height of 5 mm and a diameter of 7 mm.
• the pin is also provided with a ceramic coating made of Ti-Nb-N.
• the base plate is shown rectangular, can of course also have other contours and vary in thickness, as shown in Fig. 10.
• the vortex washer has a shape as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
• Fig. 7 shows the bottom surface of the intervertebral disc with a cylindrical recess for receiving the guide and / or receiving pin of the base plate.
• 8 shows the top of the intervertebral disk with its concave articulating surface.
• the articulating surface lies on a spherical surface section with radius R.
• the dashed concentric circles on the articulating concave surface of the intervertebral disc show that this surface is part of a spherical surface.
• the intervertebral disc is made of UHMWPE.
• the side of the intervertebral disk facing the cover plate is concave and has a radius of 25 mm.
• the total contact area is approximately 450 mm 2 .
• the entire articulating surface of the concave depression of the intervertebral disc corresponds to the contact area.
• the intervertebral disk has a recess on its side facing the base plate, which is shown in FIG. 8. This recess is provided for receiving the pin of the base plate.
• This pen is shown in Figure 6. Due to the larger diameter of the recess in the intervertebral disc compared to the diameter of the pin of the base plate, the intervertebral disc can perform rotational but also translational movements on the base plate. The rotational movement is physiologically limited to approximately 1.5 degrees.
• the pin on the base plate has a diameter of 7 mm.
• the recess in the intervertebral disc has a diameter of 11 mm in the lateral direction and 13 mm in the retroflexion-anteflexion direction.
• the recess has a diameter of 1.57 times in the lateral direction and a diameter of 1.86 times in the retroflexion-anteflexion direction.
• the intervertebral disc can move 2 mm in the lateral direction on the base plate or a total of 4 mm from one lateral extreme position to the other.
• the intervertebral disc on the base plate can move 3 mm in the retroflexion direction and 3 mm in the anteflexion direction or a total of 6 mm from the extreme dorsal position to the extreme ventral position.
• the base plate and cover plate can be tilted up to 20 degrees to each other. Complex movements cause one
• ICR current movement center
• the embodiment according to the invention allows degrees of freedom of movement as in a natural vertebral segment, wherein stress peaks on the intervertebral disc are avoided even in the case of complex movements due to the spherical surfaces of the intervertebral disc and cover plate lying on top of one another.
• FIG. 10 Another embodiment of an intervertebral disc implant according to the invention for an L2 / 3 vertebral segment consists of a cover plate, an intervertebral disc and a base plate as disclosed in FIG. 10.
• the cover plate consists of the titanium alloy Ti-AI6-Nb7 according to ISO 5832-11.
• the surface of the cover plate facing the bone is rough with a Roughness Rz of approx. 55 ⁇ 5 ⁇ m.
• the articulating surface of the cover plate is plano-convex and covered with an approx. 6 ⁇ m thick ceramic coating. Ti-Ca-P or Si-CN-Ti or DLC were used as the ceramic coating.
• the base plate also consists of Ti-AI6-Nb7.
• the surface of the base plate facing the bone is rough with a roughness Rz of approximately 55 ⁇ 5 ⁇ m.
• the contact surface for the intervertebral disc is covered with a ceramic coating made of Ti-Ca-P or Si-C-N-Ti or DLC.
• the layer thickness is approx. 6 ⁇ m.
• the base plate has a guide pin with a diameter of 5.5 mm and a height of 4 mm. The pen is also included
• the cover plate has a convex curvature with a maximum elevation of 3.5 mm on its side facing the bone.
• the cover plate has a pitch angle of 8 degrees and is almost twice as thick on its ventral side as on the dorsal side.
• the base plate also has a bevel of 6 degrees with a tapering shape.
• the intervertebral disc is also made of Ti-AI6-Nb7 according to ISO 5832-11 with a ceramic coating made of Ti-Ca-P or Si-C-N-Ti or DLC.
• the layer thickness is approx. 6 ⁇ m.
• the intervertebral disc On its underside, the intervertebral disc has an oval recess, which has a diameter of 7 mm laterally and a diameter of 10 mm ventral-dorsally.
• the contact area to the cover plate is approx. 440 mm 2 .
• Example 3 A further embodiment of an intervertebral disc implant according to the invention for a Th5 / 6 vertebral segment consists of a cover plate, an intervertebral disc and a base plate as disclosed in FIG. 10.
• the cover plate consists of the titanium alloy Ti-AI6-Nb7 according to ISO 5832-11.
• the surface of the cover plate facing the bone is rough with a roughness Rz of approx. 65 ⁇ 5 ⁇ m.
• the articulating surface of the cover plate is plano-convex and covered with a 4 ⁇ m thick ceramic coating made of Ti-Al-N.
• the base plate also consists of Ti-AI6-Nb7.
• the surface of the base plate facing the bone is rough with a roughness Rz of approximately 65 ⁇ 5 ⁇ m.
• the contact surface for the intervertebral disc is covered with a ceramic coating made of Ti-Al-N.
• the layer thickness is 4 ⁇ m.
• the base plate has a guide pin with a diameter of 6 mm and a height of 4 mm. The pin is also coated with Ti-Al-N.
• the swirl washer is made of UHMWPE or titanium or Ti-AI6-Nb7 according to ISO 5832-11. If titanium is used as the material, the intervertebral disk is completely or at least its articulating surfaces on the top and bottom coated with a ceramic coating made of Ti-Nb-N. The layer thickness is 3 - 5 ⁇ m. If Ti-Al6-Nb7 is used, a ceramic coating of Ti-Al-N is applied at least to the articulating surfaces.
• the intervertebral disc On its underside, the intervertebral disc has an oval recess, which has a diameter of 7 mm laterally and a diameter of 12 mm ventral-dorsally.
• the intervertebral disc can move 0.5 mm in the lateral direction or cover a distance of 1.0 mm in absolute terms, whereas a translation movement of 3 mm is possible in the ventral direction and a translation movement of 3 mm is also possible in the dorsal direction or from the dorsal extreme point a distance of 6 mm to the extreme ventral point can be covered.
• the top and bottom plates are slightly tapered in the dorsal direction, can be rotated up to 2 degrees relative to each other and tilted up to 15 degrees to each other.
• the IHA describes moving movements like in a natural vertebral segment.
• Embodiment degrees of freedom of movement as in the case of a natural vertebral segment, load peaks on the intervertebral disc being avoided even in the case of complex movements due to the spherical surfaces of the intervertebral disc and cover plate lying on top of one another.
• a further embodiment of an intervertebral disc implant according to the invention for a C2 / 3 vertebral segment consists of a cover plate, an intervertebral disc and a base plate as shown in FIG. 11.
• the cover plate and base plate consist of the titanium alloy Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr.
• the surface of the cover plate facing the bone is rough with a roughness Rz of approx. 55 ⁇ 5 ⁇ m.
• the articulating surfaces of the top and bottom plates are provided with an approx. 3 ⁇ m thick coating of Ti-Hf-C-N or Zr-Hf-N.
• the cover plate is plano-concave with a bulge which has a radius of 18 mm.
• the intervertebral disc is made of UHMWPE or titanium or Ti-AI6-Nb7 according to ISO 5832-11 or Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr. If titanium or a titanium alloy is used as the material, the intervertebral washer is completely or at least its articulating surfaces are coated on the top and bottom with a ceramic coating.
• the intervertebral disk is plano-convex with an articulating surface lying on a spherical surface, which has the same radius as the spherical surface on which the articulating surface of the cover plate lies.
• the contact area has a size of at least 400 mm 2 .
• the round recess in the intervertebral disc, which is suitable for receiving the guide pin, has a diameter of 6 mm.
• the cylindrical guide pin attached to the base plate has a height of 3 mm and a diameter of 4 mm. Due to these dimensions, the guide pin or the intervertebral washer on the base plate can move horizontally translationally in all directions starting from a centered position of 1 mm. Rotation is possible up to one degree.
• the artificial cervical vertebral implant is therefore able to perform movements like the natural C2 / 3 vertebral segment, and the current movement center (ICR) and the IHA describe moving movements as with the natural vertebral segment.
• ICR current movement center
• IHA describe moving movements as with the natural vertebral segment.
• the materials and design of the base plate and cover plate are similar to those described in Examples 1-3, with the difference that not one centrally attached fastening means but two or three ventral and / or dorsally and / or laterally offset fastening means are used on the base plate.
• the intervertebral washer not only has a recess for receiving a fastener, but also a plurality of recesses.
• each pin has a diameter of 4 mm and a height of 4 mm.
• the intervertebral disc has two round, oval or crescent-shaped recesses suitable for receiving these pins, which are dimensioned such that the intervertebral disc can carry out translational movements on the base plate in the lateral direction of 1-2 mm and in the ventral-dorsal direction of 2-6 mm ,
• the two pins limit the rotation to approximately 1.5 degrees.
• This configuration also enables motion sequences as in the natural vertebral segment, which can be understood on the basis of the course of the IHA or the ICR.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Neurology (AREA)
• Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
• Cardiology (AREA)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
• Transplantation (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34740520

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (47)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2003
  • 2003-12-31 DE DE10361772A patent/DE10361772B4/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-12-31 DE DE112004002775T patent/DE112004002775D2/de not_active Withdrawn - After Issue
  • 2004-12-31 US US10/585,237 patent/US20070162137A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-12-31 EP EP04803009A patent/EP1699388A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-12-31 WO PCT/DE2004/002839 patent/WO2005063150A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2004-12-31 JP JP2006545918A patent/JP2007516752A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events