A method for performing a cranioplasty includes the steps of prefabricating a sonolucent craniofacial implant based upon information generated by preoperative scans, creating a cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect, and attaching the craniofacial implant to the cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect. The craniofacial implant is composed of a material that is sonolucent and exhibits attenuation of less than 6 dB/cm.

A method for performing a cranioplasty includes the steps of prefabricating a sonolucent craniofacial implant based upon information generated by preoperative scans, creating a cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect, and attaching the craniofacial implant to the cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect. The craniofacial implant is composed of a material that is sonolucent and exhibits attenuation of less than 6 dB/cm.

The present invention relates to a safety element, an implant comprising such a safety element and an implant system comprising an implant with the safety element. The safety element for an implant is arranged between an outer and inner part of an implant, wherein the safety element engages into the gearing of an expansion ring, wherein a releasing space between outer part and inner part of the implant is provided into that the safety element is to be radially moved for enabling rotation of the expansion ring.

An assembly for imaging and/or treating brain tissue, having at least one acoustic window which comprises a plate that is transparent to ultrasonic waves, and at least one positioning marker which facilitates positioning of a probe for generating ultrasonic waves so as to be aligned with said acoustic window.

A method for performing a cranioplasty includes the steps of prefabricating a sonolucent craniofacial implant based upon information generated by preoperative scans, creating a cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect, and attaching the craniofacial implant to the cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect. The craniofacial implant is composed of a material that is sonolucent and exhibits attenuation of less than 6 dB/cm.

The present invention relates to a partial joint replacement (1000), encompassing a shell-like segment (100) with a concave inner contour (3) for the arrangement on at the bone structure of a patient, wherein the segment (100) comprises a lateral section (5) and a medial section (7) along a longitudinal direction (x), and wherein the outer contour (1) of the segment (100) comprise in longitudinal direction (x) at least one inflection point (9).

A method for single-stage cranioplasty reconstruction includes prefabricating a clear craniofacial implant, creating a cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect, positioning the clear craniofacial implant over the cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect, tracing cut lines on the clear craniofacial implant as it lies over the cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect, cutting the prefabricated clear custom craniofacial implant along the hand-marked lines for optimal fit of the clear implant within the cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect, and attaching the final clear craniofacial implant to the cranial, craniofacial, and/or facial defect with standard fixation methods of today.

The present invention includes markers for use in implants that have a variable lucency or radiolucency. The use of a variably lucent marker can provide a surgeon a quick indication of the implant's alignment during implantation. A variably lucent marker can also provide a doctor or technician a quick indicator of an implant's position during post-operation imaging.

The variably lucent markers can be used in any implant that has some level of lucency when viewed through an imaging device. The variably lucent markers can be used in the lattice with increased or optimized lucency disclosed herein or in other structure known in the art.

The biocompatible lattice structures disclosed herein have an increased or optimized lucency, even when constructed from a metallic material. The lattice structures can also provide an increased or optimized lucency in a material that is not generally considered to be radiolucent.

The biocompatible lattice structures disclosed herein with an increased or optimized lucency are prepared according to multiple methods of design disclosed herein. The methods allow for the design of a metallic material with sufficient strength for use in an implant and that remains radiolucent for x-ray imaging.