1. Apparatus for ultrasonic processing of workpieces (1), comprising: a converter plate (11), at least one feed unit (8, 9, 10) mounted on said converter plate, at least one vibratory structure (5, 6, 7), said structure being coupled to said feed unit and having a converter (5a, 6a, 7a), a sonotrode (5b, 6b, 7b) and a longitudinal axis, and adjusting means for adjusting said vibratory structure (5, 6, 7) in at least two directions transversely to its longitudinal axis, said adjusting means including a plurality of fixing means (14, 14a) arranged in the manner of a raster on said converter plate (11) in such a manner that said feed unit (8, 9, 10) can be fixed on the adapter plate (11) with the aid of at least one fixing means (14, 14a) selected from said plurality of fixing means (14, 14a).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixing means consist of openings (14, 14a).
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said feed unit (8, 9, 10) has a mounting flange (8a, 9a, 10a) adapted to be fixed to said adapter plate (11), said flange having at least one passage (15) for reception of a fixing screw (12) associated with a selected opening (14, 14a).
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said mounting flange (8a, 9a, 10a) has at least two passages (15) spaced in correspondence with the raster (a).
5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said openings (14a) consist of parallel first slots and said passage (15) consists of a second slot.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein both said first and said second slots (14a, 15) form said adjusting means.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting means has a predetermined maximum range of adjustment, said raster has a spacing (a) and said spacing (a) is made at the most equal to said maximum range of adjustment.
8. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said openings (14) consist of circular holes and said passages (15) consist of first slots and in that an intermediate plate (17) arranged between said converter plate (11) and said mounting flange (8a, 9a, 10a) is provided and has at least one second slot (18) such that the intermediate plate (17) can be fixed on said converter plate (11), adjustable in a first direction, by a fixing screw (16) passing through said first slot (18) and associated with a selected opening (14) and said mounting flange (8a) can be fixed on said intermediate plate (17), adjustable in a second direction, by means of at least one further fixing screw (12) passing through a first slot (15).
9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting means for a coarse adjustment (14, 15, 18) and also means (20) for a fine adjustment are provided.
10. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first and said second slots (15, 18) form said means for coarse adjustment.
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said means for coarse adjustment have a predetermined maximum range of adjustment and the raster has a spacing (a) of the openings, said spacing being made at the most equal to said maximum range of adjustment.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said fixing means include threaded studs.
13. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 12, wherein said fixing means include threaded bores.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A spinal implant, comprising:
a curved plate having a posterior side and an anterior side, the plate having at least two elongated upper fastening holes and at least two elongated lower fastening holes, and a generally rectangular inspection opening; and
at least two tapered prongs on the plate which extend in a posterior direction away from the plate.
2. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the prongs include surface roughenings on at least one edge.
3. The spinal implant of claim 2, wherein the surface roughenings comprise a sawtooth pattern.
4. The spinal implant of claim 3, wherein the sawtooth pattern comprises a plurality of teeth which lean in the anterior direction.
5. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the prongs are curved.
6. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the upper fastening holes are each approximately the same distance from the upper edge of the plate, and the lower fastening holes are each approximately the same distance from the lower edge of the plate
7. The spinal implant of claim 6, wherein the fastening holes are each approximately the same distance from a vertical centerline of the plate.
8. A spinal implant, comprising:
a plate having a posterior side and an anterior side, the plate having a plurality of fastening holes and an inspection opening; and
at least two prongs on the posterior side of the plate which extend in a posterior direction away from the plate, each prong being formed of a solid piece of material.
9. The implant of claim 8, wherein the prongs have tapered upper and lower edges.
10. The implant of claim 9, wherein the fastening holes are elongated.
11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the inspection opening is generally rectangular.
12. The implant of claim 11, wherein the prongs are curved and include surface roughenings on at least one edge.
13. The implant of claim 8, wherein the plate is curved.
14. The spinal implant of claim 8, wherein the fastening holes comprise upper fastening holes and lower fastening holes, the upper fastening holes each being approximately the same distance from the upper edge of the plate, and the lower fastening holes each being approximately the same distance from the lower edge of the plate.
15. The spinal implant of claim 14, wherein the fastening holes are each approximately the same distance from a vertical centerline of the plate.
16. A method of stabilizing the spinal column, comprising:
obtaining a graft;
obtaining an implant plate with a posterior side and an anterior side, the plate having a plurality of fastening holes, at least one inspection opening, and at least two prongs which extend in the posterior direction away from the plate;
inserting the graft between the prongs;
inserting the implant plate and the graft into the space between two adjacent vertebrae; and
passing fasteners through the fastening holes and into the vertebrae to secure the implant to the vertebrae.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of passing fasteners through the implant plate and into the graft to secure the graft to the plate.