1. Connecting element (1) for a friction-welded connection for connecting at least two plate-like components (8, 9), having a centering part (4) for centering and guiding the connecting element (1) that is rotated and subjected to pressure as a mandrel (2) penetrates the top component(s) (8), with the length of said mandrel (2) being adapted to the thickness of said top component(s) (8), characterized in that said centering part protrudes as a pin (4, 13, 16) from a substantially flat cross-sectional surface (6, 12) of said mandrel (2) transitioning into the friction-welded connection and is formed so short and thin with respect to the length of the mandrel (2) that, after penetrating the top component(s), the material of said centering part will soften and the centering part will thus practically completely transition into the friction-welded connection.
2. Connecting element according to claim 1, wherein said mandrel (2) has a recess (14) which surrounds the centering part (13) and serves to contain any softened material removed from said centering part (13).
3. Connecting element according to claim 1, wherein said pin (4) is cylindrical in shape.
4. Connecting element according to claim 1, wherein said pin (16) is conical in shape.
5. Connecting element of according to claims 1, wherein said pin (18) has a central recess (19).
6. Connecting element according to claim 2, wherein said pin (4) is cylindrical in shape.
7. Connecting element according to claim 2, wherein said pin (16) is conical in shape.
8. Connecting element of according to claim 2, wherein said pin (18) has a central recess (19).
9. Connecting element of according to claim 3, wherein said pin (18) has a central recess (19).
10. Connecting element of according to claim 4, wherein said pin (18) has a central recess (19).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A thin cutter blade for use in an intervertebral disc space, the cutter blade created at least in part from a shape memory material and having a shape memory of a shape that the cutter blade assumes when not constrained from doing so and the cutter blade comprising:
a proximal arm with a first longitudinal portion with a first cutter blade connection for use in affixing the proximal arm to a cutter assembly, the proximal arm also having a blade arm portion with at least one cutting edge;
a distal arm, distinct from the proximal arm with a second longitudinal portion with a second cutter blade connection for use in connecting the second longitudinal portion to the cutter assembly, the proximal arm also having a blade arm portion with at least one cutting edge;
a layer of retaining film positioned between the distal arm and the proximal arm and affixed to both the distal arm and the proximal arm; and
a connection between the blade arm portion of the proximal arm and the blade arm portion of the distal arm.
2. The thin cutter blade of claim 1 wherein:
the proximal arm also having a blade arm portion with at least one cutting edge on an external surface of the proximal arm that is the surface on the opposite side from a distal arm; and
the proximal arm also having a blade arm portion with at least one cutting edge on an external surface of the distal arm, that is the surface on the opposite side from the proximal arm.
3. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the first cutter blade connection is a slot.
4. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the second cutter blade connection is a slot.
5. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the connection between the blade arm portions is a rivet.
6. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the connection between the blade arm portions is at least two rivets.
7. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the distal arm has a second cutting edge on the external surface of the distal arm, such that the distal arm is adapted to be connected to a cutter shaft and when the extended cutter blade is rotated around the centerline of a long axis of the cutter shaft the distal arm has a cutting edge for use with clockwise rotation and a cutting edge for use with counterclockwise rotation.
8. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the proximal arm has a second cutting edge on the external surface of the proximal arm, such that the proximal arm is adapted to be connected to a cutter shaft and when the extended cutter blade is rotated around the centerline of a long axis of the cutter shaft the proximal arm has at least one cutting edge for use with clockwise rotation and at least one cutting edge for use with counterclockwise rotation.
9. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the angle between the proximal arm blade arm portion and the proximal arm longitudinal portion is in the range of about 25 to about 155 degrees.
10. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the angle between the proximal arm blade arm portion and the proximal arm longitudinal portion is in the range of about 25 to about 90 degrees.
11. The thin cutter blade of claim 2 wherein the angle between the proximal arm blade arm portion and the proximal arm longitudinal portion is in the range of about 90 to about 155 degrees.
12. The thin cutter blade of claim 1 wherein the retaining film is adhered to both the distal arm and the proximal arm.
13. The thin cutter blade of claim 12 wherein connections between the proximal arm and the distal arm pass through the retaining film and the retaining film has an opening aligned with the first cutter blade connection and the second cutter blade connection.
14. The thin cutter blade of claim 1 wherein the distal arm has a cutting edge recessed from an external surface of the distal arm, that is the surface on the opposite side from the proximal arm.
15. The thin cutter blade of claim 1 wherein the proximal arm has a cutting edge recessed from an external surface of the proximal arm, that is the surface on the opposite side from the distal arm.
16. The thin cutter blade of claim 1 wherein the connection between the blade arm portion of the proximal arm and the blade arm portion of the distal arm maintains the blade arm portion of the proximal arm in sufficient proximity with the blade arm portion of the distal arm such that thin cutter blade does not have an opening between the blade arm portion of the proximal arm and the blade arm portion of the distal arm sufficient to allow intervertebral disc space material to pass through the opening as the thin cutter blade is rotated in the intervertebral disc space.
17. The thin cutter blade of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the thin cutter blade as measured from the external surface of the proximal arm along the blade arm portion to the external surface of the distal arm along the blade arm portion is between about 0.030 inches to about 0.116 inches.