You guys are not going to believe this.... I just received an email with a positive reply from Dr. Karin Buettner-Janz. I am planning on having her as the lunch speaker to tell us about the development of the SB-Charite' artificial disc. During the mid-80's, she and Kurt Schellnack developed of the first viable total disc replacement at the Charite' Hospital in Berlin... hence the name SB Charite'.
Remember that this occurred before the Berlin Wall fell. They did not have the technology in East Germany to produce a viable product. Many of you have seen the disc referred to as the Link-Charite. Helmut Link's West-German engineering firm did have the know-how and technology to help tranform the SB Charite into the Link SB Charite III that is still in use today. This collaboration across the Berlin Wall was no small feat. It makes a fascinating story.
Dr. Buettner-Janz competed in the 68 and 72 Olympics for GDR (East Germany). She has 7 Olympic medals including 2 gold. She has won 7 medals at European Championships, including 3 gold. She was the European All Around Champion in 1969. At the world championships, she has won 3 medals, including 1 gold.
http://www.gymn-forum.com/bios/women/janz.html
http://www.intlgymnast.com/events/20...ions/janz.html
Mark