Abstract: An evaluation method that includes: recording the values of a physiological signal during a certain measuring period; dividing the obtained time series of signal values into individual segments; mapping successive subsets of the individual signal values in a segment on associated symbol series according to the criterion of whether a respective signal value increases or decreases as compared to the preceding signal value; determining the frequencies of the varying symbol series; determining a testing parameter which reflects the frequency ratio, within a segment, of correlated symbol series to anti-correlated symbol series; determining the relative difference of the testing parameters of two adjacent segments; and comparing the relative difference of two testing parameters with a given threshold as a criterion for the stationarity of the time series of the recorded physiological signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic performance of diagnostic and/or therapeutic actions in body cavities is provided with a base control unit, which is to be arranged extracorporally, and with a catheter-type actuator, which is coupled therewith and which is insertable in the corresponding body cavity and which, in the vicinity of its distal end, is provided with a diagnostically active detection equipment and/or a therapeutically active treatment equipment, and which, at least in the vicinity of its distal end, is provided with an actuation mechanism, which is triggered by the base control unit, for advance and/or twist and turn control of the actuator.

Abstract: A method for the predictive calculation of a cardiac signal course incorporates the following process steps: scanning of the time progression of a cardiac signal during a certain scanning period, calculation of model coefficients according to the method of autoregressive modeling from the scanning values of the scanning period, predictive calculation of anticipated signal values following the scanning period during a prediction period according to the method of autoregressive modeling based on the scanning values and model coefficients, with the signal values calculated iteratively, in each case by entering the last predicted signal value as the last scanning value during the autoregressive modeling.

Abstract: A signal evaluation method for detecting QRS complexes in electrocardiogram signals incorporates the following process steps: sampling of the signal (4) and conversion to discrete signal values (x(n)) in chronological order, determining the sign of each signal value (x(n)), continuous checking of the signs of consecutive signal values (x(n)) for the presence of a zero crossing between two consecutive signal values (x(n)), determining the number (D(n)) of zero crossings in a defined segment (N) of the consecutive signal values (x(n)), and comparing the determined number of zero crossings (D(n)) to a defined threshold value, wherein an undershoot of the threshold value signifying the presence of a QRS complex (5, 6, 7) in the defined segment of the signal curve (4).

Abstract: An operating method for an implantable cardiologic device comprises the following steps for detection of a significant event or condition a patient is subject to: measurement of intracardiac impedance; detection of the morphologic signal course of the impedance, based on at least two morphologically representative parameters of the signal course; continuous storage of the parameter data from a defined measuring period; computation of a correlation coefficient for the stored parameter data; and comparison of the correlation coefficient with a reference correlation coefficient, with transgression of a defined deviation of the correlation coefficient from the reference correlation coefficient indicating the presence of a significant event.

Abstract: A range check array structure for searching and comparing external data from an external search data key is disclosed. The structure has data storage means with at least one of an upper limit field, and a lower limit field, and one or more bit lines running therethrough for transmitting an input data word for comparison with the stored data word range. The input data word being compared with a respective stored data word to detect a match that is indicated along a match line by the check array structure. The check array structure further includes a range match detection means connected to the match line to determine the match or mismatch of the applied data stream with the stored data in each range check cell.

Abstract: A catheter (10, 10′, 10″, 10′″), in particular for insertion into blood vessels of the human body, having at least one sensor (32) which is arranged at the distal end (12) of the catheter (10, 10′, 10″, 10′″) and which is adapted to pick up a spacing signal which is dependent on the spacing of the sensor (32) with respect to the vessel wall, and control means (36, 36′, 36″) which are connected to the sensor for taking over the spacing signal.

Abstract: A method of calculating the heart rate variability of the human heart to be used in an ECG monitor comprises the following procedural steps: scanning of the ECG signal received from the ECG monitor during a scanning interval, determining from the scanned ECG signals a number of discrete measuring values representative of the heart rate variability, and evaluating these measuring values on the basis of the Fourier transformation, wherein the frequency spectre of the measuring values is calculated from the Fourier coefficients of the Fourier transformation, which are for their turn calculated from a combination of said measuring values with the sinus- and cosinus-shaped Fourier vectors of the Fourier transformation wherein the Fourier vectors are involved in the calculation in the form of a number of discrete real numerical vector values, and replacing of the numerical vector values for calculating the frequency spectrumof the scanned measuring values by rough, integral approximate vector values of a limite

Abstract: A catheter for the introduction into blood vessels having a lumen and guide means arranged therein wherein the guide means include a pre-bent wire (26) displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the catheter (10) and the catheter (10) has at its distal end an exit lock means (38) such that the pre-bent wire (26) can issue from the catheter (10) through the exit lock means (38) at the distal end.

Abstract: Method for avoiding the detection of a far-field QRS by the atrial detector of a heart pacemaker or ICD while allowing the detection of a true atrial signal to a maximum possible extent; the method comprising generating a Short Atrial Refractory Period (SARP) following an atrial sensed or paced event by means of a SARP timer, blanking of the atrial detector following a ventricular paced event, generating a Post Ventricular Short Atrial Refractory Period (PVSARP) following a ventricular sensed or paced event by means of a PVSARP timer, generating a temporary decrease in the sensivity of an amplifier for the atrial signal for a time period following the elapse of the mentioned PVSARP, and gradually increasing the sensitivity of the amplifier for the atrial signal after said time period.

Abstract: A method for discriminating between externally-radiated, electromagnetic interference signals and electromedical scanning signals comprises the following steps: the preamplification of the scanning signals by means of two preamplifiers; the comparison of the preamplified scanning signals by a comparator; the phase-sensitive evaluation of the comparator output signal for differentiating between scanning signals and interference signals; the feedback of the comparator output signal to the amplification control of the preamplifiers such that the comparator output signal is minimized when an interference signal is detected.

Abstract: A method for determining the baroreflex provides a non-invasive measurement of cardiac-interval periods, and a mathematical analysis of these measurement values on the basis of non-linear dynamic methods.

Abstract: A telemetry coil arrangement for the telemetric reception of transmitted signals, in particular in cardiologic implants, comprises coils of varying diameters and numbers of windings suited thereto.

Abstract: An ablation arrangement (1) for the targeted production of local lesions in living tissue inside the body, particularly inside the heart, comprising at least one energy source (15), a plurality of energy uncoupling elements (11b to 11g) that are attached to a holding element (11a), a plurality of energy transmission lines (19.1) that connect the energy source or the energy sources to the energy uncoupling elements and switching elements (9.3) that are assigned to the energy transmission lines for setting up or interrupting a connection between the energy source and respectively one energy uncoupling element, with program control means (9.1) for a time-sequential actuation of at least some of the switching elements according to an ablation program.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of controlling the stimulation amplitude of a cardiologic implant which includes a stimulation impedance during delivery of left chamber stimulation pulses in the form of a measured value representative of the delivered stimulation pulse as a criterion for capture; determining and storing a comparative simulation impedance value representative of the stimulation; detecting an amplitude threshold for capture by determination of a significant change in the detected stimulation impedance as compared to the stored comparative stimulation impedance value; and then adjusting the stimulation amplitude on the basis of the detected amplitude threshold.

Abstract: An implantable electronic unit (1, 30, 50), in particular a cardiac pacemaker, having at least one substantially socket-shaped connecting arrangement (3, 32, 33, 52, 53) arranged in the header (2, 31, 51) for a plug disposed at the proximal end of an electrode line (4, 34, 35, 54, 55), a plug receiving means (7, 60, 61) having a contact element (8, 20, 37, 38, 58, 59) for the deferent pole (6, 39, 40, 56, 57) of the plug, wherein the connecting arrangement includes a locking device (15) which secures the fit of the plug in relation to a tensile force acting in the axial direction and which can be operated by a hand lever (11) on the outside of the header.

Abstract: A stent, particularly a coronary stent, which includes at least one thin-walled, tubular body (2), the surface (1) of which is divided into strap-like, expandable elements (4,4′,4″,4′″,4″″) extending in the longitudinal direction of the stent and expandable in the circumferential direction thereof and, which elements are linked by at least one joining strap (6,6′). Two expandable elements (4,4′,4″,4′″,4″″) are juxtaposed in the circumferential direction of the stent and, by means of an end attachment (8), with the end face (4.4′) of an expandable element (4,4′,4″,4′″,4″″) adjoining in the longitudinal direction of the stent. The surface (1) in the non-expanded condition is substantially free of apertures and is divided by partition lines (3), which have a considerably smaller width compared with the strap width of the expandable elements (4,4′,4″,4′″,4″″).