Abstract: An intravenous oxygenator for enriching blood with oxygen, said oxygenator having a bundle of fibers, said fibers being each connected to a gas supply means through a first connection and to a gas evacuation means through a second connection, with the fiber bundle being twisted during operation by relative rotation of the first connections of the fibers relative to the second connections of the fibers about a longitudinal axis of the oxygenator. Further, an intravenous oxygenator for insertion into a vein, the connections being respectively connected to a first and to a second fiber holder and being displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the oxygenator, with the fiber holders being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the oxygenator. Such a constellation permits particularly efficient gas exchange.

Abstract: An intravenous oxygenator for enriching blood with oxygen, said oxygenator having a bundle of fibers, said fibers being each connected to a gas supply means through a first connection and to a gas evacuation means through a second connection, with the fiber bundle being twisted during operation by relative rotation of the first connections of the fibers relative to the second connections of the fibers about a longitudinal axis of the oxygenator. Further, an intravenous oxygenator for insertion into a vein, the connections being respectively connected to a first and to a second fiber holder and being displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the oxygenator, with the fiber holders being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the oxygenator. Such a constellation permits particularly efficient gas exchange.

Abstract: A pump and a method for operating a pump is proposed for mounting an impeller, which is inexpensive, free from contact and wear and thus extremely permanent. For this the invention uses a combination of permanent magnetic bearings and flow-mechanical bearings. The mounting is thus based on purely passive elements without using actively controlled and/or regulated elements.

Abstract: An intravenous oxygenator for enriching blood with oxygen, said oxygenator having a bundle of fibers, said fibers being each connected to a gas supply means through a first connection and to a gas evacuation means through a second connection, with the fiber bundle being twisted during operation by relative rotation of the first connections of the fibers relative to the second connections of the fibers about a longitudinal axis of the oxygenator. Further, an intravenous oxygenator for insertion into a vein, the connections being respectively connected to a first and to a second fiber holder and being displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the oxygenator, with the fiber holders being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the oxygenator. Such a constellation permits particularly efficient gas exchange.

Abstract: The balloon catheter comprises a catheter tube (10) provided with a high pressure balloon (14) designed for performing a vessel dilatation. Further provided is at least one low pressure balloon (17) joining the high pressure balloon (14) and expanded with a lower pressure. Thereby, the stress acting on the blood vessel at the ends of the high pressure balloon (14) or a stent (20) is decreased, thus reducing the danger of dissections of the vessel wall.

Abstract: The inventive device consists of a disk which can be rotated around a central axis, a wobble pin which is mounted in the disk so that can rotate around an axis which is arranged at an angle in relation to the plane, of said disk, a swivel pin which is secured to the wobble pin at an angle in relation to the axis thereof, and a fastening device which prevents the swivel pin from rotating around the axis of the disk. This mechanism forms a gear enabling a rotational unidirectional movement to be translated into a back-and-forth movement in applications where limited height is available. The preferred area of application is in implantable blood pumps.

Abstract: A blood pump having a motor housing and a pump housing which are rigidly connected to one another in an axially spaced relationship. Both housings are of substantially the same diameter and are sized to enable the pump to be introduced via catheter through the body's blood-vessel system. The impeller is mounted in the pump housing on a longitudinally and radially acting bearing designed as a point-support bearing. To avoid oscillation of the impeller, it is fitted with an alignment device which may have a hydrodynamic or mechanical action. Rotation of the motor is transferred to the impeller via a magnetic coupling.

Abstract: The blood pump (BP) has an elongate tubular pump housing (10) wherein a motor (16) is arranged that drives a pump impeller wheel (22), the pump housing having an inlet (12) at one end and an outlet (18) at the opposite end. The motor (16) comprises a motor housing (15) sealed off against the blood flow. The pump impeller wheel (22) is located at the end of the motor housing (15) facing the inlet (12) and, together with a transition portion (13) of the pump housing (10), forms a rotary pump flown through diagonally, which creates an axial flow flowing around the motor housing (15). Here, the blood flow exclusively flows between stationary parts, thereby reducing the risk of blood decay caused by shear stresses.

Abstract: A cannula for use as for example on the inflow end of an implantable intravascular heart pump. The stiffness of the cannula is differentiated along its length, wherein its proximal end is stiffer than its distal end, while a substantially constant wall thickness is maintained along its entire length. Attached to the flexible distal end, is a rigid tip component having inlet ports and an interior surface profile that minimizes the risk of hemolysis and thrombogenisis.

Abstract: An intravascular microaxial pump has an integrated configuration that enables both the drive unit as well as the pumping segment to be advanced through a patient's vasculature. The device includes elements that enhance pumping efficiency and performance while minimizing shear and cavitation. Cost reduction is achieved in the reusability of certain components while a manufacturing method reduces the labor involved in the pump's assembly.

Abstract: An intravascular microaxial pump has an integrated configuration that enables both the drive unit as well as the pumping segment to be advanced through a patient's vasculature. The device includes elements that enhance pumping efficiency and performance while minimizing shear and cavitation. Cost reduction is achieved in the reusability of certain components while a manufacturing method reduces the labor involved in the pump's assembly.

Abstract: A magnetically-driven centrifugal blood pump includes a housing and an impeller mounted for rotation within. The impeller includes a generally disk-shaped base plate and a plurality of curvilinear vanes extending axially upward therefrom. The vanes project radially outward from the base plate approximately one-third of their curvilinear length. The housing includes a rear wall spaced from the impeller base plate across a constant gap, with a sloped transition wall surrounding the rear wall and joining it to a peripheral wall. A tangential outlet is provided in the peripheral wall. A front wall extends inward from the peripheral wall with a slight conicity to an axial inlet. The vanes each have a front edge which slopes away from the front wall in the radially outward direction to provide a widening gap therebetween. The vanes have inner ends which together define a vane-free inner region below and slightly larger than the inlet.

Abstract: In a pump housing (10), the blood pump comprises an impeller (13) with a flat plate (30) and blades (34) projecting therefrom. The impeller (13) is supported between balls (18,20) forming an axial sliding bearing. The front wall (35) and the back wall (14) of the pump housing extend substantially parallel to the plate (30) of the impeller (13). The height of the blades (34) linearly decreases with increasing radius so that the gap between the front wall (35) and the blades (34) increases outwards. Since the circumferential speed increases as well, the shearing rate remains constant. Between the plate (30) of the impeller and the back wall (14), a gap of constant width is provided, in which secondary flows are produced, thereby avoiding dead water zones.

Abstract: A method of producing flexible closing members, especially artificial heart valves, and a flexible closing member, especially an artificial heart valve, which can be produced according to such a method. According to the method of producing the housing of the closing member is radially expanded, the closing element of the closing member is formed as substantially plane two-dimensional element, and the plane two-dimensional element is connected to the housing in the expanded condition of the same. This method is preferably realized as dip method according to which the closing element is shaped and formed to the housing in a single working step. The described flexible closing member is an artificial three-sail heart valve which is characterized by a special shape of the three closing elements.

Abstract: A blood pump housing (43) accommodates at least one piston (21a,21b) driven by a coupling point (19a,19b) on a triangular closed hypocycloidal path (Z.sub.a, Z.sub.b). The piston (21a,21b) is provided for periodically pressing and releasing a blood chamber (37a,37b). One of the corners of the triangular closed hypocycloidal path (Z.sub.a,Z.sub.b) is directed towards the piston (21a,21b), so that the piston movements substantially consist of three periods, i.e. an advance stroke period, a return stroke period and a stationary stroke period.

Abstract: A method of producing flexible closing members, especially artificial heart valves, and a flexible closing member, especially an artificial heart valve, which can be produced according to such a method. According to the method of producing the housing of the closing member is radially expanded, the closing element of the closing member is formed as substantially plane two-dimensional element, and the plane two-dimensional element is connected to the housing in the expanded condition of the same. This method is preferably realized as dip method according to which the closing element is shaped and formed to the housing in a single working step. The described flexible closing member is an artificial three-sail heart valve which is characterized by a special shape of the three closing elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the partial pressure of a gas dissolved in a fluid which includes a catheter consisting of a double bored coaxial catheter having an outer tube and a spaced coaxial inner tube, the outer tube being permeable to the gas being measured, together with a pump for delivering a continuous flow of a carrier fluid into the space between the inner tube and the outer tube. A measuring device is located downstream of the catheter for determining the partial pressure of the gas in the carrier fluid. A mass transfer unit receives the gas after the measuring device and is arranged to bring the partial pressure of the gas in the carrier fluid to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis, the inner surface of the valve ring of which continuously narrows in flow direction, is provided with a special manner of supporting the closing members. The valve ring is provided with sector-shaped recesses into which a respective oblong journal pin of the closing member extends. In the opening and closing movement, the journal pin sweeps the bottom of the recess like a windshield wiper. Thus, a formation of thrombi in the vicinity of the bearings is prevented.

Abstract: An antithrombogenic, non-calcifying, and elastic material on a basis of polyurethane, characterized by the addition of fatty-acid esters and optionally by the further addition of cross-linking agents that react with water.

Abstract: In a cardiac valve prosthesis, the journal pins, by which the closing body is supported to be swiveled in the valve ring, are received in through holes of the valve ring and can be moved into different positions in these through holes. Thereby, the journal pins are subjected to a circumfluent blood streams, reducing the danger of thrombi being formed at the supporting areas.