Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of preventing or alleviating high venous pressure in a patient, the method comprising the steps of implanting a first biocompatible scaffold into the lumen of the vena cava inferior (VCI) of the patient, preferably at a site between the right atrium and the ostium of the hepatic veins; optionally implanting a second biocompatible scaffold into the lumen of the first biocompatible scaffold; and placement of a first valve into the lumen of the first or second biocompatible scaffold; wherein the biocompatible scaffolds and the first valve are configured and arranged to permit blood flow towards a right atrium of the patient and to prevent blood flow in an opposite direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a proteasome inhibitor for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention, onset therapy, acute therapy and/or regression of diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction. The present invention also relates to the use of a proteasome inhibitor as a low-dose treatment.

Abstract: A cover for an opening in the roof surface of a motor vehicle including a glass pane which is provided with peripheral foam at its bottom surface in the edge area at least over a part of the periphery. On the edge of the peripheral foam which points toward the middle of the glass pane, an undercut is formed between the bottom surface of the glass pane and the peripheral foam, the undercut extending at least 3 mm into the peripheral foam. A method for manufacturing such a cover is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least one proteasome inhibitor, preferably in the form of a threonine protease inhibitor, in the treatment of fibrotic diseases, espeially fibrotic diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Abstract: A cardiac pacemaker has a pulse generator which emits stimulation pulses which are respectively separated by stimulation intervals and which collectively have an average duration. A modulation device alternatingly shortens and lengthens the stimulation intervals, without changing the average duration. An evaluation unit analyzes signals detected after each stimulation pulse and determines the electric restitution of the heart at the average stimulation interval duration on the basis of a measurement of the duration of the action potential. Changes in a measuring variable, associated with the duration of the action potential, caused by the modulation of the stimulation intervals is determined in a relationship to the average duration of the stimulation interval. This relationship is compared with at least one predetermined value, and the average duration of the stimulation interval is controlled on the basis of this comparison.

Abstract: A cover for an opening in the roof surface of a motor vehicle including a glass pane which is provided with peripheral foam at its bottom surface in the edge area at least over a part of the periphery. On the edge of the peripheral foam which points toward the middle of the glass pane, an undercut is formed between the bottom surface of the glass pane and the peripheral foam, the undercut extending at least 3 mm into the peripheral foam. A method for manufacturing such a cover is also provided.

Abstract: A device for foaming around a transparent pane for a motor vehicle roof, including a top tool having a top shaping structure mounted on a top carrier, and a bottom tool having a bottom shaping structure mounted on a bottom carrier. The shaping structures act as a boundary for the area to be peripherally foamed, and the top tool and the bottom tool are made adjustable relative to one another for inserting or removing the pane and the interchangeable bottom shaping structure. The top shaping structure is also interchangeable to enable matching of the peripheral foaming device to different size and shape panes to be peripherally foamed.

Abstract: A device for foaming around a transparent pane for a motor vehicle roof, including a top tool having a top shaping structure mounted on a top carrier, and a bottom tool having a bottom shaping structure mounted on a bottom carrier. The shaping structures act as a boundary for the area to be peripherally foamed, and the top tool and the bottom tool are made adjustable relative to one another for inserting or removing the pane and the interchangeable bottom shaping structure. The top shaping structure is also interchangeable to enable matching of the peripheral foaming device to different size and shape panes to be peripherally foamed.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for operating an implantable cardiac pacemaker, the stimulation rate is modulated, while a patient in whom the pacemaker is implanted is experiencing a number of different levels of physical stress, and a number of signal sequences corresponding to a non-mechanical physiological characteristic are obtained, one sequence being obtained for each physical stress level. These signal sequences form a reference field, which is stored in the pacemaker. A current signal sequence of the non-mechanical physiological characteristic is subsequently obtained, and this signal sequence is compared to all of the signal sequences in the stored reference field, and one of the reference field signal sequences having the highest correlation with the current signal sequence is selected. The stimulation rate is then set at a rate equal to the basic stimulation rate for the modulation which produced the highest correlating sequence in the reference field.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for a cardiac defibrillator includes one or more physiological sensors disposed in an electrode carrier for planar application against the exterior of the heart. The sensor contained in the electrode carrier is connected to a housing, containing a defibrillation power source and signal processing circuitry, via a sensor line, and the electrical signals obtained from the sensor are used for controlling operation of the defibrillator.

Abstract: An apparatus for impedance measurement of body tissue has a signal source which impresses an electrical signal in body tissue, circuitry for acquiring an impedance signal from the body tissue dependent on the impressed electrical signal, and an evaluation stage for evaluating the impedance signal by filtering higher frequency components and low frequency components from the impedance signal which correspond to the conductance of the tissue. A correction stage corrects the high frequency signal components with the low frequency signal components by eliminating the higher frequency signal components of influences due to changes in the tissue conductance. The corrected signal is supplied at an output of the correction stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the impedance of body tissue has a signal source connected to the tissue to be measured which supplies an electrical signal to the tissue, a unit for acquiring an impedance signal from the body tissue dependent on the electrical signal, and an evaluation stage for the impedance signal. The evaluation stage filters out low frequency signal components corresponding to the conductance of the tissue, and has a signal output to which the signal components which were filtered out are supplied.

Abstract: The stimulation frequency of a heart pacemaker is controlled dependent on a signal representative of the blood oxygen content of the patient. The blood oxygen dependent signal is generated by a blood oxygen sensor. A temperature sensor generates a separate signal dependent on blood temperature. The blood oxygen and blood temperature signals are combined such that the blood oxygen signal is lowered, i.e., the value thereof is reduced, in ranges of higher physical load indicated by an increase in the temperature dependent signal. The combined signal is used to control the stimulation frequency of a heart pacemaker so that the stimulation frequency is increased, if blood oxygen saturation is decreasing and/or blood temperature is increasing.