Abstract: Toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush comprising a brush which comprises a bristled dome joined to an annular carrier, wherein the bristled dome comprises a supporting dome having a convex outer surface, and bristles which extend outwards from the convex outer surface, and wherein the bristled dome is a monolithic structure comprising fused bristles. The brush can be substantially hemi-spherical, and the head can comprise one or two such brushes.

Abstract: A customizable implant made of plastic including a thermoplastic which is reinforced with long fibers arranged multidirectionally in a targeted manner and has a modulus of elasticity E of 10-70 GPa is provided. A system for producing a customizable implant including a device for collecting patient data regarding the environment into which an implant is to be inserted, a computer program for creating a model for a customized implant based on the patient data collected, and a device for producing the customized implant based on the calculated model by means of 3D printing and/or laser sintering is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biomaterials, more particularly to the field of poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) based nano- and microfibers. The present invention provides a novel method for producing ready-to-use poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) based nano/microfibers, wherein the method comprises electrospinning of poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) homopolymers or copolymers generated by anionic polymerization of alkyl cyanoacrylate monomers or oligomers and characterized by a specific polydispersity index. Accordingly, the present invention also provides novel ready-to-use nano/microfibers obtainable by the method as well as uses thereof, including (therapeutic) biomedical applications such as wound healing, drug delivery and tissue regeneration and engineering.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implant preform made of plastic, which comprises an assembly of at least one biocompatible—being intended for contact with a biological material—thermoplastic plastics unit (A) having an elasticity modulus EA and at least one thermoplastic plastics unit (B) having an elasticity modulus EB, where for the elasticity moduli of these plastics units EA<EB, and the plastics units in their assembly zone are seamlessly connected thermally to one another. The invention also relates to the production of the implant preform made of plastic and also to the use of the implant preform as an implant or for fabrication of an implant therefrom, more particularly to the use thereof as a dental implant or for fabrication of a dental implant. The invention can also be applied to other bone implants.

Abstract: A customizable implant made of plastic including a thermoplastic which is reinforced with long fibers arranged multidirectionally in a targeted manner and has a modulus of elasticity E of 10-70 GPa is provided. A system for producing a customizable implant including a device for collecting patient data regarding the environment into which an implant is to be inserted, a computer program for creating a model for a customized implant based on the patient data collected, and a device for producing the customized implant based on the calculated model by means of 3D printing and/or laser sintering is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implant preform made of plastic, which comprises an assembly of at least one biocompatible—being intended for contact with a biological material—thermoplastic plastics unit (A) having an elasticity modulus EA and at least one thermoplastic plastics unit (B) having an elasticity modulus EB, where for the elasticity moduli of these plastics units EA<EB, and the plastics units in their assembly zone are seamlessly connected thermally to one another. The invention also relates to the production of the implant preform made of plastic and also to the use of the implant preform as an implant or for fabrication of an implant therefrom, more particularly to the use thereof as a dental implant or for fabrication of a dental implant. The invention can also be applied to other bone implants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metallic implant, which has vitreous-crystalline bioactive material on the surface thereof. According to the invention, a metallic implant base body arranged on the surface of the particles has a bioactive, vitreous-crystalline material consisting of 15-45 wt. % CaO, 40-45 wt. % P2O5, 10-40 wt. % ZrO2 and 0.7-3.5 wt. % fluoride, having apatite and calcium zirconium phosphate as main crystalline and a glass phase as an auxiliary component. Said vitreous crystalline material contains at least 35 wt. % main crystal phases and at least 5-15 wt. % auxiliary compounds. All of the percentage data is expressed in relation to the total weight of the vitreous crystalline material and the particle size of the vitreous crystalline material is between 60-350 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of an adhesive and an adhesive kit for joining similar or different metal surfaces or ceramics, especially in the field of biomedicine. The objective of the invention is to avoid polymerization-linked by-products and disadvantageous effects, in addition to enabling a temporary biocompatible bond between metal and metal or metal and ceramics. The inventive method consist in using a monomer-free polymethylmethacrylate which is mixed with a suitable, non-toxic solvent and a bioactive vitreous-crystalline material with a particle size ranging from 0.05–20?, consisting of 15–45 wt. % CaO, 40–45 wt. % P2O5, 10–40 wt. % ZrO2 and 0.7–3.5 wt. % fluoride, having apatite and calcium zircon phosphate as main crystal phases and a glass phase as an auxiliary component until a flowable mixture is obtained. The invention also relates to an adhesive kit consisting of said components.

Abstract: A method for producing a bioactive bone cement and a bone cement kit for anchoring artificial joints and for filling out bone defects. The method avoids polymerization-linked by-products and disadvantageous effects, while at the same time providing the bone cement with long-term stability. The inventive method uses a monomer-free polymethylmethacrylate, which is mixed with a suitable non-toxic solvent, and a bioactive, vitreous-crystalline material with a particle size ranging from >20 to 200 ?m, having 15–45 wt. % CaO, 40–45 wt. % P2O5, 10–40 wt. % ZrO2 and 0.7–3.5 wt. % fluoride, having apatite and calcium zircon phosphate as main crystal phases and a glass phase as an auxiliary component until a flowable mixture is obtained. The invention also relates to a bone cement kit having said components.

Abstract: A dental cleaning implement such as a toothbrush, having longitudinally disposed first and second parts flexibly joined together. Between the first and second parts is a rotatable member such that when the implement bends the first parts adjacent to the member bear upon the member. The rotatable member has circumferentially disposed relatively softer and harder regions, so that as the member is rotated the parts can be caused to bear compressibly upon selected softer or harder regions.

Abstract: A toothbrush having a head which carries a dental cleaning tool, and a grip handle, the head and handle being disposed along a longitudinal head-handle axis, the toothbrush having a resiliently flexible structure which can resiliently bend under the action of toothbrushing pressure and having adjustment means comprising a longitudinally moveable stiffening member which can be moved longitudinally into greater or lesser engagement with the resiliently flexible structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified recombinant allergen mutants which can be obtained from recombinant allergens which are derived from allergens which can be obtained by extraction from natural raw materials such as pollen of the species Phleum pratense. While these modified recombinant allergens stimulate lymphocytes from patients who are allergic to pollent to proliferate and synthesize cytokines, they exhibit a markedly diminished ability to bind to the IgE antibodies which are present in the serum of the T lymphocyte donors and to grass pollen allergen-specific IgEs and can therefore be used for a specific, made-to-release allergy therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of an adhesive and an adhesive kit for joining similar or different metal surfaces or ceramics, especially in the field of biomedicine. The objective of the invention is to avoid polymerization-linked by-products and disadvantageous effects, in addition to enabling a temporary biocompatible bond between metal and metal or metal and ceramics. The inventive method consist in using a monomer-free polymethylmethacrylate which is mixed with a suitable, non-toxic solvent and a bioactive vitreous-crystalline material with a particle size ranging from 0.05-20&mgr;, consisting of 15-45 wt. % CaO, 40-45 wt. % P2O5, 10-40 wt. % ZrO2 and 0.7-3.5 wt. % fluoride, having apatite and calcium zircon phosphate as main crystal phases and a glass phase as an auxiliary component until a flowable mixture is obtained. The invention also relates to an adhesive kit consisting of said components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a bioactive bone cement and a bone cement kit for anchoring artificial joints and for filling out bone defects. The objective of the invention is to avoid polymerization-linked by-products and disadvantageous effects, while at the same time providing the bone cement with long-term stability. The inventive method consists in using a monomer-free polymethylmethacrylate which is mixed with a suitable non-toxic solvent, and a bioactive, vitreous-crystalline material with a particle size ranging from >20 to 200 &mgr;m, consisting of 15-45 wt. % CaO, 40-45 wt. % P2O5, 10-40 wt. % ZrO2 and 0.7-3.5 wt. % fluoride, having apatite and calcium zircon phosphate as main crystal phases and a glass phase as an auxiliary component until a flowable mixture is obtained. The invention also relates to a bone cement kit consisting of said components.

Abstract: A dental cleaning implement such as a toothbrush, having longitudinally disposed first and second parts flexibly joined together. Between the first and second parts is a rotatable member such that when the implement bends the first parts adjacent to the member bear upon the member. The rotatable member has circumferentially disposed relatively softer and harder regions, so that as the member is rotated the parts can be caused to bear compressibly upon selected softer or harder regions.

Abstract: A toothbrush having a head which carries a dental cleaning tool, and a grip handle, the head and handle being disposed along a longitudinal head-handle axis, the toothbrush having a resiliently flexible structure which can resiliently bend under the action of toothbrushing pressure and having adjustment means comprising a longitudinally moveable stiffening member which can be moved longitudinally into greater or lesser engagement with the resiliently flexible structure.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for bleaching textile objects and bleaching agent containing a persalt activators and salts thereof which are derived from imidocarboxylic acids and sulfimidocarboxylic acids of the formula I: ##STR1## in which A is a group of the formula ##STR2## n is the number 0, 1 or 2, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkenyl, aryl, or alkylaryl,R.sup.2 is hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, --SO.sub.3 M, --CO.sub.2 M or --OSO.sub.3 M,X is C.sub.1 -C.sub.9 -alkylene or arylene,B is a group of the formula C.dbd.O or SO.sub.2,L is a leaving group.