Abstract: A method of producing a biocompatible prosthesis based on a substrate made essentially of metal or ceramic. The substrate is placed into a reactor chamber of a cathodic vapor deposition arrangement and the chamber is evacuated to a predetermined pressure. A predetermined, negative bias voltage is then applied to the substrate and the substrate is surface treated by adding an etching gas to the reactor chamber, at a predetermined, first flow rate and coupling in a high frequency power with a first, predetermined power density for ionic etching for a first, predetermined period of time. The surface treated substrate is separated from the negative bias voltage and a semiconductor cover layer is chemical vapor-phase deposited on the substrate by adding to the reactor chamber a multi-component mixture of process gases containing a semiconductor element in bound format a second, predetermined flow rate and coupling-in of HF power with a predetermined, second power density, for a second, predetermined time period.

Abstract: A cardiac pacemaker includes an activity sensor for detecting physical activity of a patient and generating a momentary output signal and an activity clock cycle generator having an adjustable clock cycle rate adjustable to the activity of the patient, for generating stimulation impulses for cardiac muscles of the patient at a rate defined by an end of one of a basic rate interval and an escape interval, the basic rate interval being a normal interval between stimulating impulses, and the escape interval being an on-demand interval between stimulating impulses.