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: An inventive method for determining a variable control parameter for an implantable medical device comprises the following procedural steps: measuring a physiological base parameter that is significant for the control parameter, after a trigger event has occurred, determining a measuring-signal curve for the base parameter from the above measuring process, determining a certain event type of the trigger event, selecting a reference signal curve in dependence on the determined event type, comparing the measuring signal curve to the selected reference signal curve, determining a comparison value that is representative for the difference between the measuring signal curve and the reference signal curve, and determining the control parameter from the comparison value according to a predefined calculation algorithm.

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: A process for detecting the physical positions or changes of position of a human being based on detecting a physiological signal dependent on a sympathetic/parasympathetic nerve system in each case in the heart or in a vessel near the heart by means of a sensor at pre-specified times, in particular, based in each case on a physiological or stimulation event, deriving a value of a signal parameter in each case, from this signal according to a pre-specified signal processing rule and stored determining a fluctuation curve of the stored signal parameter values, performing a frequency analysis of the fluctuation curve to obtain the spectral power density evaluating the spectral power density, resulting in the issuance of a position signal as a function of the evaluation result, whereby the morphology of the signals is detected and the value of the signal parameter is, in each case, derived from morphology of an individual detected signal.

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″″).

Abstract: Two-chamber pacemaker (100), comprising atrium sensing means (EA, 107) as well as ventricle sensing means (EV, 105) and refractory switching means (100B) for influencing the processing of output signals from the atrium sensing means for a predetermined refractory time, further comprising ventricle stimulation means (106, EV) and a stimulation control unit (100A), which effects a changeover back from a non-atrium synchronous 1:1 operating mode to an atrium-synchronous 1:1 operating mode in dependence on the signals from the atrium sensing means that are influenced by the refractory switching means.

Abstract: In a method of producing microstructural medical implants by laser material processing, it is provided to make use of a tunable laser beam of a pulse length in the order of magnitude of femtoseconds, and of a laser irradin that is variable in its frequency of pulse repetition, laser capacity and/or velocity of displacement for gentle material treatment without melting to take place.

Abstract: A rate-adaptive pacemaker, comprising a stimulation pulse generator and tewith connected output means for stimulating at least the heart ventricle of a heart-signal input stage in order to detect the signal shape of evoked heart signals, particularly the morphology of the ventricular evoked response VER, also comprising a rate-calculation unit that is connected on the input side with the heart signal input stage and on the output side with the stimulation pulse generator, for calculating the stimulation rate based on the physiological stress on the pacemaker carrier and for emitting a rate-control signal, wherein the rate calculation device generates the rate-control signal on the basis of the heart signal shape detected at the input stage. The rate-calculation unit has a signal amplitude processing unit for calculating the rate-control signal upon responding to heart signal amplitude values at predetermined times during a specified heart cycle, in particular the last preceding heart cycle.

Abstract: A heart stimulator, having a stimulation pulse generator and output means nnected to it; a heart signal input stage for detecting evoked heart signals; an AV delay unit, connected on the output side to the stimulation pulse generator, for generating an AV interval between an atrial cardiac event or stimulation pulse, and a stimulation pulse output to the ventricle; an AV interval calculator, connected on the input side to the heart signal input stage and on the output side to the AV delay unit, for calculating the AV interval on the basis of a parameter of the heart signal; in this heart stimulator, the heart signal input stage is embodied for detecting the signal shape of evoked heart signals, and the AV interval calculator is embodied for calculating the AV interval on the basis of the heart signal shape detected.

Abstract: An apparatus for rejection diagnostics after organ transplantations is provided withan extracorporal base station with a high frequency transmitter and receiver unit, anda telemetric rejection sensor implantable in a patient's body, comprisinga high frequency receiver unit for receiving high frequency signals from the base station,a rectifier and decoder unit for converting the high frequency signals received into a supply voltage and control records for the rejection sensor,an energy storage for storing the supply voltage,a control unit for controlling the measuring processes within the apparatus,a sensor arrangement controlled by the control unit and to be brought into contact with the organ to be monitored and having measuring electrodes for measuring rejection-specific variables,an encoder unit for converting the measured variables into corresponding data signals, as well asa high frequency emitter unit for transmitting the data signals produced by the encoder unit to the extracorporal base station.

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 form at a second, predetermined flow rate and coupling-in of HF power with a predetermined, second power density, for a second, predetermined time period.

Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor, in particular a tantalum electrolytic capacitor, is provided with a metal anode, in particular a sintered tantalum anode (1), a non-conducting insulating layer applied on it by means of molding the metal anode (1) for forming the dielectric of the electrolytic capacitor, an electrolyte in liquid, pasty or solid form, which forms the cathode of the electrolytic capacitor, and a flat cathode contact (5, 17) for providing current to the electrolyte. The flat cathode contact (5, 7) is provided with an electrically conducting, fractal surface coating (6), at least in the area of its contact surface with the electrolyte.

Abstract: A device for generating a therapeutic value for a patient as a function of t least one variable parameter picked up within the body and constituting a first input value, with a change in the first parameter being a function of a second parameter which also constitutes an input value. The device includes circuitry for varying the generation of the therapeutic value by varying the second parameter so that the difference of the values of the first parameter, at selected limits of a variation range of the first parameter, constitutes a maximum in an intended treatment range of the patient. A memory retains a value of the second parameter for which the variation range of the first parameter constitutes a maximum. Control circuitry changes the therapeutic value as a function of the first parameter while maintaining the previously stored second parameter.

Abstract: A neurostimulator for generating stimulation pulses for the central or peripheral nervous system, particularly against pain in the region of the spinal cord includes a control circuit for generating stimulation pulses with a pulse generator whose output is connected with stimulation electrodes. The stimulation pulses are generated at periodic intervals with an activity period corresponding essentially to an effective duration corresponding to a biological half-lifetime of a body's own active substances. The control circuit creates a respective rest period corresponding to a time required by the body's own active substances to regenerate themselves for a corresponding activity period.

Abstract: A controlled-rate, artificial cardiac pacemaker (14) comprises a module (12) for adapting the stimulation rate to the patient's actual physical load. In the case of limited or non-existent activity, the output signal of a sensor (10, 11) for the patient's activity status constitutes a control signal for a circuit (20) which reduces the energy supplied to the module for adapting the stimulation rate of the artificial cardiac pacemaker to the patient's actual physical load.

Abstract: A cardiac pacemaker control system includes a stress detector system (1) for producing a controlled basic stimulation rate based on signals picked up within a patient's body related to physical stress and derived from a pre-ejection period of the patient. A detection device (10, 15) detects a spatial orientation of the patient, and produces an output switching signal (20) for changing the controlled basic stimulation rate depending upon the position of the patient which represents an additional measure of physical stress.

Abstract: A cardiac therapy system for use with a conventional cardiac pacemaker ciit is controlled by activity signals of the autonomous nervous system (ANS) in a patient's body which constitute a measure for the patient's cardiovascular output requirement.