Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a photon-to-plasmon coupler for converting photons to plasmons or vice versa, said photon-to-plasmon coupler comprising a photonic waveguide for guiding photons, a plasmonic waveguide for guiding plasmons, and two plasmonic strip waveguides, each of said two plasmonic strip waveguides being connected to said plasmonic waveguide and embracing an end section of the photonic waveguide such that each of said plasmonic strip waveguides is optically coupled to the end section of the photonic waveguide.

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.