Abstract: A medical device that is composed of a sterilizable material, is used to create thin cartilage discs, and includes a device body and a cover with a plurality of holding devices, each of which includes a section that with a recess located in the top side of the device body, the recess being entirely or partially enclosed by a delimiting ridge, and being closable via a projection located on the top side of the cover, and in which the lateral delimiting ridge has a guide slot, into which a cutting blade is inserted and guided via an end face of the section and extends, at a distance that differs for each section, parallel to the bottom surface of the particular recess. It is therefore possible to create thin cartilage discs having certain, different thicknesses and a consistent level of quality, even without using the known shims.

Abstract: A device for adjusting and fixing relative position between an actuator end piece of an active hearing implant and an element of the ossicular chain or a coupling part to the human inner ear has a connecting element with a first coupling element for coupling to the actuator end piece, a second coupling element, and a shaft-shaped middle part, and the first coupling element geometrically encompasses the actuator end piece with two opposing parallel arms each having a pattern element to fix the encompassed actuator end piece in selectable discrete axial positions in a direction parallel to an axis of the shaft-shaped middle part, for variable-length adaptation and fixing of the actuator end piece relative to the first coupling element in a direction transverse to the axis.

Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis has a first fastening element for connection to the tympanic membrane or a component of the ossicular chain, a second fastening element for connection to a further component of the ossicular chain, or directly to the inner ear, an elongated connecting element that connects the two fastening elements in a sound-conducting manner and includes an adjusting device for adjusting the axial length of the prosthesis and including at least two partial strands that extend symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the connecting element, are extendable and/or compressible in the axial direction, are permanently plastically deformable, and are folded into a plurality of loops transversely to the longitudinal axis before being deformed. As a result, a relatively simple design of the adjusting device considerably reduces the number of different prostheses that must be kept on hand, while ensuring that the prosthesis may be optimally adapted for a specific case.

Abstract: An auditory ossicle prosthesis (10) which comprises, at one end, a plate-shaped first securing element (11) for bearing on the tympanic membrane or on the footplate of the stirrup, and, at its other end, a second securing element (12) for mechanical connection to the ossicular chain or to the inner ear, and also a connection element (13) that connects the two securing elements so as to conduct sound, wherein the first securing element has a radially inner coupling area (14) for coupling the first securing element to the connection element, and also a plurality of web elements (15, 15?, 15?) for radial connection of the coupling area to radially outer portions (16, 16?, 16?) of the first securing element, is characterized in that the web elements are of such a geometric configuration, and their material so chosen, that the web elements can be easily broken off and the radially outer portions appended to them detached from the first securing element, such that the external diameter of the first securing element

Abstract: An auditory ossicle prosthesis (10) which comprises, at one end, a plate-shaped first securing element (11) for bearing on the tympanic membrane or on the footplate of the stirrup, and, at the other end, a second securing element (12) for mechanical connection to the ossicular chain or to the inner ear, and also a connection element (13) that connects the two securing elements so as to conduct sound, wherein the first securing element has a radially inner coupling area (14) for coupling the first securing element to the connection element, and also a plurality of web elements (15) for radial connection of the coupling area to radially outer portions (16) of the first securing element, is characterized in that the coupling area, the web elements and the radially outer portions are of such a geometric configuration, and their material so chosen, that a plastic deformation is effected by stretching or pushing together in the plane of the plate of the first securing element, by means of which plastic deformation

Abstract: An auditory ossicle prosthesis (10) which comprises, at one end, a plate-shaped first securing element (11) for bearing on the tympanic membrane or on the footplate of the stirrup, and, at its other end, a second securing element (12) for mechanical connection to the ossicular chain or to the inner ear, and also a connection element (13) that connects the two securing elements so as to conduct sound, wherein the first securing element has a radially inner coupling area (14) for coupling the first securing element to the connection element, and also a plurality of web elements (15, 15?, 15?) for radial connection of the coupling area to radially outer portions (16, 16?) of the first securing element, is characterized in that the coupling area and/or the web elements and/or the radially outer portions are of such a geometric configuration that they together form pieces of a jigsaw from which the first securing element can be assembled in its entirety, wherein the individual jigsaw pieces can be joined to one an

Abstract: An auditory ossicle prosthesis (40) which replaces or bridges at least one element in the human auditory ossicle chain, whereby the auditory ossicle prosthesis (40) is made of an elastic material or a material having at least one articulated connection, is characterised in that means for frequency adjustment (=tuning) are arranged for sound transmission in the middle ear, in particular to change the lever conditions in the auditory ossicle chain. In this way sound transmission between the middle ear area and the inner ear of the human auditory canal is considerably improved, whereby, in particular, optimum adaptation to the individually differing conditions and a tailor-made solution to the problems and deficiencies in the patient in question are made possible.

Abstract: An ossicle prosthesis includes, at one end, a first fastening element designed as a top plate for mechanical connection with the tympanic membrane, and, at the other end, a second fastening element for mechanical connection with a component or parts of a component of the ossicular chain or with the inner ear, and a connecting element that connects the two fastening elements with each other in a sound-conducting manner; the top plate includes a radially outward annular region, a radially inward attachment region for mechanically attaching the top plate to the connecting element, and several segment elements for radially connecting the annular region with the attachment region, characterized by the fact that the segment elements are geometrically designed such that they locally emulate any localized medial motions made by the tympanic membrane, but they do not transmit the motion to distant regions of the top plate.

Abstract: Methods of preparing electrodes, as well as related devices, components, systems, and methods, are disclosed.

Abstract: An ossicle prosthesis (10), which replaces or spans at least one member of the human ossicle chain; the ossicle prosthesis (10) has a securing element embodied as a first elastic clip (11), for mechanical connection with a member of the ossicle chain, the securing element is open towards the outside on one side, with an outer opening (14) for receiving the ossicle member. The securing element form-lockingly embraces the ossicle member with two regions which are joined together on their ends located diametrically opposite the outer opening (14) via a portion extending at a spacing from the ossicle member. The portion connecting the two regions has at least two circular recesses (19a, 19b), which are curved outward in a circular arc from the member of the ossicle chain.

Abstract: A device for determining the required length of a middle ear prosthesis, having a disk-shaped base part to which prosthesis mockups or prostheses of different lengths are fastened, which, after being detached from the base part, can be inserted by an applicator into the middle ear of a patient during an operation for length determination purposes, in which the base part is provided with accessories for measuring and/or shaping the middle ear prosthesis to be inserted, so that this provides the operator with an even more simplified handling of prosthesis mockups or prostheses during the operation; no additional separate parts have to be used and instead, the handling means are compactly provided on or integrated into the device itself.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element in the form of a strip. The strip exhibits optical effects which vary, depending on the illumination or viewing direction. The optical effects are provided only in one or more definably delimited, mutually spaced surface regions. The strip outside the visually variable surface regions is transparent or is adapted to the appearance of the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An ossicle prosthesis (10) includes a first securing element (11) and a second securing element (12), the second securing element connected to a member of the ossicle chain. The ossicle chain ends at the first securing element in a ball joint, which includes two struts (13, 13?) solidly connected to the first securing element (11). The two struts enclose a gaplike space, in which a ball (14) is pivotably supported in two recesses (15), the ball (14) being part of an elongated shaft (16) that connects the first and second securing elements and includes many balls (14, 14?, 14?) adjacent to one another. The elongated shaft is displaceable through the gaplike space between the two struts and through a perforation (17) in the first securing element, where one of the balls snaps between the respective recesses. The gaplike space can be made narrower between the two struts (13, 13?) of the ball joint for fixation of the shaft (16) after the desired length has been adjusted.

Abstract: An optically variable element, in particular an optically variable safeguard element for safeguarding banknotes, credit cards and the like. A security product and a foil, in particular an embossing foil or a laminating foil, having such an optically variable element. The optically variable element has a thin film for producing color shifts by means of an interference and/or a reflective layer. The optically variable element further has a transparent window. The interference film and/or the reflective layer include a partial element, namely a partial thin film element or a partial reflective element, respectively. The partial element or elements surround the surface region of the transparent window.

Abstract: The invention concerns a film, in particular an embossing film, a laminating film or a sticker film, and an optical security element. The film has a carrier layer and a replication layer. The film also has a layer of a liquid crystal material, which is applied to the replication layer. A diffractive structure is embossed into the surface of the replication layer, which is towards the layer of a liquid crystal material, for orientation of the liquid crystal material, said diffractive structure having at least two partial regions with different directions of orientation of the embossed structure.

Abstract: A method of decorating a three-dimensional object, which performs a thermal transfer by causing a flat thermal transfer foil to adhere favorably to a molded article of a comparatively tall shape. Providing a planar heater (17) at the side of a support jig (5) to partially heat and extend a thermal transfer foil (71) and fixing a shape cutter (19) to the side of a molded rubber mold (3) and mounting a cutting mechanism which cuts the thermal transfer coil immediately before the molded rubber mold reaches the drop point, so that the thermal transfer foil is favorably caused to favorably adhere to the molded article (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to an illuminating station for the production of partially designed areas in one or more layers of a web of sheeting and to optically variable elements produced with such an illuminating station and possessing partially designed areas showing different optical properties. The illuminating station has one or more radiation sources for illuminating the sheeting. The illuminating station has, further, a masking tape having partially designed areas showing different optical properties, which masking tape is guided through an illuminating zone in the path of radiation between said one or more radiation sources and the web of sheeting. The illuminating station further has two or more guide means for guiding the masking tape and/or for guiding the web of sheeting, which guide means are arranged such that the masking tape is guided in the illuminating zone in parallel relationship relative to the sheeting.

Abstract: The invention concerns a film, in particular a stamping film, laminating film or sticker film, which has at least one anisotropic polymer layer of an at least partially oriented liquid crystal material. The anisotropic polymer layer has one or more first regions which form a first security feature and in which the anisotropic polymer layer has properties which linearly polarise or which rotate the direction of rotation, and one or more second regions which form a second security element and in which the anisotropic polymer layer has circularly polarising properties. The first security feature is visualised when viewed through a first polariser and the second security feature is visualised when viewed through a second polariser responsive to a different polarisation state from that of the first polariser.

Abstract: An embossing station for an embossing apparatus is provided for transferring a transfer layer of an embossing film on to an element to be embossed upon, in particular a flat element to be embossed upon which is stable in respect of shape. The embossing station has two support rollers which are spaced from each other and which are in mutually axis-parallel relationship and at least one deflection roller which is spaced from the support rollers and which is in axis-parallel relationship with the support rollers. An embossing belt is deflected around the support rollers and the at least one deflection roller. Provided between the two support rollers is a support body which supports the embossing belt and which has a sliding surface which is in the tangential plane connecting the two support rollers together.

Abstract: There is described a method of producing color effect images on a carrier substrate, wherein it is provided that a latent magnetic image comprising magnetic pixels and non-magnetic pixels is produced on a magnetisable printing form, a carrier substrate with a decorative layer applied to the carrier substrate and provided with non-spherical, preferably needle-form or flake-form magnetic color effect pigments is moved past the magnetisable printing form so that color effect pigments of the decorative layer ale changed in their orientation relative to the carrier substrate by the field line image produced by the magnetic pixels of the magnetisable printing form, and the color effect pigments are fixed in the decorative layer in the orientation which is changed by the field line image of the printing form. There is further described an apparatus for carrying out the method and a multi-layer body produced therewith.