Abstract: An artificial ventricle for replacing the human heart and comprising a shell formed from an upper housing and a lower base. A plurality of thin-walled, flexible pumping diaphragm layers are suspended from the base in a specific manner, and divide the shell into complementary upper and lower fluid receiving chambers. The diaphragm layers are shaped so as to travel through a specifically defined geometry of space. A seamless, thin-walled, Flexible blood bladder lines and occupies the upper chamber. The bladder has an upper portion attached to an inner surface of the housing, and an unadhered lower portion in contact with the pumping diaphragms.

Abstract: A cochlear electrode device having the properties of axial stiffness and lateral flexibility and comprising a plurality of substantially incompressible, flat elements, with the elements being assembled adjacent and in contact with one another along a common axis to form a stack and with the elements being resiliently atached together so that the stack of elements is stiff in compression along the common axis and is flexible in tension when the elements are forced to deviate from the common axis by the application of an external force. A plurality of electrodes and connecting wires are supported by the stack at spaced apart locations along its length.