Abstract: A magnetic key chain which provides for the ability to attach itself to a magnetic material, such as the inner surface of a front door of a home or a refrigerator door. The magnetic key chain also allows for therapeutic treatment of an anatomical site in a living body. In another embodiment, magnetic jewelry is adapted for both ornamental and therapeutic use.

Abstract: A medical preparation for treating arthrosis, arthritis and other rheumatic joint diseases comprises a suspension consisting of one-shelled or multi-shelled nanoscalar particles composed of a core containing iron oxide and of an inner shell with groups capable of forming cationic groups or, optionally, of at least one outer shell with neutral and/or anionic groups. Radionuclides and substances, said substances being cytotoxically active when subjected to heat, are bound to the inner shell. The preparation that is injected into the joint cavity and subjected to an alternating electromagnetic field promises an excellent treatment outcome due to the high rate of phagocytosis and the trimodal combinatorial effect of thermotherapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are expandable surgical implants that may be expanded one or more times by directly or indirectly uncinching one or more expansion loops. Use of the expandable surgical implant permits a physician to expand, with minimal invasion, a surgical implant that was over-tensioned by a surgeon during implantation or became over-tensioned due to changes in the patient's anatomy.

Abstract: A magnetotherapeutic device incorporates bio-ceramic fibers so as to provide simultaneous magnetotherapy and far infra-red wave therapy. Generally encased in clear plastic or the like, the magnetotherapeutic device of the present invention may take the form of a transparent disk having a plastic rim. A stainless cap may provide an attractive top surface into which a logo or symbol may be embossed. It also enhances the magnetic affects on the side opposite the stainless steel cap, the side that is applied to the body. A strong magnet such as one incorporating neodymium may underlie the stainless steel cap to provide magnetotherapy in the present invention. Bio-ceramic fibers emitting the far infra-red wavelengths of 8-14 microns underlie the strong neodymium magnet. A mat of woven bio-ceramic fibers or the like may provide such a structure.

Abstract: An infant support for use with an incubator or a warmer or a combination thereof comprises a support surface having a head end and a foot end and a driver engageable with the head and foot ends. The driver comprises a first elevator and a second elevator. The first elevator is engageable with the head end and the second elevator is engageable with the foot end. The driver is movable to cause the head and foot ends to move between raised and lowered positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for alleviating or curing human afflictions, ailments and diseases holistically by application of magnetism. A north pole surface of a magnet is applied to a portion of the neck, about 48 square inches, of a person being treated, and is maintained in contact for a time period or periods in accordance with total flux applied for the afflictions or ailments being treated. The magnet is maintained in contact for a time period or periods sufficient to elicit holistic effect of alleviation or cure and to detect ailments and cure in progress or a balanced treatment point. Magnet is being configurated to accommodate the area being treated and having appropriate total flux.

Abstract: A device for applying a time-varying magnetic field to a human or animal body for therapeutic purposes comprising magnetic unit that is made to rotate about two separate axes at the same time housed within non-magnetic components, which insrotatably housed in a non-magnetic free moving member, which itself may rotating about an axis oblique to the axis of rotation of the magnet. The device may be held in the operator's hand or attached to his or her clothing, and is powered by a small electric motor that drives the gears necessary to produce the separate rotary movements. One axis of rotation is in the direction of a rod mounted to the magnet, and the other axis is along an imaginary line that runs through the center of the magnet body, roughly perpendicular to the rod. The two rotational movements of the magnet produce both a time-varying field of magnetic flux density and a time-varying field of angular flux displacement.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a radioactive medical device comprising a radioactive, electroplated substrate coated with at least one layer of polymer and sealed in a jacket layer. The at least one layer of polymer and jacket layer reduce leaching of a radioactive element from the electroplated substrate. The radioactive medical device is useful for radiation therapy of diseased tissue such as cancers and especially malignant tumors.

Abstract: An at least partially implantable sensor for rehabilitation of a hearing disorder having at least one acoustic sensor for picking up acoustic sensor signals and converting the acoustic sensor signals into corresponding electrical audio sensor signals; an electronic signal processing unit for audio signal processing and amplification of the electric sensor signals; an electrical power supply unit which supplies individual components of the system with energy, and an actoric output arrangement for direct mechanical stimulation of a lymphatic inner ear space, wherein the actoric output arrangement has an intracochlear electromechanical transducer.

Abstract: A magnetic mattress pad comprising an uppermost portion, an upper portion, a lower portion and alternating magnetic means for providing changes in magnetic polarity. The alternating magnetic means are disposed in cavities in the upper portion and the lower portion, but the alternating magnetic means are not located in the uppermost portion. The alternating magnetic means comprises a plurality of continuous, or uni-pole, magnets and a plurality of triangularboard button magnets. The plurality of uni-pole magnets are distributed in an asymmetrical fashion and the plurality of triangularboard button magnets are located only in the upper portion whereby the magnetic mattress pad provides highly magnetic magnetotherapy while one rests or sleeps.

Abstract: A method for the positioning of radiation source seeds, spacer seeds and stoppers in tissue using hollow needles. Various seeds that are separately contained in magazines according to the isotope type (e.g., material, dosage, half-life period), are provided to the hollow needle. The individual magazines may be changed by means of a magazine changer. The magazine changer is located in a changer guide in a position which is vertical relative to the direction of injection of the seeds. The location of the needle is measured relative to a location reference block. An optimal seed deposit position is detected acoustically and/or visually and/or in a tactile manner. The selection of a magazine and a seed to be discharged from the magazine is derived from the current position of the needle in the tissue and from a treatment plan for a dosage distribution, which may be established in list form with details on the seed type and the x-y-z-coordinates relative to the location reference block.

Abstract: Implantable microphone devices that may be utilized in hearing systems are provided. An implantable microphone device allows the implantable microphone's frequency response and sensitivity to be selected. A microphone device with an increased membrane flexibility and a decreased acoustic compliance of the sealed cavity. Vibrations of a membrane are transmitted through a primary air cavity and through an aperture of a microphone. Keeping a flexible membrane and decreasing the sealed air cavity compliance are the preferred way to simultaneously increase overall sensitivity of the device, and move the resonance peak to higher frequencies.

Abstract: A back belt including magnets, and a thermally active gel material to provide magnetic and thermal induced lower back pain relief. The magnets are arranged in multiple quadrapolar pods, which are secured to a contour-conforming, resilient support web. Preferably, an interior sheet sandwiches the pods and gel material between it and an exterior sheet in a cross-shaped array within the support web. In a more preferred embodiment, the belt includes a fastening strap that neatly secures excess belt by wrapping around the excess belt and drawing that excess against the remainder of the belt. In a preferred process of manufacturing the back belt, multiple quadrapolar magnet pods and the gel material are secured to a support web. Belt straps are secured to the support web. More preferably, a fastening strap is secured to at least one of the belt straps.

Abstract: A non-elastic, conformal translucent device bearing a grid is applied to a patient to facilitate tissue examination and reproducible lesion identification.

Abstract: In order to substantially realistically pre-operatively demonstrate to patients having an impaired hearing the effect and sound impression of an least partially implantable hearing system including a first electronic audio signal processing unit, a demonstration device is provided which comprises an electromechanical transducer adapted for being non-invasively coupled from the side of the external auditory canal to at least approximately the center of the tympanic membrane and thus to the end point of the manubrium mallei for producing mechanical vibrations of the tympanic membrane, an electronic audio signal generator unit, and a second electronic audio signal processing unit connected between the audio signal generator unit and the electromechanical transducer for driving the electromechanical transducer, wherein the second audio signal processing unit corresponds to or simulates the first electronic audio signal processing unit.

Abstract: This invention involves radioactive medical devices for inhibiting an undesirable hyperplastic response in biological tissue, and a method for making the radioactive medical devices. In a preferred embodiment, a medical device for inhibiting a hyperplastic response in biological tissue generally comprises polymeric hydrocarbon molecules forming the medical device and a salt or an acid of a radioactive isotope occluded within the polymeric hydrocarbon molecules. Also in a preferred embodiment, a method of creating a medical device according to the present invention comprises: providing a first solvent in a container; introducing a salt or an acid of a radioactive isotope into the first solvent; introducing a second solvent into the first solution so as to form a second solution; and introducing the medical device into the second solution, wherein the ionic components of the radioactive isotope migrate into the molecular structure of the medical device.

Abstract: This invention involves radioactive medical devices for inhibiting an undesirable hyperplastic response in biological tissue, and a method for making the radioactive medical devices. In a first preferred embodiment, a medical device for inhibiting a hyperplastic response in biological tissue generally comprises polymeric hydrocarbon molecules forming the medical device and a salt or an acid of a radioactive isotope occluded within the polymeric hydrocarbon molecules. In a second preferred embodiment, the medical device comprises a thrombogenic sponge having a radioisotope trapped within the structure of the sponge.

Abstract: An implantable article and method are disclosed for treating pelvic floor disorders such as vaginal vault prolase. A surgical kit useful for performing a surgical procedure such as a sacral colpopexy is also described.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a drive train assembly that causes precise index movement of the medical instrument, based on an operator-selected indexing amount resulting from actuation of a pitch adjustment knob on the medical instrument. The drive train assembly also causes a stylet to move distally within the outer housing of the medical instrument, to thereby push a seed from an extended shuttle of a seed cartridge located within the medical instrument, to a distal end of a needle cannula that is coupled to a distal end of the medical instrument.

Abstract: An implantable actuating mechanism for an implant that can be switched between two stable states or positions, has a supporting element and a spring-loaded actuating element that can be moved relative to the supporting element. The actuating element is guided through the supporting element and has an actuator portion, located beyond the supporting element that triggers the switching between the two stable states of the implant.