Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis having a first fastening element designed as a head plate for contact with the tympanic membrane, a second fastening element for mechanical connection to a member of the ossicular chain or the inner ear, and a shaft-shaped connecting element connecting the two fastening elements in a manner conducting sound. The first fastening element has a through-bore for receiving the connecting element and can be narrowed to provide fixation. The connecting element protrudes through the through-bore onto and carries a third fastening element designed for connection to a member of the ossicular chain or the inner ear. The connecting element can be easily separated above or below the first fastening element. This arrangement offers middle ear surgeons a simple and quick option to choose from a range of different prosthesis types immediately before inserting a selected prosthesis into the patient's middle ear.

Abstract: A simulator system for measuring acoustic properties of passive middle ear implants, with a physical ear model for biometric simulation the human ear, includes a first functional portion modeling the human middle ear, an acoustic detection device measuring parameters of a middle ear implant, and an evaluation module storing and evaluating the measured parameter data. The physical ear model contains exclusively artificial materials including plastics and/or metal parts. The ear model has a second functional portion modeling the human inner ear and has a closed cavity filled with liquid. The detection device has a pressure probe arranged on an outer wall or within the closed cavity with a hydrophone within the cavity arranged on an inner surface of the cavity in the liquid. An electrical signal line leads from the detection device to the evaluation module in a sealed manner through the cavity and leads into the hydrophone.

Abstract: A surgical cutting device in otology for the production of a thin tissue or cartilage slice, has an elongate device body aligned along a longitudinal axis, a handle-like grip, and a cutting head with a cutting blade having a blade body with a sharp cutting edge. The cutting blade is arranged within a cutting window which is continuously open in a direction transverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis. The cutting blade is positioned in the cutting window so that its sharp cutting edge is aligned parallel to a transverse axis which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and obliquely to the direction. The sharp cutting edge is positioned axially away from the blade body in the direction of the longitudinal axis towards the handle-like grip. The cutting blade is connected to the device body either rigidly or movably about the transverse axis.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults in a switch assembly includes at least one switch for monitoring the position of a component that can be moved by means of a drive which has an electric motor includes shifting the movable component from a first position to a second position spatially separated from the first position, wherein the power consumption of the electric motor changes in a previously specified manner, and wherein the switch state of the switch during a proper functioning of the switch changes in a previously specified manner, analyzing the power consumption of the electric motor and the switch state of the switch in an analysis unit, and triggering a fault action if the power consumption of the electric motor has changed in the previously specified manner and the switch state of the switch has not changed in the previously specified manner.

Abstract: A rhinological implant for straightening the human septum has a central bridge section, which is flat or bent upward in a barrel-shaped manner, with two side sections on both sides of the bridge section, which extend upwards in a folded manner and symmetrically to the central bridge section at an angle ? of in each case about 90°, and which each have a first subsection which connects directly to the central bridge section and extends parallel thereto, a second subsection, which connects to the respective first subsection and extends at an angle relative thereto, and a third subsection that connects to an end of the respective first subsection opposite the respective second subsection, and extends also at an angle relative to the respective first subsection.

Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis has first and second fastening elements, a connecting element and rib elements. The rib elements lead directly into coupling regions of the first fastening element within the head plate plane and are movably connected thereto. All rib elements are movably connected to a coupling element and are firmly but detachably connected during operation, the coupling element in turn being rigidly connected at the other end to either the first or the second fastening element. The rib elements form the connecting element with the coupling element and are spread sectionally radially from the longitudinal axis in the middle ear in situ with the introduction of a force parallel to the longitudinal axis and thus shorten the axial functional length of the prosthesis, but increase it with the introduction of a force anti-parallel thereto. The rib elements retain, in situ, their adjusted radial position when no force acts.

Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis has a first fastening element for mechanical contact with the tympanic membrane, and a second fastening element for connecting to a member of the ossicular chain, and a connecting element which connects the fastening elements and which has rib elements which can be spread radially outwards and thereby shorten the axial length of the ossicular prosthesis. The rib elements lead directly into coupling regions of the first fastening element and into a coupling element which is rigidly connected to the second fastening element. When a force is introduced in parallel with the longitudinal axis in the direction, the rib elements assume a position located radially further from the longitudinal axis, and shorten the functional length of the prostheses, or increase with the introduction of an antiparallel force.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults in a switch assembly comprising at least one switch for monitoring the position of a component that can be moved by means of a drive which has an electric motor. The method has the following steps: shifting the movable component from a first position to a second position spatially separated from the first position, wherein the power consumption of the electric motor changes in a previously specified manner, and wherein the switch state of the switch during a proper functioning of the switch changes in a previously specified manner, analyzing the power consumption of the electric motor and the switch state of the switch in an analysis unit, and triggering a fault action if the power consumption of the electric motor has changed in the previously specified manner and the switch state of the switch has not changed in the previously specified manner.