Abstract: A surgical needle is configured to detect whether a distal tip of the surgical needle perforates or ends up in an undesirable location, or detect whether the distal tip of the surgical needle has accessed a desired location. The surgical needle includes a hub and a body connected to the hub. The body has a hollow core and includes a sharp-pointed tip at a distal end. A first electrode is formed by the sharp-pointed tip of the body. At least a second electrode is provided around the body. The first and second electrodes are connected to a wired connector that can be plugged into an external sensing system. The external sensing system can monitor impedance, electrical parameters, or other parameters.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an impedance sensing system for monitoring the position of the tip of the surgical instrument relative to the pericardial space. The surgical instrument consists of a guidewire or needle including a conductive core terminating at a distal tip of the guidewire or needle. The distal tip has a conductive surface exposed to patient tissues and/or fluids. The impedance sensing system includes a first electrode formed by the exposed surface of the guidewire or needle, and at least a second electrode isolated from the conductive core of the guidewire or needle. The second electrode may be formed on an outer surface of the guidewire or needle, or may be a pad electrode applied to the patient skin. The impedance sensing system also includes an impedance analyzer for measuring impedance and phase using one or more frequencies.

Abstract: A hearing device contains an electronic frame for holding electronic components. The hearing device has first and second resilient contacts. The resilient contacts are fastened to the electronic frame, and the resilient contacts reversibly electrically contact an electronic component using contact surfaces of a double-pole battery. The hearing device contains a rechargeable battery module that contains a rechargeable battery and an electronic convertor. The rechargeable battery module is connected in an articulated manner to the electronic frame so as to be able to move and contains connecting contacts that correspond to the resilient contacts. A kit is provided for the hearing device and the kit has a battery compartment door for reversibly holding the double-pole battery. The battery compartment door is connected to pivot on the electronic frame such that as the battery compartment door is pivoted into a closed position the contact surfaces of the double-pole battery are contacted.

Abstract: An electronics frame for a hearing device serves to hold electronic components and has a contact carrier. The carrier in turn has a first line connector, a second line connector, and a third line connector. The three line connectors serve to electrically contact at least one of the electronic components with a first connection contact, a second connection contact which is at a potential that is different from the first connection contact, and with a third connection contact of a storage battery module which has a rechargeable battery. The contact carrier moreover has a first insertion slot for receiving a first contact arm which serves to electrically contact a contact of a two-pole battery. A kit for the hearing device contains, in addition to the hearing device with the electronics frame, the storage battery module and at least the first contact arm for subsequent mounting on the contact carrier.

Abstract: A hearing instrument has a hearing device rear housing, at least one microphone, a receiver, an earpiece connection or a soundc tube, an earpiece, a power supply unit, and a signal processing unit. The power supply unit includes a rechargeable power supply and an actuating and control device. The hearing instrument further includes a switching device that is configured to assume at least two switching states, and the actuating and control device is configured to actuate a switched-off state of the hearing instrument depending on the switching state of the switching device. There is also described a corresponding power supply unit for a hearing instrument.

Abstract: A hearing instrument has an earpiece for inserting in an auditory canal and has an expandable balloon. In the earpiece is arranged a receiver and which earpiece enables additional connections for acoustic signals and compressed air. The earpiece contains a case, a receiver and a balloon. The case has a proximal case segment and a distal case segment. The receiver is arranged between the two case segments. The two case segments mechanically fix the receiver and are connected to one another in a sealed manner. A sound channel and an air supply channel, which are separate from each other, are formed between receiver and case, the wall of each channel being formed both by the receiver and by the case. A sound exit aperture is provided, which is connected to a receiver output aperture of the receiver and to the sound channel. The balloon is connected to the air supply channel.