Abstract: The present invention relates to a an electrode assembly for nerve stimulation, in particular for the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, comprising at least one electrode and a bow-shaped holding portion which is designed to hold the electrode assembly at the ear of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a an electrode assembly for nerve stimulation, in particular for the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, comprising at least one electrode and a bow-shaped holding portion which is designed to hold the electrode assembly at the ear of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for performing a tVNS treatment having at least one electrode for generating a stimulation pulse, with the device having at least one detection means that is configured to detect one or more parameter values, and with the device having a control or regulation unit that is suitable to set one or more parameters of the stimulation pulse delivered by the electrode in dependence on the detected parameter value or values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for performing a tVNS treatment having at least one electrode for generating a stimulation pulse, wherein the device has at least one input device for inputting feedback data by the device user, wherein the device has a memory in which the feedback data are stored, and wherein the device has a control or regulation unit that is suitable to set one or more parameters of the stimulation pulse delivered by the electrode in dependence on the feedback data or to suggest the parameters of the stimulation pulse delivered by the electrode for a selection by the device user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communications system for the processing of medical data comprising a medical device which has recording means for the recording of medical data, a memory unit for the callable storing of the data and a communications interface for the data transfer; comprising a server which has a memory unit in which the data recorded by the medical device are stored in a callable manner and a communications interface by means of which the server is in communication with one or more clients at least at times; and comprising at least one client which has a memory unit, an evaluation unit and a communications interface, wherein the data recorded by the medical device are stored in the memory unit, wherein the evaluation unit includes an evaluation application for inspection, preparation, change or supplementation of the data stored in the memory unit of the client, wherein the data prepared, changed or supplemented in the client can be transmitted by means of the communications interface fro

Abstract: The method and the device serve for detecting an anomaly in the cardiac activity of a patient and for carrying out a defibrillation. At least one sensor acquires at least one parameter that characterizes the cardiac activity of a patient. An automatic evaluation with respect to at least one parameter that characterizes the anomaly in the cardiac activity is carried out, and an alarm signal is generated if a limiting value for at least one parameter that characterizes the anomaly is exceeded. The defibrillator is realized in the form of a mobile unit and contains a voltage generator, a control unit and at least two electrodes.

Abstract: An arrangement for patient monitoring. The arrangement includes at least one body sensor to detect a physiological parameter as body signal data and at least one of a body signal processing unit connected to the body sensor for processing body signal data, and a therapy device designed to act on the patient. In addition, the arrangement includes a monitoring center having a signal field strength evaluation means, a mobile phone terminal designed to transmit the data from at least one of the body signal processing unit and the therapy device to the monitoring center and from the monitoring center to the therapy device, and a cellular mobile phone network. The mobile phone terminal is operable in the cellular mobile phone network. The arrangement further includes a base station coordinate storage unit for storage of coordinate data and a mobile phone exchange linked to the base station coordinate storage unit for the reception of position data of the mobile phone terminal.

Abstract: A self-calibrating rate-adaptive cardiac pacemaker is provided. The pacemaker comprising a first measuring and processing device for detecting a first, predominantly sympathetically influenced physiological parameter and for obtaining a rate control parameter, which has a control input for controlling the functional dependency of the rate control parameter on the first physiological parameter, in particular a response factor and/or an upper limit rate; and a stimulator unit for producing and outputting stimulation pulses at a stimulation rate which is determined by the rate control parameter, having a second measuring and processing device for detecting and evaluating a second, predominantly vagally influenced physiological parameter and for outputting a calibration signal which is dependent on the evaluation result, to the control input of the first measuring and processing device.

Abstract: An implantable, bioresorbable vessel wall support, in particular a coronary stent, comprises a combination of metal materials which dissolves in the human body without any harmful effects on the person that wears the implant. The combination of metal materials can be an alloy or a local galvanic element.

Abstract: In a method of producing microstructural medical implants by laser material processing, it is provided to make use of a tunable laser beam of a pulse length in the order of magnitude of femtoseconds, and of a laser irradin that is variable in its frequency of pulse repetition, laser capacity and/or velocity of displacement for gentle material treatment without melting to take place.

Abstract: An implantable stimulator for treating arrhythmic function disturbances of a heart, comprising; a stimulation electrode for transmitting stimulation pulses to the heart, a pulse generator that is connected to the stimulation electrode for generating the stimulation pulses, a control unit connected to the pulse generator for controlling the pulse emissions, a hemodynamic sensor for controlling the pulse emission as a function of the cardiac pumping performance, the hemodynamic sensor including; two measuring electrodes located in or in electrical contact with a blood vessel, for measuring the blood impedance dependent on the blood throughput, a signal generator that generates an AC voltage for generating a test signal for impedance measurement, an electrical measuring device connected to the twvo measuring electrodes for determining the blood throughput as a function of the measured electrical signal; and a blood throughput signal-analysis unit for recognizing an arrhythmic cardiac finction disturbance using t

Abstract: An apparatus for rejection diagnostics after organ transplantations is provided withan extracorporal base station with a high frequency transmitter and receiver unit, anda telemetric rejection sensor implantable in a patient's body, comprisinga high frequency receiver unit for receiving high frequency signals from the base station,a rectifier and decoder unit for converting the high frequency signals received into a supply voltage and control records for the rejection sensor,an energy storage for storing the supply voltage,a control unit for controlling the measuring processes within the apparatus,a sensor arrangement controlled by the control unit and to be brought into contact with the organ to be monitored and having measuring electrodes for measuring rejection-specific variables,an encoder unit for converting the measured variables into corresponding data signals, as well asa high frequency emitter unit for transmitting the data signals produced by the encoder unit to the extracorporal base station.

Abstract: An implantable stimulation electrode for use with an implantable tissue stimulator, in particular a pacemaker, defibrillator, bone or neurostimulator, having a metal substrate body and a coating, applied to the substrate body, for reducing the electrode impedance and/or increasing the tissue compatability, in which a ultrathin, specifically functionalized organic coating forming the entire outer surface of the stimulation electrode is provided, which adheres to the underlying surface as a consequence of irreversible physisorption or covalent chemical bonding.

Abstract: An implantable apparatus for the early diagnosis of tachycardia in the heart is provided witha microelectrode array, which is in contact with the cardiac muscle tissue, for detecting stimulus conduction potentials in the cardiac muscle tissue,a measuring device, which is in connection with the microelectrode array, for determining the refractory time of the cardiac muscle cells in the monitored cardiac region,a measuring device, which is in connection with the microelectrode array, for determining the stimulus conduction velocity in the monitored cardiac muscle region,a computing device for determining the product value of the refractory time and the stimulus conduction velocity,a comparator for comparing the product value with a tachycardia threshold, any falling short of the tachycardia threshold signaling a condition of the heart in risk of tachycardia,a stimulation arrangement for generating antitachycardia stimulation upon detection of a condition of risk of tachycardia in particular via the microelectro

Abstract: A method of producing a biocompatible prosthesis based on a substrate made essentially of metal or ceramic. The substrate is placed into a reactor chamber of a cathodic vapor deposition arrangement and the chamber is evacuated to a predetermined pressure. A predetermined, negative bias voltage is then applied to the substrate and the substrate is surface treated by adding an etching gas to the reactor chamber, at a predetermined, first flow rate and coupling in a high frequency power with a first, predetermined power density for ionic etching for a first, predetermined period of time. The surface treated substrate is separated from the negative bias voltage and a semiconductor cover layer is chemical vapor-phase deposited on the substrate by adding to the reactor chamber a multi-component mixture of process gases containing a semiconductor element in bound form at a second, predetermined flow rate and coupling-in of HF power with a predetermined, second power density, for a second, predetermined time period.

Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor, in particular a tantalum electrolytic capacitor, is provided with a metal anode, in particular a sintered tantalum anode (1), a non-conducting insulating layer applied on it by means of molding the metal anode (1) for forming the dielectric of the electrolytic capacitor, an electrolyte in liquid, pasty or solid form, which forms the cathode of the electrolytic capacitor, and a flat cathode contact (5, 17) for providing current to the electrolyte. The flat cathode contact (5, 7) is provided with an electrically conducting, fractal surface coating (6), at least in the area of its contact surface with the electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of producing a biocompatible prosthesis based on a substrate made essentially of metal or ceramic. The substrate is placed into a reactor chamber of a cathodic vapor deposition arrangement and the chamber is evacuated to a predetermined pressure. A predetermined, negative bias voltage is then applied to the substrate and the substrate is surface treated by adding an etching gas to the reactor chamber, at a predetermined, first flow rate and coupling in a high frequency power with a first, predetermined power density for ionic etching for a first, predetermined period of time. The surface treated substrate is separated from the negative bias voltage and a semiconductor cover layer is chemical vapor-phase deposited on the substrate by adding to the reactor chamber a multi-component mixture of process gases containing a semiconductor element in bound format a second, predetermined flow rate and coupling-in of HF power with a predetermined, second power density, for a second, predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method of attaching heparin to, and immobilizing it on, inorganic substrate surfaces of cardiovascular implants such as cardiac valves or alloplastic vessel wall supports, comprising the following steps:activation of the inorganic substrate surface by etching,attachment, by exposure to ultraviolet light, of a photoactive benzophenone compound with an amino protective group as a spacer to the activated substrate surface,splitting off of the amino protective group by the aid of a non-aqueous piperidine solution, andcovalent peptide-bonding of heparin to the free and reactive amino groups of the substrate surface by an aqueous heparin solution acting on the amino groups.

Abstract: A cardiac pacemaker system is provided which includes a stimulation electrode adapted for being anchored in the heart. An output capacitor is coupled to the stimulation electrode. A first circuit coupled to the output capacitor generates stimulation pulses. A second circuit coupled to the output capacitor generates an autoshort pulse following each stimulation pulse to reduce a residual charge of the output capacitor for eliminating an after potential following a stimulation pulse by the stimulation electrode. A third circuit coupled to the output capacitor acquires an evoked pulse of the heart from an electrical signal picked up by the stimulation electrode. The stimulation electrode includes a porous surface coating made of an inert material and has an active surface that is substantially larger than a surface of the basic geometric form of the stimulation electrode.

Abstract: A stimulation electrode having a porous surface coating whose active surface area is significantly greater than the surface area defined by the geometric shape of the electrode, wherein the surface coating comprises an inert material, i.e. a material having no or only a very slight oxidation tendency, wherein the material of the surface coating is formed from an inert element, an inert chemical compound and/or an inert alloy, and the active surface area, by virtue of its fractal-like geometry, is greater by a factor of at least one thousand than the surface area defined by the basic geometric shape of the electrode.