Abstract: A novel ultra-thin neural implant (1) is provided that is based on a cellulose thin film (4) featuring an array (2) of electrodes (3). Due to the use of cellulose as the base material, the implant (1) can be safely handled during a micro-surgery, despite its high softness and conformability. Such an implant (1) may be useful in numerous applications ranging from electrical stimulation in neural prostheses, electro-stimulated regeneration of neural tissue to accurate recording of nerve signals. The robustness of the implant (1) results from a woven fabric (5) that is integrated in the cellulose carrier thin film (4). Several approaches for enhancing the tissue compatibility of the implant (1) are also provided.

Abstract: A liposome vesicle comprising a membrane consisting of 1,3-diheptadecanamidopropan-2-yl(2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl)phosphate surrounding a volume comprising a pharmaceutical drug or contrast agent. The vesicle is mechanosensitive at body temperature and at physiologically or pathophysiologically relevant shear stress.

Abstract: For exploiting novel use-cases, in particular sophisticated human-machine interaction, with an intraoral electronic tongue monitoring system designed to be worn by a user on the upper or lower jaw and featuring a support sheet bearing a number of intraoral sensors arranged in an array for recording tongue movement and/or tongue pressure, it is proposed that the system comprises at least one extraoral sensor located outside of the oral cavity delimited by the teeth when the system is in place, in particular such that extraoral and/or intraoral and/or interlabial movements of the tongue and/or lip pressure can be recorded with the system and/or such that the system may be used as an input device controlled through tongue movement using a human-machine-interface provided by the system.

Abstract: For improving the sensitivity, lifetime and energy consumption of a dielectric elastomer transducer (1) to be used as a sensor, it is suggested that a dielectric layer (3) enclosed by two electrodes (2) of the transducer (1) includes a nanoscale volume of a fluid (15) such that the dielectric layer (3) is rendered compressible and/or displaceable out of a volume enclosed by the two electrodes (2). The advantage of such a design is that, although the dielectric layer (3) and possible buffer layers (4) separating the electrodes (2) from the dielectric layer (3) may all have thicknesses in the order of a few ?m or even in the sub-?m range, the transducer (1) is rendered highly compliant due to the movability of the fluid (15). In consequence, a large nominal capacitance of the transducer (1) as well as a large relative capacitance change (up to twenty times that of the nominal capacitance) can be achieved in conjunction with a very high sensitivity.

Abstract: A liposome vesicle comprising a membrane consisting of 1,3-diheptadecanamidopropan-2-yl(2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl)phosphate surrounding a volume comprising a pharmaceutical drug or contrast agent. The vesicle is mechanosensitive at body temperature and at physiologically or pathophysiologically relevant shear stress.

Abstract: The invention concerns an endotracheal tube with a collar. In order to avoid as far as possible the danger of a pulmonary infection caused by microbes introduced along the tube, at least one device with an antimicrobial action is fitted at one or more points (12) on the outer surface of the tube. This device consists preferably of a piece of silver foil, vapor-deposited silver or a silver compound (silver salt), or may also be a length of tubing fitted in the tube.