Abstract: Method for applying a coating layer to a tubular intraluminal implant, in particular to a vascular support (stent), where the surface of the implant is perforated by a plurality of apertures, and where the coating layer is produced by deposition of material onto the surface of the implant. The implant is first pushed onto a cylindrical holder 4, a sacrificial material, in particular copper, is then deposited onto the surface of the implant until the deposited sacrificial material almost entirely fills the apertures, the coating layer is then deposited onto the surface of the implant provided with sacrificial material, and then the cylindrical holder 4 and the sacrificial material situated in the apertures 3 are removed.

Abstract: A method for the production of a structured metal layer (7) made from an alloy composed of titanium and nickel includes the following process steps: a sacrificial layer composite (3) is provided, which comprises a second sacrificial layer (2) applied onto a first sacrificial layer (1), the first sacrificial layer (1) is subjected for the purpose of structuring to a wet-chemical etching process in such a manner that undercutting of the sacrificial layer (1) occurs, a metal layer (7) of the alloy is applied indirectly or directly to the structured sacrificial layer composite (3). The first sacrificial layer (1) is at a greater distance from the metal layer (7). The second sacrificial layer (2) facing the metal layer (7) to be deposited is subjected to a dry etching process prior to wet-chemical etching of the first sacrificial layer (1) so that the second sacrificial layer (2) is provided with a structure that corresponds to the desired structure of the metal layer (7).

Abstract: A process for producing a self-supporting layer made of a titanium and nickel alloy with superelastic and/or shape memory properties has the following steps: a substrate entirely or at least mainly made of silicon is provided, a layer of said alloy is applied to a surface of the substrate, the substrate with the desired form is cut out of a wafer or formed by a wafer with the desired form; at least some zones of the lateral surfaces of the substrate adjoining the zones of the surface of the substrate which receive the layer are subjected to an etching process; a layer of said alloy is applied to the surface of the substrate; and the substrate is removed from the applied layer. Also disclosed is a substrate suitable for carrying out the process and an object, in particular an implant, comprising at least one layer produced by this process.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring mechanical changes in length, in particular a compressive and/or tensile stress sensor, includes a sandwich system with two flat and superposed electrodes separated from each other by a tunnel element (tunnel barrier), in particular an oxide barrier, a current being set up between the electrodes and through the tunnel barrier, one electrode consisting of a magnetostrictive layer 3 which responds to elongation, and wherein the contributions of the anisotropies caused by mechanical tension are larger than those from the intrinsic anisotropies, relative changes in system resistance ?R/R larger than 10% at room temperature being attained during elongation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor measuring mechanical changes in length, in particular to a compressive and/or tensile stress sensor, comprising a sandwich system with two flat and superposed electrodes separated from each other by a tunnel element (tunnel barrier), in particular an oxide barrier, a current being set up between said electrodes and through the tunnel barrier, one electrode consisting of a magnetostrictive layer 3 which responds to elongation, and wherein the contributions of the anisotropies caused by mechanical tension are larger than those from the intrinsic anisotropies, relative changes in system resistance &Dgr;R/R larger than 10% at room temperature being attained during elongation.

Abstract: Process for qualitative and quantitative detection of an analyte present in a biological sample and in molecular form, in which process a sensor is provided with a substrate binding the analyte and in which in a first process step the sensor is loaded with the analyte and, in a subsequent process step, the total analyte mass bound by the sensor is measured, before in a further step the molecular weight of the analyte forming the total mass is measured.