Abstract: A dissipation device having a proximal end, which is located outside the body, and a distal end, which is suited in particular for elongate medical instruments, in particular electrophysiological catheters or temporary electrode leads, placed temporarily in the body. The dissipation device including a dissipation sleeve which extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the dissipation device, and a lumen which extends from the proximal end to the distal end, and in which the instrument can be displaceably guided, wherein the lumen is enclosed by the dissipation sleeve. The dissipation device is characterized in that the dissipation sleeve is composed, at least partially, of electrically conductive material, and/or the dissipation sleeve includes dissipation means composed of electrically conductive material and, therefore, the dissipation sleeve is designed to dissipate or divert electrical energy induced by electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An implant for releasing an active substance into a vessel through which a body medium flows. The implant release an active substance into a vessel through which a body medium flows downstream from the location of the implant. A base of a biodegradable material is a carrier of the active substance to be released. The body medium flows past the implant and the active substance is release. The implant is configured so that the active substance does not contact a vessel wall at the location of implant.

Abstract: A lead for use in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and similar applications has a rigid lead tip with multiple electrodes thereon. The electrodes are formed by coating a lead tip core with a conductive material; selectively removing the conductive material to define the electrodes and conductive tracks leading therefrom; and then applying a layer of insulating material over the tracks to leave the electrodes exposed. Terminals are also left exposed on the tracks for connection to energy supply and/or data transmission lines. Such lines are preferably provided on or within a flexible lead body connected to the lead tip.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fixing for implantable electrodes and catheters. The object of the present invention is inter alia to provide a fixing which takes account of the different demands in the course of time of ordinary use of the implantable electrodes or catheters. For that purpose the fixing includes at least one first structural element comprising a biodegradable material, namely a biodegradable magnesium alloy.

Abstract: An implantable catheter lead or electrode lead includes an elongated flexible lead body with the fixation means attached to the lead body, for the purpose of effecting fixation of the catheter lead or electrode lead in a predetermined position within a vessel or a bodily cavity of a patient. A releasable attachment is provided between the lead body and the fixation means such that an explantation of the catheter lead or electrode lead is possible after the attachment is released while the fixation means remains in place within the body of the patient.

Abstract: An electrode for interventional purposes, such as a cardiac pacemaker, neurostimulation, or ICD electrode, comprises an elongate electrode body (6), at least one electrode pole (5) in the area of the distal end (4) of the electrode body (6) for delivering an intervention pulse, at least one supply line (7) running in the electrode body (6) to the at least one electrode pole (5), and an electrode sheath (8) for insulating the supply line (7). The first and/or second material is produced in such a way that it contains conductive particles embedded in a polymer matrix in a concentration which is greater than or equal to the percolation threshold.

Abstract: An electrode for interventional purposes, such as a cardiac pacemaker, neurostimulation, or ICD electrode, comprises an elongate electrode body (6), at least one electrode pole (5) in the area of the distal end (4) of the electrode body (6) for delivering an intervention pulse, at least one supply line (7) running in the electrode body (6) to the at least one electrode pole (5), and an electrode sheath (8) for insulating the supply line (7). The first and/or second material is produced in such a way that it contains conductive particles embedded in a polymer matrix in a concentration which is greater than or equal to the percolation threshold.

Abstract: A lead for use in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and similar applications has a rigid lead tip with multiple electrodes thereon. The electrodes are formed by coating a lead tip core with a conductive material; selectively removing the conductive material to define the electrodes and conductive tracks leading therefrom; and then applying a layer of insulating material over the tracks to leave the electrodes exposed. Terminals are also left exposed on the tracks for connection to energy supply and/or data transmission lines. Such lines are preferably provided on or within a flexible lead body connected to the lead tip.

Abstract: Electrotherapeutic implant for stimulation of body tissue, comprising at least two electrode poles (14) which are connected to electric feeder lines, a demodulation unit (22), at least one electric feeder line (20), which is designed as an antenna and contacts the demodulation unit (22), wherein the implant (10) is fabricated from one piece, can be affixed (16) at the treatment site and is equipped with a biocompatible insulation, whereby the components of the implant (10) are designed so that a therapeutic energy which can be injected from the outside over the antenna (20) during the treatment is delivered to the therapeutic target region without intermediate storage.

Abstract: An active medical implantable device with at least two diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions is constructed from separate active implant modules (2 to 7) which are adapted to the respective desired functions and can be coupled to each other.

Abstract: An electrode device for cardiological or neurological electrodiagnosis and/or electrotherapy comprises an elongated electrode body (12), at least one electrode (14, 16) in the vicinity of the distal end (24) of the electrode body (12), and an electrode conductor (44) for the electrical connection of the electrode (14, 16). The electrode conductor (44) has a fibrous structure (52) with anisotropic conductivity so that the specific conductivity of the electrode conductor (44) is significantly higher in its longitudinal direction than in its transverse direction.

Abstract: A dissipation device having a proximal end, which is located outside the body, and a distal end, which is suited in particular for elongate medical instruments, in particular electrophysiological catheters or temporary electrode leads, placed temporarily in the body. The dissipation device including a dissipation sleeve which extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the dissipation device, and a lumen which extends from the proximal end to the distal end, and in which the instrument can be displaceably guided, wherein the lumen is enclosed by the dissipation sleeve. The dissipation device is characterized in that the dissipation sleeve is composed, at least partially, of electrically conductive material, and/or the dissipation sleeve includes dissipation means composed of electrically conductive material and, therefore, the dissipation sleeve is designed to dissipate or divert electrical energy induced by electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A placement device for precise placement of a medical implant into a living organism includes an elongated body with a distal end and a proximal end. The placement device can be introduced into the living organism through an aditus, so that the proximal end remains outside of the living organism. The distal end has an anchor which can be firmly anchored in the body tissue in removable manner. The medical implant includes an elongated hollow housing with a distal and a proximal end, whereby the hollow housing can translatably receive the placement device therein. The opening at the distal end is provided with a sealing unit for sealing the elongated hollow housing with respect to the placement device.

Abstract: An implantable catheter lead or electrode lead includes an elongated flexible lead body with the fixation means attached to the lead body, for the purpose of effecting fixation of the catheter lead or electrode lead in a predetermined position within a vessel or a bodily cavity of a patient. A releasable attachment is provided between the lead body and the fixation means such that an explantation of the catheter lead or electrode lead is possible after the attachment is released while the fixation means remains in place within the body of the patient.

Abstract: An electrode probe for medical applications includes a tubular, flexible probe body, an electrode mounted at the distal end of the probe body, and an electrical supply line within the probe body and extending to the electrode. At least a portion of the distal end section of the probe body can be transformed into a radially broadened collar, preferably owing to relative motion between the electrical supply line and the probe body. Where a screw-in electrode is used, the distal end section may be deformed into a radially broadened collar when the electrode is screwed into the body tissue, owing to forces exerted by the body tissue onto the distal end section, and/or owing to forces exerted by the screw-in electrode on the distal end section via a thrust bearing.

Abstract: Controllable catheter (10) having an elongated shaft (13) which is subdivided into multiple shaft segments, at least two of which are designed as tilt segments (12) and are each connected to at least one adjustment device, so that they can be tilted about a desired tilt angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (13), wherein each of the at least one adjustment device is individually controllable and allows individual tilting of a corresponding tilt segment about a desired tilt angle.

Abstract: A plug connection, including a plug connector and a socket for an implantable medical device, and further including a sealing element which is sheared along the axis of the plug connector and which seals the lumen formed by the socket and the proximal end of the plug connector against the environment.

Abstract: An implantable medical electrode device, in particular a cardiovascular cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator electrode device, comprises an elongate, tubular electrode body (2), a fixing zone (4) in front of the distal end (3) of the electrode body (2), in which the externally closed peripheral envelope (8) of the electrode body (2) is reversibly expandable into a body lumen (27) for detachable fixing of the electrode device (1), and an expansion apparatus, situated in the fixing zone (4), for controlling the expansion and contraction in the fixing zone (4).

Abstract: A guide wire for introducing an implantable electrode line, wherein the electrode line is particular a heart electrode line for intracardial sensing of cardiac actionpotentials and/or for electrical stimulation or defibrillation of the heart, and wherein the guide wire is adapted for interlocking with the electrode line, and wherein the guide wire comprises a deformation, in particular curved, wavy, V-shaped, zig-zag, or trapezoidal, enlarging the effective contact diameter of the guide wire to a value corresponding essentially to the inner diameter of a lumen of the electrode line or greater than this.

Abstract: An insertion device (10), by which a medical instrument or an electrode line or a guide wire or a medical therapeutic agent may be inserted into a body cavity, comprises a lumen section (11) manufactured from a flexible plastic material, having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, and a distal end area enclosing the distal end, at least one electrically conductive means (20) in the distal end area to sense physiological signals or stimulate the surrounding body tissue suitably, as well as at least one conductor, which extends from the proximal end to the distal end and is capable of conducting physiological signals to the proximal end and/or stimulation pulses to the distal end. The at least one electrically conductive means is produced from a flexible, not exclusively metallic, electrically conductive substrate.