Abstract: A device for impedance measurements on body segments. Outputs of a current source are connected to inputs of current changeover switches. Each current changeover switch has outputs that are interconnectable with the input of the respective current changeover switch. The outputs of the current changeover switches are connected to electric feed lines of current electrodes. Measuring electrodes detect voltage signals, which are used with the current supplied by the current source for the impedance measurements of the body segments. Switching devices are incorporated into the electric feed lines near the current electrodes. By switching the current changeover switches and switching devices, the device respectively connects only two current electrodes to the current source and disconnects all other current electrodes from the electric feed line by switching the switching device and the electric feed line from the current source by switching the current changeover switches.

Abstract: An ECG device comprising limb leads and chest wall leads is described which is also suitable for deriving the hemodynamic activity of the heart and the function of the vessels and, respectively, also for evaluating the fluid equilibrium. This is achieved in that at least part of the electrodes of the multichannel ECG is developed with additional embodiments for physical emissions and measurements, for example, electric current and voltage, pressure, sound vibrations, light, and that an electrode is provided for the current supply and, respectively, the voltage measurement at the upper thorax aperture. Furthermore, an alternating current field is built up between the electrodes or, respectively, the distance between the electrodes is used as an ion conductor.

Abstract: A device for impedance measurements on body segments. Outputs of a current source are connected to inputs of current changeover switches. Each current changeover switch has outputs that are interconnectable with the input of the respective current changeover switch. The outputs of the current changeover switches are connected to electric feed lines of current electrodes. Measuring electrodes detect voltage signals, which are used with the current supplied by the current source for the impedance measurements of the body segments. Switching devices are incorporated into the electric feed lines near the current electrodes. By switching the current changeover switches and switching devices, the device respectively connects only two current electrodes to the current source and disconnects all other current electrodes from the electric feed line by switching the switching device and the electric feed line from the current source by switching the current changeover switches.

Abstract: An ECG device comprising limb leads and chest wall leads is described which is also suitable for deriving the hemodynamic activity of the heart and the function of the vessels and, respectively, also for evaluating the fluid equilibrium. This is achieved in that at least part of the electrodes of the multichannel ECG is developed with additional embodiments for physical emissions and measurements, for example, electric current and voltage, pressure, sound vibrations, light, and that an electrode is provided for the current supply and, respectively, the voltage measurement at the upper thorax aperture. Furthermore, an alternating current field is built up between the electrodes or, respectively, the distance between the electrodes is used as an ion conductor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for regulating the pressure in at least one inflatable cuff, preferably a finger cuff (6), of a blood pressure manometer comprising a plethysmographic sensor device (8, 9) for detecting a plethysmographic signal PG and a pressure sensor (7) for detecting a cuff pressure signal BP. According to the invention, two control loops (1, 2) acting on a differential amplifier (10) are used to independently regulate different operating parameters, the first, inner control loop (1) using the cuff pressure signal BP as the first regulating variable, and the second, outer control loop (2) comprising a regulating device (12), preferably a PID regulator, which generates a nominal value SW as a second regulating variable from the plethysmographic signal PG. The differential amplifier (10) is connected, on the output side, to at least one valve connected to a pressure source (4), preferably a proportional valve (3; 25, 27), for regulating the pressure in the cuff (6).

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the volume, the composition and the movement of electroconductive body fluids, based on the electrical impedance of the body or a body segment, especially for performing electromechanocardiography (ELMEC) or impedance cardiography (IKG) measurements for determining hemodynamic parameters. According to the method, an alternating measuring current of at least one frequency is introduced into the body, and the impedance and temporal variations thereof of essentially the same body segment through which the alternating measuring current flows are measured for at least two different measuring lengths (L, L2, L3, L4, L5), essentially in the longitudinal direction of the body.

Abstract: At an electric instrument used for the measurement of heart- and vascular function as well as body spaces, which is based on impedance measurement, the position of the electrodes, body volume and the volume of the segments located between the electrodes are measured with the help of a contactless measuring apparatus. The instrument comprises a plurality of electrodes capable of being attached to a body, a reference surface on which the body may be placed, and an electrical impedance meter capable of measuring the bodily functions of the body by measuring the electrical impedance and estimating the shape of the body by locating the electrodes attached to the body with reference to the reference surface, wherein the measured electrical impedance is associated with the estimated shape of the body segment.

Abstract: A method for the continuous non-invasive measurement of blood pressure includes at least one first pressure cuff and one second pressure cuff of comparable or identical size, each cuff including an inflatable pressure measuring chamber applicable to a first and a second body part or region containing an artery. The first pressure cuff has a first plethysmographic sensor connected to a regulating and control device used to regulate the pressure in a first pressure measuring chamber by means of a measuring signal of the plethysmographic sensor. The first pressure measuring chamber is connected to a pressure sensor in order to obtain a pressure measuring signal. The second pressure measuring chamber is a reference pressure chamber that can be regulated at the same time as the first pressure measuring chamber, independently therefrom, and can be regulated by the regulating and control device according to a pre-determinable pressure function.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the continuous non-invasive measurement of blood pressure, according to the principle of the relaxed arterial wall, said device comprising at least one first pressure cuff (1) and one second pressure cuff (1?) of a comparable or identical size. Said cuffs respectively comprise an inflatable pressure measuring chamber (4, 4?) and can be applied to a first and a second body part or body region (3, 3?) respectively containing an artery (2, 2?) of a comparable or identical size. The first pressure cuff (1) has a first plethysmographic sensor device (5) connected to a regulating and control device (6) used to regulate the pressure in the first pressure measuring chamber (4) by means of the measuring signal of the plethysmographic sensor device (5). The pressure measuring chamber (4) is connected to at least one pressure sensor (7) in order to obtain a pressure measuring signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the volume, the composition and the movement of electroconductive body fluids, based on the electrical impedance of the body or a body segment, especially for performing electromechanocardiography (ELMEC) or impedance cardiography (IKG) measurements for determining hemodynamic parameters. According to the method, an alternating measuring current of at least one frequency is introduced into the body, and the impedance and temporal variations thereof of essentially the same body segment through which the alternating measuring current flows are measured for at least two different measuring lengths (L, L2, L3, L4, L5), essentially in the longitudinal direction of the body.

Abstract: A medical electrode is provided for measuring the electrical resistance of the body of a patient, especially an impedance cardiography electrode. The electrode includes a non-conductive, unilaterally adhesive support (1) that is elongated and that forms a connecting strap (1?) at its one end for connecting the electrode with electrical terminals; and two contact strips (2a, 2b) from an electrically conductive aluminum composite film, as the electrode material, that are adhered to the support (1) on the adhesive face thereof. The contact strips (2a, 2b) on their side facing away from the support (1) form a composite structure with a skin-friendly electrically conductive adhesive, leaving free the connection straps or lugs (2a?, 2b?), and the strips bend into connection straps (2a?2b?) at the connecting end of the support (1).

Abstract: According to the invention a sphygmomanometer for continuous plethysmographic measurement of blood pressure includes at least one inflatable pressure pad which is attachable to a body part containing an artery, arterial signal sensors for determining arterial blood flow, and a valve-controlled pressure chamber connected to a gas source and to the inflatable pressure pad and including a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the pressure chamber or in the pressure pad. The pressure chamber has separate inlet and outlet valves which are controlled dependent on signals of the arterial signal sensors.

Abstract: A dialytic probe is provided with an insertion needle sharpened at one end, which is surrounded by a flexible plastic cannula, and may be removed after introduction of the probe. The plastic cannula is covered at least partly by a tubular dialyzing membrane which is bonded to the plastic cannula at the distal end and to a handle at the other end, thus forming a fluid-tight seal. The space between the plastic cannula and dialyzing membrane is divided along the length of the probe, such that two passages or lumens of essentially crescent-shaped cross-section are formed, with a flow-connection at the distal end of the plastic cannula, and with a connection to one of separate ingoing and outgoing lines each. The lumen of the plastic cannula may be connected to a drug feeder line. The handle holds the ingoing and outgoing lines and a potential drug feeder line of the probe.

Abstract: A device for the sampling of body fluids using a hollow needle (6), is provided with a storage system (3) with several separate sample containers (4) placed on a movable carrier (9). The containers (4) which are sealed by puncturable membranes (5) so as to be gas-tight, will receive collected fractions of the body fluid at given intervals, a device (7) connected to a control unit (2) being provided, by which the hollow needle (6) is positioned over each sample container (4) in turn and is inserted through the membrane (5) into the sample container. The sampling device 1 is configured as a two-channel cannula (18), one (19) of whose channels is connected via a first connecting tube (25) to the hollow needle (6) used for insertion into the sample containers (4), while its other channel (20) is connected via a second connecting tube (26) to a pump (8'; 21) operated by the control unit (2).

Abstract: In order to determine at least one parameter of interest in a living organism, a perfusion is directly introduced in the tissues. After its partial balancing by the tissue parameter of interest, the perfusion fluid is collected and analyzed for the parameter of interest, as well as for endogenous or exogenous marker properties indicative of the degree of interaction between the perfusion fluid and the tissue, in such a way that the parameters of interest can be determined with the help of such characteristic properties. Contrary to usual processes, used exclusively inside blood vessels or other body cavities filled with liquid, this process creates in the tissues, i.e. in the closed cellular structure, a previously inexistent cavity, in which the perfusion fluid introduced in the tissue interacts directly with the organic tissue, with no intervening membranes.

Abstract: A device designed for determining one or more medical variables in living organisms, comprises a part to be inserted into the tissue of the organism, which has an exchange channel with openings into the tissue. The device comprising a delivery unit connected with the exchange channel for the delivery of a perfusion fluid and its drainage after partial equilibration with the medical variable or quantity to be measured, i.e., preferably glucose concentration, and comparatively constant endogenous or exogenous marker variables. The device further comprising an analyzing unit for measuring the medical variable and one marker variable, and an evaluation unit for determining the actual concentration of the medical variable with the use of the marker variables.

Abstract: In order to produce a small-volume flow measuring cell with good flow characteristics in a sensor device for determining the concentration of a substrate in a sample medium, comprising an enzyme electrode which is covered by a membrane and a reference electrode, both of which are in contact with the measuring cell, the proposal is put forward that the reference electrode be located outside of the membrane cover of the enzyme electrode and that the maximum extension of the flow measuring cell normal to the flow direction of the sample medium essentially be the same as the diameter of the sensitive layer of the enzyme electrode.

Abstract: In order to determine at least one parameter of interest in a living organism, a perfusion fluid is directly introduced in the tissues. After its partial balancing by the tissue parameter of interest, the perfusion fluid is collected and analyzed for the parameter of interest, as well as for endogenous or exogenous marker properties indicative of the degree of interaction between the perfusion fluid and the tissue, in such a way that the parameter of interest can be determined with the help of such characteristic properties. Contrary to usual processes, used exclusively inside blood vessels or other body cavities filled with liquid, this process creates in the tissues, i.e. in the closed cellular structure, a previously inexistent cavity, in which the perfusion fluid introduced in the tissue interacts directly with the organic tissue, with no intervening membranes.

Abstract: A device for withdrawing body fluids such as blood, urine and tissue fluid includes a withdrawal unit, a suction unit, and a storage system receiving the body fluid between the withdrawal unit and the suction unit, the storage system being divided into separate areas holding the fluid fractions gathered at given intervals and permitting the individual fluid fractions to be identified with regard to their time of withdrawal. In this way tests requiring repeated sampling at short intervals are made easier for doctor and patient.