Abstract: An anchoring element including a replacement heart valve for the purposes of intraluminal anchoring of the heart valve element to mammalian hearts, the anchoring element having a small enough initial volume prior to its placement that it can be brought to its point of use using a catheter through a blood vessel and can be expanded there to its functionally correct dimensions. The anchoring element is shaped differently from a cylindrical shape such that it is connected to the aorta at the point of use at least in areas in a form-locked manner. This facilitates an especially good seating of the anchoring element containing the replacement heart valve.

Abstract: A medical instrument for endoscopic removal of the saphenous vein has an elongated shaft which hat at the distal end a spatula tip and in whose proximal region is arranged a laterally projecting handle. The instrument further has an endoscopic optical system which has an eyepiece cup that is arranged at the proximal end of the instrument. The handle is joined to the shaft in such a way that an outer side of the instrument facing away from the handle continuously has a surface that, from the distal to the proximal end, is free of projections. The eyepiece cup is arranged in oblique orientation with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the shaft and encloses with the handle, with respect to the longitudinal center axis, an angle of less than 90°.

Abstract: A method for preparing a patient for a medically indicated procedure such as an operation, is presented with which steps necessary for the procedure are checked and the completion of those steps verified. The method proceeds by generating a list of tasks to be carried out and a list of preparatory items in association with those tasks. Data are entered in response to prompts for the list of preparatory items and a list of tasks and of preparatory items is updated appropriately in response to that data input. This feedback looping process continues until a closed matrix of accomplished items and tasks is presented to the system and the system indicates that the patient is ready of the indicated procedure. The invention has the advantage of increased efficiency by precluding the necessity for personnel not normally responsible for a given task or item, from having to carry that item out, when it was omitted in a previous processing stage.

Abstract: An anchoring element including a replacement heart valve for the purposes of intraluminal anchoring of the heart valve element to mammalian hearts, the anchoring element having a small enough initial volume prior to its placement that it can be brought to its point of use using a catheter through a blood vessel and can be expanded there to its functionally correct dimensions. The anchoring element is shaped differently from a cylindrical shape such that it is connected to the aorta at the point of use at least in areas in a form-locked manner. This facilitates an especially good seating of the anchoring element containing the replacement heart valve.

Abstract: A medical instrument for endoscopic removal of the saphenous vein has an elongated shaft which hat at the distal end a spatula tip and in whose proximal region is arranged a laterally projecting handle. The instrument further has an endoscopic optical system which has an eyepiece cup that is arranged at the proximal end of the instrument. The handle is joined to the shaft in such a way that an outer side of the instrument facing away from the handle continuously has a surface that, from the distal to the proximal end, is free of projections. The eyepiece cup is arranged in oblique orientation with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the shaft and encloses with the handle, with respect to the longitudinal center axis, an angle of less than 90°.

Abstract: A medical instrument for endoscopic removal of the saphenous vein has an elongated shaft which has at the distal end a spatula tip and in whose proximal region is arranged a laterally projecting handle. The instrument further has an endoscopic optical system which has an eyepiece cup that is arranged at the proximal end of the instrument. The handle is joined to the shaft in such a way that an outer side of the instrument facing away from the handle continuously has a surface that, from the distal to the proximal end, is free of projections. The eyepiece cup is arranged in oblique orientation with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the shaft and encloses with the handle, with respect to the longitudinal center axis, an angle of less than 90°.

Abstract: A reperfusion device for reperfusion of a blood vessel. Blood is withdrawn from a patient and is metered into a first compressible bag. The first bag is connected with a second compressible bag. Compression of the first bag transfers blood from the first bag to the second bag. The second bag is connected with a supply container for metered supply of reperfusion liquid which is mixed with the blood that enters the second bag. The mixture of blood and reperfusion liquid is transferred in a metered amount from the second bag through a reperfusion catheter into a blood vessel by compressing the second bag. The bags are compressed either manually or by a respective pressure cuffs. Hose clamps are provided on the tubing between the bags and on the reperfusion catheter. Meters measure and indicate the flow into and out of each of the bags and through the reperfusion catheter.

Abstract: A reperfusion device draws oxygenated, arterial blood from the patient. This blood is mixed in a mixing container with reperfusion solution. The blood-solution mixture is supplied back to the patient through a catheter and at a place which is upstream from the stenosis being treated. Blood from a blood bank is thus not used. Instead, arterial blood from the patient is used, which is supplied back to the patient immediately after it is prepared with the reperfusion solution. Since the blood leaves the body of the patient for only a short time, damage to the blood is largely avoided. In addition, the pump which supplies the blood-solution mixture to the body of the patient is controlled as a function of the pressure in the blood vessel being treated. The blood pressure is measured for this purpose in the blood vessel, so that very accurate control of the pump is possible.