Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacture of an intravascular functional element that can be introduced into a hollow organ and that comprises at least one wire (10) of an alloy having nickel and titanium as alloying elements, with the following steps: preparation of a metal body of the wire (10) with a metallic surface, then formation of a first oxide layer on the metallic surface of the metal body, then performance of a heat treatment of the wire (10) in a nitrogen-containing salt bath for thermal formation of a second mixed oxide layer on the first oxide layer, wherein the total layer thickness is 15 nm to 100 nm and the mixed oxide layer contains TiO2 and at least one nitride, especially titanium oxynitride and/or titanium nitride.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacture of an intravascular functional element that can be introduced into a hollow organ and that comprises at least one wire (10) of an alloy having nickel and titanium as alloying elements, with the following steps: preparation of a metal body of the wire (10) with a metallic surface, then formation of a first oxide layer on the metallic surface of the metal body, then performance of a heat treatment of the wire (10) in a nitrogen-containing salt bath for thermal formation of a second mixed oxide layer on the first oxide layer, wherein the total layer thickness is 15 nm to 100 nm and the mixed oxide layer contains TiO2 and at least one nitride, especially titanium oxynitride and/or titanium nitride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical measuring device comprising an illumination system, a CCD camera and an image processing device for determining the dimensions of hollow or tubular miniature components, in particular stents. For this purpose the stent is slid onto an object slide and rotated in order to image it from all sides by means of the camera. The structure of the object slide is such that, before exiting, incoming light is multiply refracted by said structure, so that the object slide gives off an essentially homogeneous light, i.e. so that each surface element of the light outlet surface has essentially the same radiation intensity.

Abstract: An intraventricular multielectrode cardiac mapping probe having an electrode array assembly which is initially stored within the distal lumen of a delivery catheter and after placement of the tip of the catheter at a target location within the heart the electrode array may be moved out of its retracted position to expand into a generally planar configuration to position electrodes for mapping of the heart chamber.