Abstract: A pipetting device for processing a fluid sample includes a receiving element and a pipette tip detachably arranged on the receiving element, a displacement element flow-connected to the pipette tip for generating a flow for receiving or ejecting the fluid sample. The pipetting device includes an optically transparent extension detachably arranged on the pipette tip in such a way that the extension is flow-connected to the displacement element via the pipette tip, so that the fluid sample can be received into the extension or can be ejected from the extension by the flow that can be generated by the displacement element.

Abstract: An automated laboratory apparatus for processing a sample includes a treatment chamber for receiving the sample, a movement device arranged movably in at least one first spatial direction of the treatment chamber, an analysis unit arranged in the treatment chamber for analyzing the sample, which analysis unit can be received by the movement device and can be moved to the sample by the movement device, and an electronic control device which is signal-connected to the movement device and the analysis unit.

Abstract: A device for receiving, stacking, and removing microplates is presented and described. The device comprises a tower for stacking the microplates, wherein a microplate comprises a container and, optionally, a lid. There is a retaining device at the lower end of the tower, which has a first retaining tool and a second retaining tool, and preferably partially encompasses a microplate. The first retaining tool is designed to hold a microplate in a form-fitting manner. The second retaining tool is designed to fix a container in the microplate in place in a frictional manner. The first retaining tool is above the second retaining tool in the stacking direction. A system that comprises the device described above, a dispenser device, and a transport device, is also disclosed. The dispenser device is used to fill microplates, and the transport device is used to add and remove microplates to and from the device.

Abstract: A device for the reversible immobilization of biomolecules by magnetic particles includes a container. The container is configured to be filled with a liquid containing biomolecules and a magnet. The magnet is arranged on the container in such a way that magnetic particles arranged in the container and to which the biomolecules are capable of being immobilized, are configured to be fixed in the container. An inhomogeneous magnetic field id configured to act on the magnetic particles disposed in the container and is capable of being generated by the arrangement of the magnet, so that the magnetic particles are arranged in a structured manner by the influence of the inhomogeneous magnetic field.

Abstract: The object,—to create a printed circuit board for an implant having improved properties in connection with the electrical contacting via the contact points of the conductor tracks on the printed circuit board,—is achieved, according to the present invention, by means of a device for contacting and/or electrostimulation of living tissue cells or nerves with having a printed circuit board having with at least one contact point for electrical contacting, the printed circuit board encompassing comprising a flexible multilayer system with at least one conductor track. In accordance with the invention, the contact points for the conductor track in the multilayer system are galvanically reinforced. To this end, a galvanically reinforced layer is grown onto the already preprocessed contact point, for example by means of a galvanic process.

Abstract: A visual prosthesis in the form of a retinal implant, which is distinguished by the least possible space requirement inside the eye, is achieved by a visual prosthesis having an intraocular implant and an extraocular implant, which supplies the intraocular implant with energy and controls it. Virtually all the electronic components, which do not necessarily need to be accommodated with the intraocular implant inside the eye, can be arranged outside the eyeball, for example on the sclera. In this way, the space requirement of the stimulation system inside the eye is reduced and the operative intervention for implanting the stimulation system inside the eye is kept as small as possible. A bidirectional inductive interface between an extracorporeal part of the visual prosthesis and an intracorporeal part, including the intraocular and extraocular implants, via which a current supply and bidirectional data transmission can be carried out is provided.

Abstract: The object of providing a device for reversibly attaching an implant to an eye, with which the implant can be attached in a simple way to the eye and can if necessary be detached or removed from the eye, is achieved according to the present invention by means of a device for attaching an implant by means of a pin that comprises a substantially elongated shaft, wherein the implant includes an implant film for contacting living tissue or nerves in the visual system of the eye and the implant film has an opening through which the shaft of the pin can be at least partially inserted, characterised in that the device includes a holding element that can be arranged on the shaft of the pin so that the holding element engages on the shaft of the pin and is fixed in an attachment position to the pin.

Abstract: The object of providing a device for reversibly attaching an implant to an eye, with which the implant can be attached in a simple way to the eye and can if necessary be detached or removed from the eye, is achieved according to the present invention by means of a device for attaching an implant by means of a pin that comprises a substantially elongated shaft, wherein the implant includes an implant film for contacting living tissue or nerves in the visual system of the eye and the implant film has an opening through which the shaft of the pin can be at least partially inserted, characterised in that the device includes a holding element that can be arranged on the shaft of the pin so that the holding element engages on the shaft of the pin and is fixed in an attachment position to the pin.

Abstract: A visual prosthesis in the form of a retinal implant, which is distinguished by the least possible space requirement inside the eye, is achieved by a visual prosthesis having an intraocular implant and an extraocular implant, which supplies the intraocular implant with energy and controls it. Virtually all the electronic components, which do not necessarily need to be accommodated with the intraocular implant inside the eye, can be arranged outside the eyeball, for example on the sclera. In this way, the space requirement of the stimulation system inside the eye is reduced and the operative intervention for implanting the stimulation system inside the eye is kept as small as possible. A bidirectional inductive interface between an extracorporeal part of the visual prosthesis and an intracorporeal part, including the intraocular and extraocular implants, via which a current supply and bidirectional data transmission can be carried out is provided.

Abstract: A visual prosthesis in the form of a retinal implant, which is distinguished by the least possible space requirement inside the eye, is achieved by a visual prosthesis having an intraocular implant and an extraocular implant, which supplies the intraocular implant with energy and controls it. Virtually all the electronic components, which do not necessarily need to be accommodated with the intraocular implant inside the eye, can be arranged outside the eyeball, for example on the sclera. In this way, the space requirement of the stimulation system inside the eye is reduced and the operative intervention for implanting the stimulation system inside the eye is kept as small as possible. A bidirectional inductive interface between an extracorporeal part of the visual prosthesis and an intracorporeal part, including the intraocular and extraocular implants, via which a current supply and bidirectional data transmission can be carried out is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microelectronics element, such as an optical receiver element, for a medical implant device to be implanted in the human or animal body, particularly for a retinal implant device. The microelectronics element comprises a functional unit including application specific microelectronics, such as a photodiode, for performing a function in the medical implant device, and rectifier means adapted for converting an AC supply voltage into a DC voltage. The DC voltage provided by the rectifier means, or an operating voltage derived from the DC voltage, is configured to be supplied to the functional unit. Further, the functional unit and the rectifier means are integrated on a common semiconductor substrate and configured such that the rectifier means isolates the microelectronics element from application of an external DC supply voltage. The invention also relates to a medical implant device, such as a retinal implant, which incorporates such a microelectronics element.

Abstract: A power supply for a retina implant at least partly located in the interior of a patient's eye is described. The power supply comprises a first transmission coil (4, 23), a second transmission coil (5, 24). The power supply further comprises a signal generation unit adapted for generating a first high frequency signal and a second high frequency signal, and for applying the first high frequency signal to the first transmission coil and the second high frequency signal to the second transmission coil, the second high frequency signal being phase shifted relative to the first high frequency signal. The first transmission coil is adapted for transmitting the first high frequency signal, and the second transmission coil is adapted for transmitting the second high frequency signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a visual prosthesis comprising: image capture means for capturing an image from a surrounding environment; image processing means for processing the image and converting the image into a transmissible image signal; signal processing means for processing and converting the image signal into a stimulation signal; and a retina stimulation device (10) adapted to stimulate the retina of both left and right eyes in accordance with the stimulation signal. The retina stimulation device (10) comprises a left-side stimulation unit (11) having an electrode array (12) for stimulating the retina of the left eye, and a right-side stimulation unit (11?) having an electrode array (12?) for stimulating the retina of the right eye, with the left-side stimulation unit (11) having a configuration which is reversed with respect to a configuration of the right-side stimulation unit (11?).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microelectronics element, such as an optical receiver element, for a medical implant device to be implanted in the human or animal body, particularly for a retinal implant device. The microelectronics element comprises a functional unit including application specific microelectronics, such as a photodiode, for performing a function in the medical implant device, and rectifier means adapted for converting an AC supply voltage into a DC voltage. The DC voltage provided by the rectifier means, or an operating voltage derived from the DC voltage, is configured to be supplied to the functional unit. Further, the functional unit and the rectifier means are integrated on a common semiconductor substrate and configured such that the rectifier means isolates the microelectronics element from application of an external DC supply voltage. The invention also relates to a medical implant device, such as a retinal implant, which incorporates such a microelectronics element.

Abstract: The object,—to create a printed circuit board for an implant having improved properties in connection with the electrical contacting via the contact points of the conductor tracks on the printed circuit board,—is achieved, according to the present invention, by means of a device for contacting and/or electrostimulation of living tissue cells or nerves with having a printed circuit board having with at least one contact point for electrical contacting, the printed circuit board encompassing comprising a flexible multilayer system with at least one conductor track. In accordance with the invention, the contact points for the conductor track in the multilayer system are galvanically reinforced. To this end, a galvanically reinforced layer is grown onto the already preprocessed contact point, for example by means of a galvanic process.

Abstract: The object,—to create a printed circuit board for an implant having improved properties in connection with the electrical contacting via the contact points of the conductor tracks on the printed circuit board,—is achieved, according to the present invention, by means of a device for contacting and/or electrostimulation of living tissue cells or nerves with having a printed circuit board having with at least one contact point for electrical contacting, the printed circuit board encompassing comprising a flexible multilayer system with at least one conductor track. In accordance with the invention, the contact points for the conductor track in the multilayer system are galvanically reinforced. To this end, a galvanically reinforced layer is grown onto the already preprocessed contact point, for example by means of a galvanic process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode array for a medical implant device, comprising a substrate supporting a plurality of electrodes, the substrate comprising at least two layers of material including a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer of material and the second layer of material have different coefficients of thermal expansion. The plurality of electrodes may be supported on the first layer of material, and are preferably incorporated in and/or project from the second layer of material. The second layer of material may itself have a layered structure comprising multiple material layers, with the plurality of electrodes incorporated within the said multiple material layers. The first layer of material preferably has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the second layer of material. The invention furthermore provides a medical implant device including an electrode array according to the invention, and a method of manufacturing such an electrode array.

Abstract: A system for generating artificial vision in a subject, comprising: an image capture means for capturing an image from a surrounding environment; an image processing means for processing the image and converting the image into an image signal; and a retinal implant or stimulation device (10) configured to be implanted within an eye of a patient and positioned on or adjacent the retina. The implant or stimulation device (10) comprises a substrate (11) and a plurality of light sources (12) arranged in an array on the substrate (11) for stimulating nerve cells of the retina, wherein each of the plurality of light sources (12) is configured to emit infrared radiation to stimulate one or more nerve cells in response to a respective stimulation signal derived from the image signal.

Abstract: The object, to create a method for producing multilayers or multilayer systems wherein the structures generated on a substrate can easily be jointly detached from the substrate and are preserved in a composite, is achieved by the present invention by means of a method for producing implant structures comprising generating a first metal layer on a substrate, generating a second metal layer above the first metal layer, producing a number of multilayered implant structures above the second metal layer, removing the first metal layer between the substrate and the second metal layer, and releasing the implant structures from the substrate in a coherent composite. With the method according to the invention, between the implant structures and the substrate a release layer is generated consisting of two or three metal layers which serve as sacrificial layer in the course of releasing the fully processed multilayers by means of an under-etching process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a visual prosthesis comprising: image capture means for capturing an image from a surrounding environment; image processing means for processing the image and converting the image into a transmissible image signal; signal processing means for processing and converting the image signal into a stimulation signal; and a retina stimulation device (10) adapted to stimulate the retina of both left and right eyes in accordance with the stimulation signal. The retina stimulation device (10) comprises a left-side stimulation unit (11) having an electrode array (12) for stimulating the retina of the left eye, and a right-side stimulation unit (11?) having an electrode array (12?) for stimulating the retina of the right eye, with the left-side stimulation unit (11) having a configuration which is reversed with respect to a configuration of the right-side stimulation unit (11?).