Abstract: The present invention provides a plug device or grommet (1) for sealing an incision in tissue of a human or animal body, such as an incision in the tissue of the sclera (S) made during a surgical intervention for the implantation of a visual prosthesis. The device (1) comprises: a cover part (10) for covering the incision and an area of the tissue (S) around the incision; and an insertion part (20) extending from the cover part (10) for insertion into the incision through the tissue (S). The insertion part (20) defines a sealable passage (30) which is adapted to extend through the incision, and the insertion part (20) is preferably flexible and resiliency deformable to open and close the sealable passage (30) there-through. The sealable passage (30) extends through the incision to provide communication between an outer side (S0) of the tissue and an inner side (Si) of the tissue. The passage (30) may accommodate a component which provides a connection or interconnection through the tissue (S).

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: The object of providing a visual prosthesis in the form of a retinal implant, which is distinguished by the least possible space requirement inside the eye, is achieved according to the present invention by a visual prosthesis having an intraocular implant and an extraocular implant, which supplies the intraocular implant with energy and controls it. The visual prosthesis according to the invention therefore offers the advantage that 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.

Abstract: Apparatus with a pneumatic or hydraulic or mechanical therapeutic catheter. The therapy energy required to treat internal vessels of the patient is transferred by the same fluid or the same elements from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter that transfer information from the distal end section to the proximal end section of the catheter. The information provides understanding of the state of the vessel and how the therapy fluid of the therapy element of the catheter acts on the vessel.

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 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 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: Disclosed herein are devices and methods useful for measuring the imperviousness of moisture barriers in implants by means of electrochemical, integrative measurement of small electric charges. Using the devices and methods, the integrity or imperviousness of insulating layers or moisture barriers of implants can be verified more exactly, and the influence of electromagnetic interferences on the measurement can be reduced.

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 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: Apparatus with a pneumatic or hydraulic or mechanical therapeutic catheter. The therapy energy required to treat internal vessels of the patient is transferred by the same fluid or the same elements from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter that transfer information from the distal end section to the proximal end section of the catheter. The information provides understanding of the estate of the vessel and how the therapy fluid of the therapy element of the catheter acts on the vessel.

Abstract: A blood conditioning device having a housing with a helical blood acceleration section which includes a helical flow path for impressing centrifugal forces on the entrained bubbles in the blood to concentrate them towards the center of the flow path, a bubble pick off tube aligned with the centerline of the acceleration section which collects and recirculates the bubbles to the cardiotomy reservoir upstream of the device during operation, and a blood filtration section to intercept the flow of particles in the blood.

Abstract: Apparatus with a pneumatic or hydraulic or mechanical therapeutic catheter. The therapy energy required to treat internal vessels of the patient is transferred by the same fluid or the same elements from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter that transfer information from the distal end section to the proximal end section of the catheter. The information provides understanding of the estate of the vessel and how the therapy fluid of the therapy element of the catheter acts on the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus with a pneumatic or hydraulic or mechanical therapeutic catheter. The therapy energy required to treat internal vessels of the patient is transferred by the same fluid or the same elements from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter that transfer information from the distal end section to the proximal end section of the catheter. The information provides understanding of the estate of the vessel and how the therapy fluid of the therapy element of the catheter acts on the vessel.