Abstract: A valve prosthesis (9) for implantation in the body by use of catheter (11) comprises a stent made from an expandable cylinder-shaped thread structure (2,3) comprising several spaced apices (4). The elastically collapsible valve (4) is mounted on the stent as the commissural points (5) of the valve (6) are secured to the projecting apices (4).The valve prosthesis (9) can be compressed around the balloon means (13) of the balloon catheter (11) and be inserted in a channel, for instance in the aorta (10). When the valve prosthesis is placed correctly the balloon means (13) is inflated thereby expanding the stent and wedging it against the wall of aorta. The balloon means is provided with beads (14) to ensure a steady fastening of the valve prosthesis on the balloon means during insertion and expansion.The valve prosthesis (9) and the balloon catheter (11) make it possible to insert a cardiac valve prosthesis without a surgical operation comprising opening the thoracic cavity.

Abstract: An electrode probe (1), in particular for electrical stimulation of the heart from the interior of the esophagus, is constructed on the basis of the new finding that the distance from the transition between the stomach and the esophagus to the transition between the left atrium and the left ventricle is substantially the same in adults. The electrode probe (1) has a maximum of two stimulation zones (A, B) (one for atrium and ventricle, respectively) which, when fitted on expansible parts of the probe, allows heart stimulation to be performed with simple equipment without expert assistance, when the distance between a means (4X) for fixing the axial position of the probe in the esophagus and the stimulation zones (A, B) are determined in accordance with the above finding, so that in all conditions optimum stimulation of the heart and reduction in the required stimulation voltage are obtained.