Abstract: An electrode element (1) for an energy storage unit (200), such as a capacitor, has an electrode body (100) made of an active electrode material (E), wherein the electrode body (100) includes one or more of: at least one cavity (110) on its surface or in its interior; at least one partial volume (120) of lower density; and/or a surface coating (D) covering at least a portion of the surface of the electrode body (100), such that the surface area covered by the surface coating (D) remains unwetted when in contact with an electrolyte. Energy storage units (200) incorporating the electrode element (1) are particularly suitable for use in implantable electrotherapeutic devices.

Abstract: An implantable pulse generator comprises a pulse generation device generating an output pulse, the pulse generation device comprising a control unit, shock generation circuitry and output circuitry. The shock generation circuitry comprises a first energy storage device, a second energy storage device and a switching device. The switching device is electrically connected to the first energy storage device, and is configured to connect, in a closed state, the first energy storage device with the second energy storage device, and to disconnect, in an open state, the first energy storage device from the second energy storage device. The shock generation circuitry configured to generate an output pulse by supplying energy to the output circuitry, in the open state, from the first energy storage device via a first connection line and, in the closed state, from the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device via a second connection line.

Abstract: Electrical component for an implantable medical device comprises an outer shell forming first and second side faces, a functional element enclosed in the outer shell, and an arrangement of connection devices arranged on the outer shell for establishing an electrical connection of the functional element to a component of the implantable medical device outside of the outer shell. A first connection device is arranged on the first side face and a second connection device is arranged on the second side face, wherein the electrical component is configurable to assume different configuration states, wherein in a first configuration state the first connection device is configured to establish said electrical connection and the second connection device is deactivated, and in a second configuration state the first connection device is deactivated and the second connection device is configured to establish said electrical connection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting a signal from a human or animal organism which, during operation, carries out the following steps: detecting a signal from a human or animal organism in a time-dependent manner; subdividing a signal segment into first blocks; determining a total number of the first blocks; determining a measure for a signal swing in each of the first blocks; determining a number of first blocks in which the measure for the signal swing is less than a predeterminable first threshold value; calculating a first quotient from the number of first blocks in which the measure for the signal swing is less than the first threshold value and the total number of first blocks; comparing the first quotient with a second threshold value; classifying a state of the human or animal organism as physiological or as pathophysiological as a function of the previous comparison.

Abstract: An implantable system for the diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment of a human or animal patient contains a processor, a memory, a treatment unit and a remote data transmission unit. The system is characterized in that the memory includes a computer-readable program which prompts the processor to carry out the following steps when the program is being executed on the processor: a) ascertaining whether a treatment functionality of the treatment unit could jeopardize a patient in whom the system was implanted if a diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment of the patient corresponding to the treatment functionality were to be carried out; b) deactivating the treatment functionality when a potential risk for the patient was ascertained; c) receiving reactivation data by way of the remote data transmission unit; and d) reactivating the deactivated treatment functionality based on the received reactivation data.

Abstract: An implantable device for implantation in a human body or animal body. The device includes an energy source, an energy storage device, and an electronics unit. Further, an actuator is coupled with the energy storage device and it is configured to emit electromagnetic waves by discharging the energy storage device.

Abstract: An implantable system stimulates a human or animal heart. The system contains a processor, a memory unit, an atrial stimulation unit, a ventricular stimulation unit, and a detection unit for detecting atrial tachycardia. The memory unit stores a computer-readable program that prompts the processor to: a) detect by the detection unit whether atrial tachycardia to be treated is present in the heart; b) when atrial tachycardia to be treated is present, carrying out a ventricular conditioning stimulation by way of the ventricular stimulation unit; and c) applying atrial antitachycardia pacing in the form of a stimulation pulse sequence of 2 to 20 pulses or a high-frequency burst having a frequency of up to 50 Hz and a duration of up to 60 seconds by way of the atrial stimulation unit as the ventricular conditioning stimulation is being carried out and/or thereafter.

Abstract: An implantable device for stimulating a heart to lower blood pressure, comprising: a stimulation unit configured to stimulate a ventricle, and a sensing unit for detecting atrial activity of the heart, wherein the stimulation unit is configured to stimulate the ventricle for at least one cardiac cycle with a predefined delay after detection of an atrial activity or to not stimulate the ventricle for at least one cardiac cycle.

Abstract: An implantable system for stimulating a human heart or an animal heart contains a processor, a memory unit, an atrial stimulation unit, and a detection unit for detecting atrial tachycardia. The system is characterized in that the memory unit stores a computer-readable program, which prompts the processor to carry out the following steps when the program is being executed on the processor: a) detecting by way of the detection unit whether atrial tachycardia to be treated is present in a human heart or an animal heart; b) when atrial tachycardia to be treated is present, applying atrial antitachycardia pacing by way of the atrial stimulation unit; and c) after the atrial antitachycardia pacing has been applied, carrying out an atrial post-treatment stimulation, the post-treatment stimulation being configured to be within a range of 1 minute up to 7 days.

Abstract: A stimulation system includes an energy source, an electronics unit with a controller, and an actuator that is coupled with the electronics unit and/or the energy source. The actuator emits electromagnetic waves for stimulation of genetically manipulated tissue. The electronics unit is disposed in a housing. The stimulation system is configured for at least temporary implantation in a human or animal body. The controller controls the stimulation of tissue in the body by way of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the actuator. A selector of the stimulation system selects the area of the said tissue for stimulation. The selector includes a masking device for masking certain areas of the tissue, so that an intensity of the stimulation for the masked areas is reduced or equal to zero.

Abstract: An implantable system for treating a heart contains a processor, a memory unit, a treatment unit including a treatment electrode, and a detection unit for detecting a cardiac event requiring treatment. The memory unit includes a computer-readable program, which prompts the processor to perform the following steps: a) detecting by way of the detection unit whether a cardiac event to be treated has occurred in the heart; b) if a cardiac event to be treated has occurred, determining a position of the treatment electrode or determining a variable correlating with this position; and c) comparing the position of the treatment electrode or the variable correlating with the position to a reference variable, and carrying out, or not carrying out a cardiac treatment by way of the treatment unit and the treatment electrode as a function of the position of the treatment electrode or the variable correlating with the position.

Abstract: An electrode element (1) for an energy storage unit (200), such as a capacitor, has an electrode body (100) made of an active electrode material (E), wherein the electrode body (100) includes one or more of: at least one cavity (110) on its surface or in its interior; at least one partial volume (120) of lower density; and/or a surface coating (D) covering at least a portion of the surface of the electrode body (100), such that the surface area covered by the surface coating (D) remains unwetted when in contact with an electrolyte. Energy storage units (200) incorporating the electrode element (1) are particularly suitable for use in implantable electrotherapeutic devices.

Abstract: An electrode element (1) for an energy storage unit (200), such as a capacitor, has an electrode body (100) made of an active electrode material (E), wherein the electrode body (100) includes one or more of: at least one cavity (110) on its surface or in its interior; at least one partial volume (120) of lower density; and/or a surface coating (D) covering at least a portion of the surface of the electrode body (100), such that the surface area covered by the surface coating (D) remains unwetted when in contact with an electrolyte. Energy storage units (200) incorporating the electrode element (1) are particularly suitable for use in implantable electrotherapeutic devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates an implantable pulse generator comprising an electric circuit, wherein the electric circuit comprises: a primary energy store, at least one secondary energy store, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to activate an electric switch in the electric circuit in such a way that, in a first interval of a first phase of a pulse delivery, the primary energy store is discharged via a therapeutic current path, and to activate an electric switch in the electric circuit in such a way that, in a second interval of the first phase of the pulse delivery, the secondary energy store is discharged via the therapeutic current path, wherein the primary energy store and the at least one secondary energy store are fixedly connected, or connectable, in series, and wherein the implantable pulse generator is designed to deliver a shock having an approximately rectangular pulse waveform.

Abstract: A stimulation system includes an energy source, an electronics unit with a controller, and an actuator that is coupled with the electronics unit and/or the energy source. The actuator emits electromagnetic waves for stimulation of genetically manipulated tissue. The electronics unit is disposed in a housing. The stimulation system is configured for at least temporary implantation in a human or animal body. The controller controls the stimulation of tissue in the body by way of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the actuator. A selector of the stimulation system selects the area of the said tissue for stimulation. The selector includes a masking device for masking certain areas of the tissue, so that an intensity of the stimulation for the masked areas is reduced or equal to zero.

Abstract: An implantable system for stimulating a heart contains a processor, a memory, a stimulator, and a first detection unit for detecting a cardiac rhythm disturbance of a cardiac region. The memory includes a computer-readable program, which prompts the processor to carry out the following steps: a) detecting via the first detection unit whether a cardiac rhythm disturbance is present in a cardiac region of a heart of a patient; b) when a cardiac rhythm disturbance is present, selecting a stimulation strategy based on a selection criterion; c) stimulating the cardiac region in which the cardiac rhythm disturbance was detected by way of the stimulator, using the selected stimulation strategy; d) detecting a success and/or an efficiency of the conducted stimulation; e) comparing the success and/or the efficiency to a predefinable success and/or efficiency criterion; and f) if the predefinable success and/or efficiency criterion was not achieved, optimizing the stimulation strategy.

Abstract: An implantable system for stimulating a heart contains a processor, a memory, a stimulator, and a first detection unit for detecting a cardiac rhythm disturbance of a cardiac region. The memory includes a computer-readable program, which prompts the processor to carry out the following steps: a) detecting via the first detection unit whether a cardiac rhythm disturbance is present in a cardiac region of a heart of a patient; b) when a cardiac rhythm disturbance is present, selecting a stimulation strategy based on a selection criterion; c) stimulating the cardiac region in which the cardiac rhythm disturbance was detected by way of the stimulator, using the selected stimulation strategy; d) detecting a success and/or an efficiency of the conducted stimulation; e) comparing the success and/or the efficiency to a predefinable success and/or efficiency criterion; and f) if the predefinable success and/or efficiency criterion was not achieved, optimizing the stimulation strategy.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for generating electrical stimulations, wherein the medical device is embodied to generate and emit, during a first stimulation phase, at least one first stimulation that has a first amplitude by means of energy from an energy storage element, and wherein the medical device is embodied, during a second stimulation phase following the first stimulation phase, to generate and emit at least one second stimulation that has a second amplitude by means of energy from the energy storage element, wherein the energy storage element is charged at least prior to the generation of the at least one first stimulation and after the generation of the at least one first stimulation, and wherein the medical device is embodied not to completely discharge the energy storage element by generating the at least one first stimulation. The invention furthermore relates to a method for controlling such a device.

Abstract: An implantable extravascular electrode lead, having a proximal end and a distal end, comprises an electrode lead body that extends from the proximal end of the electrode lead to the distal end of the electrode lead, a connecting device arranged at the proximal end of the electrode lead body, and a fixing device arranged in the distal region of the electrode lead body or at the distal end of the electrode lead body. Once the electrode lead has been inserted into an extravascular region of a patient, the fixing device is actively actuatable from outside the body for fixing the electrode lead to patient body tissue.

Abstract: An implantable electrode lead having proximal and distal ends, comprising an electrode lead body and a pulling element. The pulling element has first and second ends. At the first end, the pulling element is connected to the distal end of the electrode lead or in the vicinity of the electrode lead distal end; referred to as the distal region of the electrode lead. Proceeding from the joining site between the first end of the pulling element and the electrode lead, the pulling element extends from the first end thereof toward the second end thereof to the proximal end of the electrode lead. The pulling element, proceeding from the joining site, extends outside the electrode lead body. A tensile force exerted onto the second end of the pulling element exerts a bending moment onto the electrode lead distal region. This bending moment results in bending of the electrode lead distal region.