Abstract: A kit-of-parts for visualizing by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique including a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique, regions of a central nervous system of a patient having an implanted active implantable medical device (AIMD) is provided. The kit-of-parts is provided and includes: the AIMD, which can be used exposed to the electromagnetic conditions for MR-images acquisition, an external processing unit for controlling the AIMD, an optical communication lead for establishing a two-way optical communication between the AIMD and an external communication unit which is controlled by the external processing unit. A patient having an implanted AIMD can be treated in a conventional MR-device for imaging, e.g., a brain region. The other elements of the kit-of-parts allow controlling the functions of the AIMD and following any effects of a stimulation on the brain region thus imaged.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device (AIMD), for electrical stimulation of a tissue includes a light source, lodged in an encapsulation unit, for delivering optical energy pulses of optical power (Popt). A stimulation optical fibre for transferring optical energy from the light source of the encapsulation unit to the tissue coupling unit is also provided. The tissue coupling unit is configured for being coupled to a tissue to be electrically stimulated by electrodes (65) belonging to an electrical circuit. The PV-unit includes Us units arranged in series, each unit having Pp photovoltaic cells (PV-cells) arranged in parallel. Us and Pp, ?N, and Us×Pp=N=constant. The electrical circuit includes switches configured for varying the values of Us and alternatively or concomitantly, the light source is an addressable optical emitters array.

Abstract: An active implantable stimulating device (10) includes: (a) a tissue coupling unit (40) for being implanted directly onto a vagus nerve (Vn) of a patient, (b) an EEG-unit (70) for measuring an electroencephalogram of the patient, (c) an encapsulation unit (50) configured for being subcutaneously implanted, (d) an energy transfer lead (30) for transferring pulses of electrical and/or optical energy, (e) a signal transfer lead (60) for transferring signals between the EEG unit and the encapsulation unit. EEG electrodes (70a-70d) monitor the electric activity of the brain of a patient. The EEG signal is conveyed to the electronic circuit (53) in the form of EEG conditioned data. The electronic circuit analyses the EEG conditioned data to yield analysis results. The electronic circuit takes a decision to trigger energy pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve (VN).

Abstract: An active implantable medical device (AIMD), for electrical stimulation of a tissue includes a light source, lodged in an encapsulation unit, for delivering optical energy pulses of optical power (Popt). A stimulation optical fibre for transferring optical energy from the light source of the encapsulation unit to the tissue coupling unit is also provided. The tissue coupling unit is configured for being coupled to a tissue to be electrically stimulated by electrodes (65) belonging to an electrical circuit. The PV-unit includes Us units arranged in series, each unit having Pp photovoltaic cells (PV-cells) arranged in parallel. Us and Pp, ?, and Us×Pp=N=constant. The electrical circuit includes switches configured for varying the values of Us and alternatively or concomitantly, the light source is an addressable optical emitters array.

Abstract: A kit-of-parts for initiating an action by an active implantable medical device (AIMD) (1) implanted in a body of a patient triggered by an external triggering unit (11) located outside the body of the patient is provided. The kit-of-parts including, (A) the external triggering unit (11) including an external emitter (12) which includes one or more sources of light (12L) configured for emitting an optical starting signal (10), and (B) the AIMD (1) including an encapsulation unit (1e) defining an inner volume containing an action trigger configured for initiating an action by the AIMD (1), upon reception of the optical starting signal (10) from the external triggering unit (11). The action trigger is an optical action trigger (2) includes one or more photodetectors (2pv) facing a transparent wall portion (1t) and configured for transforming the optical starting signal (10) into an electrical signal to initiate the action by the AIMD.

Abstract: A kit-of-parts for visualizing by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique including a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique, regions of a central nervous system of a patient having an implanted active implantable medical device (AIMD) is provided. The kit-of-parts is provided and includes: the AIMD, which can be used exposed to the electromagnetic conditions for MR-images acquisition, an external processing unit for controlling the AIMD, an optical communication lead for establishing a two-way optical communication between the AIMD and an external communication unit which is controlled by the external processing unit. A patient having an implanted AIMD can be treated in a conventional MR-device for imaging, e.g., a brain region. The other elements of the kit-of-parts allow controlling the functions of the AIMD and following any effects of a stimulation on the brain region thus imaged.

Abstract: An active implantable stimulating device (10) includes: (a) a tissue coupling unit (40) for being implanted directly onto a vagus nerve (Vn) of a patient, (b) an EEG-unit (70) for measuring an electroencephalogram of the patient, (c) an encapsulation unit (50) configured for being subcutaneously implanted, (d) an energy transfer lead (30) for transferring pulses of electrical and/or optical energy, (e) a signal transfer lead (60) for transferring signals between the EEG unit and the encapsulation unit. EEG electrodes (70a-70d) monitor the electric activity of the brain of a patient. The EEG signal is conveyed to the electronic circuit (53) in the form of EEG conditioned data. The electronic circuit analyses the EEG conditioned data to yield analysis results. The electronic circuit takes a decision to trigger energy pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve (VN).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ink composition for forming an organic semiconductor layer, wherein the ink composition comprises: —at least one p-type dopant comprising electron withdrawing groups; —at least one first auxiliary compound, wherein the first auxiliary compound is an aromatic nitrile compound, wherein the aromatic nitrile compound has about ?1 to about ?3 nitrile groups and a melting point of about <100° C., wherein the first auxiliary compound is different from the p-type dopant; and wherein the electron withdrawing groups are fluorine, chlorine, bromine and/or nitrile.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a vinylidene chloride polymer composite comprising a solid particulate encapsulated in the vinylidene chloride polymer. The process comprises providing a dispersion of a solid particulate material in a liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT/MADIX agent; providing vinylidene chloride and optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable therewith to said dispersion; and polymerizing vinylidene chloride and said optionally present one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer under the control of said RAFT/MADIX agent to form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a vinylidene chloride polymer composite comprising a solid particulate encapsulated in the vinylidene chloride polymer. The process comprises providing a dispersion of a solid particulate material in a liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT/MADIX agent; providing vinylidene chloride and optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerisable therewith to said dispersion; and polymerising vinylidene chloride and said optionally present one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer under the control of said RAFT/MADIX agent to form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: A process for preparing a seed latex of an epoxy-containing polymer by radical polymerization in aqueous emulsion of at least one epoxy-containing monomer and optionally at least one comonomer is disclosed. Also disclosed are a process for preparing a vinylidene chloride polymer latex either by radical polymerization in aqueous emulsion of vinylidene chloride and optionally at least one comonomer in the presence of the epoxy-containing polymer seed latex obtained by the process according to the invention; or by mixing the epoxy-containing polymer seed latex with a vinylidene chloride polymer latex obtained separately by radical polymerization in aqueous emulsion.