Abstract: A medical electrode device has a flat, flexible and electrically insulating electrode carrier, on which at least one electrode conductor is arranged in a predetermined pattern, the conductor being partially exposed to define an electrode surface through which electrical energy is delivered in vivo to tissue adjacent the surface. The electrode carrier insulates the passive side of the electrode from surrounding tissue. The electrode surface defined by the conductor has a relatively broad extent, such as for defibrillating a heart. The electrode carrier has at least one opening therein extending through the predetermined pattern of the electrode conductor, so as to reduce the insulative effect and to increase the flexibility and resilience of the electrode carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging living tissue with electrical pulses has a charging capacitor that, for discharging, is connected via a controllable switch to electrodes in the region of the tissue. In order to achieve a curve of the current through the electrodes that deviates from an exponentially decaying curve, the switch is switched on and off with a varying switching frequency while the tissue is being charged with pulses and the current supplied to the tissue is smoothed by circuit components.

Abstract: In order to set the current distribution of a defibrillation pulse supplied to the heart in a simple manner, a defibrillator/cardioverter has n electrodes disposed for electrically stimulating the heart, and a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses having n-1 outputs connected in series, and a total of n output terminals, to which the n electrodes are respectively connected. The pulse generator simultaneously generates an electrical pulse at each of its outputs.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for in vivo stimulation of tissue with electrical energy has a catheter containing an electrical lead, the lead and the catheter being electrically and mechanically connected to further electrical conductors, arranged in a configuration forming a broad, flat, thin and flexible electrode. The conductors in the electrode are partially exposed and define an electrode surface for delivering electrical energy to adjacent tissue. The electrode arrangement further includes a fixing device, for attaching the electrode to tissue surrounding the tissue to be stimulated. The fixing device includes a fixing element which is mounted on the electrode so as to be movable independently of the electrode, and a stylet which controls movement of the fixing element, the stylet extending through the catheter. The fixing element can be controlled so as to be advanced from a retracted position to a position extending beyond the electrode surface in which the fixing element penetrates the tissue.

Abstract: In order to prevent a person handling a defibrillator during manufacture and in conjunction with implantation of the defibrillator from receiving an electrical shock due to a fault, a protective arrangement is provided for the defibrillator. This protective arrangement is in the form of a plug part detachably connectable to the defibrillator housing and having terminal pins engaging into the connecting sockets of the defibrillator which is present for receiving the electrode leads. The terminal pins produce an electrically conductive connection in the sockets and are directly connected to one another inside the plug part via an electrical resistor. In case of a fault, the high-voltage energy generated between the connecting sockets is harmlessly absorbed in the resistor.

Abstract: An implantable defibrillator arrangement has a housing adapted for in vivo implantation in a patient, the housing containing a capacitor connectable through a controllable switch arrangement to a voltage source for charging, and two electrodes attached in vivo to the heart. An inductance is also provided for assisting in the generation of an electrical defibrillation pulse, the inductance being contained in a second, separate housing provided with terminals for electrically connecting the inductance via leads to the other housing and to one of the electrodes. The inductance can thereby be easily changed, by connecting an inductance in a second housing having an appropriate value, so as to match the defibrillation pulse to different electrode configuration. It is also possible to provide further passive components in the second, separate housing.

Abstract: An electrode for implantation in a patient and for connection through a lead to a heart stimulation/sensing system has an active electrode element of conductive material and the electrode has a shape and size conforming to an interspace between the periost and the bone at the inner side of a rib proximal to the heart of a patient so as to accommodate location of the electrode at the interspace. The electrode has fixing elements to fix the relative position of the electrode with respect to the rib. An implantation method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable arrangement for effecting in vivo defibrillation or cardioversion of a heart has a first electrode disposed in the inferior vena cava, a second electrode disposed in the right ventricle, and a planar electrode disposed outside of the heart. Pulse generating means are provided which simultaneously charge all three electrodes with pulses. An optimally low energy for successfully achieving defibrillation is thereby achieved.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for an implantable defibrillator/cardioverter has two intravascular electrodes, one of which is disposed in the inferior vena cava. The arrangement has a third, planar electrode, which is disposed outside of the heart. Placement of one of the intravascular electrodes in the inferior vena cava, instead of in the right ventricle as in known systems, achieves a high utilization of the defibrillation energy without the presence of an endocardial electrode.

Abstract: An implantable injection body for the time-dependent dosable, long-term injection of a medication into a living being, the medication being stored in an implanted medication dosing device and being supplied by the latter to the injection body via a programmable pump arrangement. The injection body has a plurality of medication discharge openings, at least some of which are initially sealed, by a selectively openable seal, preferably by a dissolvable tissue-compatible, plastic material that dissolves at different times, so that, after closure of the initially unsealed discharge opening caused by overgrowth of connective tissue, agglomeration of matter, and/or the like, the initially sealed discharge openings can be selectively unsealed, preferably in serial fashion, to permit continued medication flow-through. Alternatively, the openable seals can comprise rupturable membranes of varying strengths.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode lead for medical applications, such as for electrical stimulation of body tissue, has an elongated conductor extending from a source of electrical stimulation to a tissue location to which the electrical stimulation is to be delivered. The conductor is surrounded by electrical insulation. The lead has an exposed electrode tip at the tissue location. The electrical conductor is in the form of a braided hose. The electrical insulation has a gap, which exposes the braided hose conductor, at a location spaced from the electrode tip. The exposed braided conductor functions as the neutral electrode.

Abstract: A seal element for an opening in an implantable medical apparatus, which can be penetrated by a tool and which maintains a hermetic seal after removal of the tool, is in the form of a ring of resilient material, initially having a ring opening with the wall thickness of the ring being larger than the radius of the ring opening. The ring can be turned inside-out, whereby the ring opening is closed. The placement of the seal element in the opening in the implantable medical apparatus maintains the opening closed to form a seal, but permits insertion of a tool therethrough.

Abstract: An arrangement for delivering medications in an implantable medical device, such as a heart pacemaker, has at least two containers or receptacles for the medication disposed below the surface of a portion of the implanted device, each container terminating in an opening having the size of a pore in the surface of the implanted device to permit the medication to be delivered from the container to surrounding tissue. The structure permits the medication to be delivered at specific regions of tissue, and in a manner which permits control of the medication dose.

Abstract: A heart pacemaker system has an electrode line with a proximal end which is introduced into a connector of the pacemaker housing, and a distal end having an electrode head attachable to the heart of a user. One or more of the distal or proximal ends of the electrode line, the connector, or a region of the electrode line are provided with a component consisting of shape-memory metal. These components have a first shape at temperatures different from body temperature, and assume a second shape when at body temperature. The shape-memory metal component, if disposed at the proximal end of the electrode line or at the connector, is arrnaged to provide a firm mechanical and electrical connection of the electrode line with the pacemaker housing upon the change of shape of the component.

Abstract: A connector arrangement for a lead for an implantable stimulation device, such as a heart pacemaker, has a receptacle in which a proximal end of a lead is received and a fixing element which is disposed tangentially relative to the proximal end of the lead. The fixing element can assume a first position which provides enough clearance in the receptacle to permit insertion of the proximal end of the lead, and a second position wherein the fixing element forces the proximal end of the lead tightly against a portion of the wall of the receptacle, so that the proximal end is held tightly in the receptacle to make a reliable mechanical and electrical connection. The arrangement permits the housing of the stimulation device to have a small thickness dimension.

Abstract: A conductor embedded in the insulating layers of an implantable lead is connected to an electrode by arranging the conductor to be included as one pole in a high voltage circuit having another pole in the form of a needle or the like placed in the vicinity of the conductor. The voltage is increased until an insulating layer-puncturing flash-over between the conductor and the needle takes place. The flash-over arc is maintained to burn a hole in the insulation layers so that the conductor is exposed. The conductor can then be removed out with a curved tool to form a connecting end to be applied to the electrode, or a supplementary conductor can be attached to the exposed conductor for attachment to the electrode.

Abstract: Electrode configuration for use in medical applications, in particular for implantable cardiac pacemakers, includes a porous synthetic material, in particular porous polyfluoroethylene which is used as insulation for the wiring associated with the electrode. The pore size should be 4 .mu.m or less. It is preferable to sinter the surface to a non-porous, smooth layer.

Abstract: A device for transporting individual sheets to or from a magazine housing containing the sheets in a stack, particularly useful in x-ray installations, includes a threaded rotary screw member disposed within the magazine containing the stack of sheets for raising and lowering the sheet stack within the magazine and individually handling the uppermost sheet in the stack for transport to or from the magazine. A sheet transport is also provided comprising drive rollers disposed in a lateral plane overlying the sheet stack and running rollers connected to an upper end of the rotary screw member for movement in a lateral plane directly beneath the drive rollers, such that the running rollers may be disposed between the bottom circumferential portions of the drive rollers to form a sheet transport nip between the corresponding rollers.

Abstract: A device for separating film sheets in a stack, particularly useful in X-ray installations, includes a threaded rotary screw member disposed within a magazine containing the stack of sheets for raising and lowering the sheet stack within the magazine and individually handling the uppermost sheet in the stack for transport to or from the magazine.