Abstract: A stent having a tubular lattice structure includes lattice elements, webs (10), and cells (11) delimited by the lattice elements. The lattice structure is transferred into a compressed state having a relatively smaller cross-sectional diameter and into an expanded state having a relatively larger cross-sectional diameter. Flexible contact elements (12) are associated with the lattice elements. The contact elements are adapted for transferring radial forces onto a vessel wall (20) and extending on the outer circumference of the lattice structure substantially in the longitudinal direction of each associated lattice element. The contact elements (12) are wider in each case than the associated lattice elements, at least in sections.

Abstract: A medical device for removing concretions from hollow organs of the body, with a functional element, which has a rotationally symmetrical lattice structure, and a device for holding a concretion in the structure, and a catheter for introducing the element into the body and removing it. The element can be converted from a compressed state in the catheter to an expanded state outside the catheter, in the expanded state the element is arranged distally from the catheter. The structure has a cutting area with webs, adapted so they at least partially pass radially through the concretion when the element is converted from the compressed to the expanded state. A holding element is connected on one hand to the structure and on the other hand to a guide wire arranged in the catheter, so that the holding element is deflected radially inwards in the expanded state of the functional element.

Abstract: A damping and shock absorbing method and apparatus for permanent or non-permanent use in the human body and having a shape memory alloy material cycled through stress-strain hysteresis to dissipate energy for effective damping. A sufficiently high pre-stress is applied to the damping element(s) to ensure that the damping working range is within the superelastic cycle. The damping apparatus can work in tension or compression or both in tension and compression. Moreover, damping elements from a shape memory alloy can also work in flexion and extension as well in rotation. The damping apparatus can have a stroke and force suitable for use in the human body by the design, the structure and the chemical composition of the shape memory alloy and their pre-set properties, such as plateau stresses of the superelastic cycle depend on the ambient temperature, the force of damping elements can also be changed in-situ by changing the temperature of the damping elements.

Abstract: A damping and shock absorbing method and apparatus for permanent or non-permanent use in the human body and having a shape memory alloy material cycled through stress-strain hysteresis to dissipate energy for effective damping. A sufficiently high pre-stress is applied to the damping element(s) to ensure that the damping working range is within the superelastic cycle. The damping apparatus can work in tension or compression or both in tension and compression. Moreover, damping elements from a shape memory alloy can also work in flexion and extension as well in rotation. The damping apparatus can have a stroke and force suitable for use in the human body by the design, the structure and the chemical composition of the shape memory alloy and their pre-set properties, such as plateau stresses of the superelastic cycle depend on the ambient temperature, the force of damping elements can also be changed in-situ by changing the temperature of the damping elements.