Abstract: A composite material for occluding a body lumen comprising at least two different components that differ from each other by their value of elastic modulus is disclosed. One component has a value of elastic modulus of less than 4 GPa, and another component has a value of elastic modulus of above 4 GPa. The component that has a higher value of elastic modulus is embedded in the component that has a lower value of elastic modulus. The composite material comprises at least one portion that is free of the component that has the higher value of elastic modulus, wherein said portion is capable of expanding in at least one direction upon application of pressure perpendicular to the expanding direction, or upon application of heat, light or a chemical or biological impact. The composite material is particular suited for manufacturing implantable contraceptive devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for alleviating and/or preventing conditions relating to damaged joints. The device may be formed by moulding. Also the device may be formed with a hole or a slit to fit into the joint and lock the device around intra-articular components. A further aspect of invention relates to method for introducing the prosthetic device into a joint, such as a method comprising locking the device to an intro-articutar component. Also the invention relates to an instrument for inserting a prosthetic device according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to implants used for alleviating and/or preventing conditions relating to damaged joints involving articulating surfaces. The implants comprise fibre of polymer and/or metal, and can be used as an artificial joint, as part of an artificial joint or as an artificial joint spacer made to replace the missing cartilage or to improve the slidability between two natural and/or artificial components of the body, or between a natural and artificial component. The product of the invention can be used to partly or entirely coat medical products or to make up implant partly or entirely.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for alleviating and/or preventing conditions relating to damaged joints involving articulating surfaces. In a first aspect the present invention relates to a prosthetic device for insertion into a joint cavity of a joint of a vertebrate, such as a human, said device consisting of a biocompatible material comprising at least a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component, wherein the chain length of the first polymeric component is longer than the chain length of the second polymeric component, the polymeric components in particular being polyethylene, polypropylene and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for alleviating and/or preventing conditions relating to damaged joints involving articulating surfaces. In a first aspect the present invention relates to a prosthetic device for insertion into a joint cavity of a joint of a vertebrate, such as a human, said device consisting of a biocompatible material comprising at least a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component, wherein the chain length of the first polymeric component is longer than the chain length of the second polymeric component, the polymeric components in particular being polyethylene, polypropylene and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a medical device comprising a bio-compatible polymeric product with a layered structure comprising at least one upper layer of a first polymeric component, a middle layer of a second polymeric component, and at least one lower layer of a third polymeric component, wherein the chain length of the first polymeric component and the third polymeric component is longer than the chain length of the second polymeric component. The medical device combines the features of strength, durability and bio-compatibility as well as it has resistance to tear and wear and has a good compressibility. A preferred design of the medical device is a cup produced from a care or film of LDPE surrounded by two layers of UHMWPE fabric. The medical device can be used as implants in mammals, especially as artificial cartilage within joints to secure mobility of the joint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for alleviating and/or preventing conditions relating to damaged joints involving articulating surfaces. In a first aspect the present invention relates to a prosthetic device for insertion into a joint cavity of a joint of a vertebrate, such as a human, said device consisting of a biocompatible material comprising at least a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component, wherein the chain length of the first polymeric component is longer than the chain length of the second polymeric component, the polymeric components in particular being polyethylene, polypropylene and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: Microcircuits composed of a plurality of alternating conducting and insulating regions are formed in a substrate of an organic quasi-unidimensional conductor such as .DELTA..sup.2,2 bi-4,5-dimethyl-1,3-diselenolylidene upon irradiation of the substrate with a precise beam of electrons having an energy of at least 1 keV, preferably at least 8 keV, which forms the insulating regions. When exposed to cryogenic temperatures the non-irradated conducting regions become super conducting. Using electron beam irradiations, sub-micronic resolution as low as 100 .ANG. can be achieved. Microcircuits having Josephson junctions and superconducting quantum interference devices are described.

Abstract: A process for increasing the critical supraconductive temperature of the organic molecular crystalline compound (TMTSF).sub.2 X in which TMTSF is di-2,2'-bi-4,5-dimethyl-1,3-diselenol and X is C1O.sub.4, PF.sub.6, TaF.sub.6, SbF.sub.6, AsF.sub.6 or ReO.sub.4 comprising cross-linking the chains of the crystalline compound with at least one metal selected from gold, silver, aluminum, lead, indium, gallium or selenium.

Abstract: A multistep process for preparing tetraselenofulvalenes involving the synthesis of 1,3-diselenole-2-selones and -2-thiones from diselenocarbamates and .alpha.-haloketones followed by coupling of the selone or thione using a dechalkogenizing reagent. New highly conductive salts obtained by coupling certain tetraselenofulvalenes with acceptor compounds are also disclosed.