Abstract: A cardiac valve prosthesis in which the inner area of the valve ring has an internal cross section continuously decreasing in flow direction. The valve ring is shaped like a nozzle, and flow disruption occurs only at the nozzle end, allowing a concentric flow discharge. Vortex formation at the jet boundary and inside the flow is inhibited. As a result, flow resistance is reduced and blood damage is minimized. A flushing channel traverses the joint cavity in order to avoid deposits of blood particles in the valvular joint.

Abstract: A cardiac valve prosthesis having an S-shaped curve of the closing body along the skeleton line. The inlet area and the outlet area are oriented toward the flow direction, while the opening force is exclusively effective in the central region behind the swivel axis. The S-shaped geometry favors the formation of a stable, closed vortex on the suction side of the closing body with a resultant reduction of deadwater in the aorta ascendens and a more favorable closing behavior. The aortic wall is less stressed, the aorta ascendens is better washed out, and pressure loss in the area of the opening angle is relatively low.

Abstract: A furnace for heating cylindrical charges, in particular billets, rods and tubes, features a transportation facility with a conveyance device which feeds the charges in the longitudinal direction through a treatment chamber, the cross-sectional shape of which is closely similar to that of the charge; the transportation device also features a jacking device which supports the charge such that, regardless of the charge diameter, the longitudinal axis of the charge is always at the same level in the treatment chamber. Situated in the walls of the treatment chamber are nozzle outlets which direct a heated jet of gas radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the charge and onto the surface of the charge. The feeding of circulating hot gas to the supply channel for the nozzles takes place from both ends of the treatment chamber. A ventilator is situated above the mid point along the length of the treatment chamber and blows out both inlets to the feed channels.