Abstract: An arrangement of an expandable substrate and a strain sensor applied onto a surface of the substrate. The strain sensor is made from an ink composition that is a mixture of a conductive silver ink and a conductive carbon ink. A ratio between the conductive silver ink and the conductive carbon ink lies in a range between 30:70 and 70:30 in on arrangement and between 40:60 and 60:40 in another. A method for forming the arrangement directly prints the strain sensor on the substrate.

Abstract: An inflatable and implantable balloon for treatment of degenerative disc disease, bones, lesions, spinal deformities and spinal motion segment instabilities. The balloon is comprised of adjustable and expandable volumes. Further disclosed are methods of forming, inserting, expanding, and implanting the multi-volume balloon for proper placement and stabilization of the spinal lesion or disease. Still further disclosed are kits for aligning and stabilizing elements of the spine.

Abstract: A balloon catheter system includes a balloon extending in an axial direction. A stent is crimped onto an outer surface of the balloon. A catheter is connected to the balloon and includes a lumen in fluid communication with a balloon interior of the balloon. At least one sensor associated with the balloon measures expansion of the balloon in a radial direction (R). A processing unit receives a signal from the at least one sensor and is connected to terminate filling of the balloon interior with a fluid medium (M) and/or to prompt a display device to output a display if the signal reaches a threshold value above a predefined reference value, the signal being indicative of a current diameter (D) of the balloon in the radial direction (R), the reference value corresponding to a balloon diameter upon contact of a proximal and/or distal balloon end with a vessel wall, and the threshold value exceeding the reference value by 5% to 20%.

Abstract: A method for forming a balloon provides a preform that encloses an internal space. The preform is pre-heated to a shaping temperature by passing a heated gas or fluid via an inlet of the preform into the internal space. The preform is then shaped the preform into a balloon. A device is configured to heat a preform using heated gas or fluid to decouple heating from the temperature of a shaping tool.

Abstract: An inflatable and implantable balloon for treatment of degenerative disc disease, bones, lesions, spinal deformities and spinal motion segment instabilities. The balloon is comprised of adjustable and expandable volumes. Further disclosed are methods of forming, inserting, expanding, and implanting the multi-volume balloon for proper placement and stabilization of the spinal lesion or disease. Still further disclosed are kits for aligning and stabilizing elements of the spine.

Abstract: A balloon suitable for use in a catheter for carrying out a method for angioplasty consists of a middle cylindrical region and two end regions delimiting the middle cylindrical region. The balloon, with a pressure application of 6 bar, has a ratio of the cross section in the middle region to the cross sections in the two end regions of at least 2, and preferably greater than 3. The balloon can have a balloon wall thickness in the middle cylindrical region that is greater than or equal to a balloon wall thickness in the two end regions and is preferably more than 10% thicker than a balloon wall thickness in the two end sections.

Abstract: An inflatable and implantable balloon for treatment of degenerative disc disease, bones, lesions, spinal deformities and spinal motion segment instabilities. The balloon is comprised of adjustable and expandable volumes. Further disclosed are methods of forming, inserting, expanding, and implanting the multi-volume balloon for proper placement and stabilization of the spinal lesion or disease. Still further disclosed are kits for aligning and stabilizing elements of the spine.

Abstract: A method for forming a balloon provides a preform that encloses an internal space. The preform is pre-heated to a shaping temperature by passing a heated gas or fluid via an inlet of the preform into the internal space. The preform is then shaped the preform into a balloon. A device is configured to heat a preform using heated gas or fluid to decouple heating from the temperature of a shaping tool.

Abstract: A method for producing a balloon from a suitable blank is provided. The blank is introduced into an outer mold heated an first expanded to expand it against the inner wall of the outer mold. Pressure is reduced to relax the blank away from the inner wall. The three-dimensional volume of the mold is changed. Second expanding of the blank expands again against the inner wall of the changed volume of the outer mold. Balloons of the invention consist of a middle cylindrical region and two end regions delimiting the middle cylindrical region. With a pressure application of 6 bar, a ratio of the cross section in the middle region to the cross section in the end region is at least 2, and preferably greater than 3.

Abstract: An arrangement of an expandable substrate and a strain sensor applied onto a surface of the substrate. The strain sensor is made from an ink composition that is a mixture of a conductive silver ink and a conductive carbon ink. A ratio between the conductive silver ink and the conductive carbon ink lies in a range between 30:70 and 70:30 in on arrangement and between 40:60 and 60:40 in another. A method for forming the arrangement directly prints the strain sensor on the substrate.

Abstract: Packaging has an outer sleeve, which surrounds an interior space for receiving an object, such as a sterilized medical implant. A separate container is arranged in the interior space and surrounds an absorber in a gas-tight manner, such that a gas present in the interior space cannot pass to the absorber. The container is configured to be opened by the application of force when the outer sleeve is closed, such that a gas disposed in the interior space can pass to the absorber and can be absorbed thereby. In preferred embodiments, the absorber absorbs air with the reactive constituents O2 and/or H2O. Depending on the application, however, other gases can also be absorbed by the absorber. A method for packaging is also provided.

Abstract: An inflatable and implantable balloon for treatment of degenerative disc disease, bones, lesions, spinal deformities and spinal motion segment instabilities. The balloon is comprised of adjustable and expandable volumes. Further disclosed are methods of forming, inserting, expanding, and implanting the multi-volume balloon for proper placement and stabilization of the spinal lesion or disease. Still further disclosed are kits for aligning and stabilizing elements of the spine.

Abstract: Packaging has an outer sleeve, which surrounds an interior space for receiving an object, such as a sterilized medical implant. A separate container is arranged in the interior space and surrounds an absorber in a gas-tight manner, such that a gas present in the interior space cannot pass to the absorber. The container is configured to be opened by the application of force when the outer sleeve is closed, such that a gas disposed in the interior space can pass to the absorber and can be absorbed thereby. In preferred embodiments, the absorber absorbs air with the reactive constituents O2 and/or H2O. Depending on the application, however, other gases can also be absorbed by the absorber. A method for packaging is also provided.

Abstract: A network system having a first network infrastructure comprising at least one network participant and at least one coupling unit via which the first network infrastructure is connected to a cloud computing infrastructure having at least one cloud computing-based application. The coupling unit is equipped and designed to emulate at least one additional network participant for the first network infrastructure by interacting with the cloud computing-based application, wherein data can be transmitted between the first network participant and the additional network participant of the first network infrastructure.

Abstract: An inflatable and implantable balloon for treatment of degenerative disc disease, bones, lesions, spinal deformities and spinal motion segment instabilities. The balloon is comprised of adjustable and expandable volumes. Further disclosed are methods of forming, inserting, expanding, and implanting the multi-volume balloon for proper placement and stabilization of the spinal lesion or disease. Still further disclosed are kits for aligning and stabilizing elements of the spine.

Abstract: An inflatable and implantable balloon for treatment of degenerative disc disease, bones, lesions, spinal deformities and spinal motion segment instabilities. The balloon is comprised of adjustable and expandable volumes. Further disclosed are methods of forming, inserting, expanding, and implanting the multi-volume balloon for proper placement and stabilization of the spinal lesion or disease. Still further disclosed are kits for aligning and stabilizing elements of the spine.

Abstract: A release device (150, 150a, 150b) for detaching a medical implant (105) from an insertion device (110), comprising a body (10, 10a, 10b) having a proximal end (12), which during use lies furthest from a distal end (120) of the insertion device (110), and a distal end (14), which during use faces the distal end (120) of the insertion device (110), wherein at least one first actuator (16, 18) is provided between the proximal and distal ends (12, 14), wherein the at least first actuator (16, 18) can be tilted about an axis substantially perpendicularly to at least one of the insertion elements (132, 134) so as to effect a targeted relative movement in the longitudinal direction between the first and second insertion elements (132, 134) of the insertion device (110).

Abstract: The invention relates to a drug-coated balloon catheter and to a method for producing the same. The balloon of the catheter includes (i) a main membrane, and (ii) an asymmetrical polymer membrane which is applied to an outside of the main membrane and into which at least one pharmaceutical active ingredient is introduced.

Abstract: A balloon catheter, in particular for delivering medicaments, stents or medicament-coated stents in the region of a stenosis, comprising an outer shaft (4) an inner shaft (6), and a balloon (7) at the distal catheter end, which balloon is dilatable by a feedable pressure fluid and which is attached with its proximal end (8) to the outer shaft (4) and with its distal end (9) to the inner shaft (6) which protrudes the outer shaft (4) in the distal direction, and a cover sheath (15) which is seated in a covering position over the contracted balloon (7) and is displaceably guided on the outer shaft (4) and which is displaceable on the outer shaft (4) in the proximal direction via its front opening (17) by the dilating balloon (7) while continuously releasing the same from distal to proximal.

Abstract: A method for producing a balloon from a suitable blank is provided. The blank is introduced into an outer mold heated an first expanded to expand it against the inner wall of the outer mold. Pressure is reduced to relax the blank away from the inner wall. The three-dimensional volume of the mold is changed. Second expanding of the blank expands again against the inner wall of the changed volume of the outer mold. Balloons of the invention consist of a middle cylindrical region and two end regions delimiting the middle cylindrical region. With a pressure application of 6 bar, a ratio of the cross section in the middle region to the cross section in the end region is at least 2, and preferably greater than 3.