Abstract: The invention concerns a sensor for obtaining information about the state of an organism for a medical therapy apparatus, preferably for a therapy apparatus for the electrostimulation or other treatment of the heart. The invention is distinguished by at least one sensor element for detecting molecular-genetic information. The invention further concerns a medical therapy apparatus having a sensor of that kind.

Abstract: An intravascular electrode arrangement 10 includes a first and a second electrode line 12, 14 adapted for placement in blood vessels such as veins or arteries, each having at least one stimulation and/or sensing electrode in the region of the distal end of the respective electrode line, wherein there are longitudinal guides 18, 18′, 18″, 18′″ provided externally on the first electrode line 12, 12′, 12″, 12′″ for the second electrode line 14.

Abstract: The invention is based on the concept of providing a fuzzy inference machine having a fuzzy logic unit. The fuzzy logic unit converts an input value into a fuzzy scalar on the basis of scalar fuzzy operators. The converted fuzzy scalars are processed by means of fuzzy interconnection operators to give scalar output values.

Abstract: A catheter (10, 10′, 10″, 10′″), in particular for insertion into blood vessels of the human body, having at least one sensor (32) which is arranged at the distal end (12) of the catheter (10, 10′, 10″, 10′″) and which is adapted to pick up a spacing signal which is dependent on the spacing of the sensor (32) with respect to the vessel wall, and control means (36, 36′, 36″) which are connected to the sensor for taking over the spacing signal.

Abstract: The invention is based on the idea of providing an electrical therapy device which has a blocking triggering unit and a re-use blocking unit, wherein the re-use blocking unit prevents the functions of the electrical therapy device during implantation in dependence on the condition of the blocking triggering unit. The blocking triggering unit is triggered either upon implantation or explantation of the electrical therapy device.

Abstract: A single electrode probe for a cardiac pacemaker system, in particular for a DDD cardiac pacemaker system, has an electrode line with a bifurcated section, at the beginning of which the electrode line divides into two electrode line portions which rejoin at the end of the section to again form one portion, wherein at least one of the portions has at least one electrode for the delivery of electrical energy to adjoining myocardium.

Abstract: An implantable measuring device includes a catheter-like main body that can be positioned in a body cavity. The main body has a pressure-sensitive sensor thereon and a signal line is coupled to the sensor. The signal line transmits measuring signals generated by the sensor and corresponding to the detected pressure to a signal evaluation unit. A cleaning element is coupled to the sensor. The cleaning element is in the form of a piezoelectric actuator that can be set to vibrate by electrical excitation. The vibrations of the cleaning unit are transferable to the sensor for the removal of deposits.

Abstract: This invention relates to a unipolar or multipolar electrical filter feedthrough device (1) to be introduced into an aperture of housing (26) of an implantable electronic therapeutic device with a feedthrough body (2) to be inserted in the aperture and comprising a fixing means (3) to connect with the housing wall, and with filter means (7) designed as capacitors, that are, on one side, connected—in an electrically conductive manner—with one of the electrical pins (8) that are mutually electrically separated, and, on the other side, with the housing of the therapeutic device carrying a reference potential. Filter means (7) are arranged outside the feedthrough body (2) and are connected with this body in such a manner that they basically stick out into the inside (4) of housing (26) in a freely suspended manner.

Abstract: A dual-chamber cardiac pacemaker comprising an atrial detection unit which is adapted to detect electrical signals in the atrium of a heart as atrial sense events, a ventricular detection unit which is adapted to detect electrical signals of a ventricle of the heart as ventricular sense events, a stimulation unit which is adapted at least to trigger the delivery of electrical pulses to the ventricle as ventricular stimulation events, and a control unit which is connected to the atrial and the ventricular detection units and the stimulation unit and adapted to control triggering of the delivery of pulses in dependence on the atrial detection unit and the ventricular detection unit in such a way that pulse delivery to the ventricle is triggered after the expiry of an AV time after detection of an atrial sense or stimulation event if prior to expiry of the AV time no ventricular sense event is detected by the ventricular detection unit, wherein the control unit is further adapted to divide ventricular sense even

Abstract: An electrical therapy device for a heart has a hemodynamic sensor (1), an electrostimulation device (2) and a control unit (30). The hemodynamic sensor (1) is adapted to detect a peripheral blood flow. In this arrangement, the control unit (30) has a tachyarrhythmia evaluation device (3) and a telemetry receiver (6). The control unit (30) controls the electrostimulation device (2) for stimulating and defibrillating the heart in dependence on the peripheral blood flow which is detected by the hemodynamic sensor (1). In addition a tachyarrhythmia and/or the peripheral hemodynamic effects thereof is detected, wherein the peripheral hemodynamic effects of the tachyarrhythmia are determined on the basis of the peripheral blood flow which is detected by a peripheral hemodynamic sensor (1). The results of detecting a tachyarrhythmia and/or the peripheral hemodynamic effects thereof can be used to defibrillate or stimulate the heart by means of the electrostimulation device (2).

Abstract: The invention concerns an implantable defibrillator (1) comprising a chargeable voltage source (2) and a pulse generator (3) which is formed from a voltage multiplier (5) and a capacitor (4) chargeable to the defibrillation voltage. Provided between the capacitor (4) and the voltage source (2) is a line connection (6) by way of which electrical energy which has not been consumed or which is not required for the tissue stimulation procedure can be returned from the capacitor to the voltage source.

Abstract: An apparatus for characterizing a condition of a myocardium comprising an excitation wave detector which detects an electrical excitation wave propagated through the myocardium at a first (r1) and second point (r2) of the myocardium as a first signal (S1(t)) and a second signal (S2(t)), and an analysis means which is connected to the excitation wave detector and analyzes the first signal (S1(t)) and the second signal (S2(t)), wherein the analysis means detects a difference between a signal shape of the first signal (S1(t)) and the second signal (S2(t)).

Abstract: A stimulation apparatus, in particular for a human heart, has a stimulation unit, a signal detector and a control unit. The stimulation unit is adapted to deliver a stimulation pulse having a pulse duration, a pulse strength and a stimulation intensity. The signal detector is adapted to detect stimulation success on the basis of a picked-up signal. The control unit is connected to the stimulation unit and to the signal detector. It is designed such that the stimulation intensity varies depending upon the picked-up signal. A time-determining unit is provided that is at least indirectly connected to the control unit and with which a time difference between the delivery of a stimulation pulse and the pick-up of the picked-up signal or a signal feature of the picked-up signal can be detected.

Abstract: An intravascular electrode line with a shaping suitable for fixing in a blood vessel, wherein the shaping is three-dimensional and has line portions enclosing an elongated hollow space, with a pitch direction which is different in relation to the longitudinal direction of the hollow space.

Abstract: An electrode line, in particular for an implantable electrostimulation device, which is adapted for insertion into body vessels such as heart chambers or blood vessels, comprising electrodes for the stimulation of body tissue, a longitudinal axis and a distal end, wherein there is provided at least one structural element (2) in the region of the distal end, which has an electrostrictive polymer and which can be connected to a voltage source by way of at least one electrical feed line (3) and which is adapted to change its shape when an electrical voltage is applied.

Abstract: A stimulation arrangement having a stimulation unit for the delivery of electrical pulses for the stimulation of body tissue and an evaluation unit which receives electrical signals in conjunction with the delivery of a stimulation pulse and evaluates same for checking a stimulation success, wherein the evaluation unit detects in the received signal such signal features which characterize a lack of stimulation success and delivers a corresponding signal.

Abstract: A stent, in particular a coronary stent, comprising a tubular body (2; 2′; 2″) for expansion from a first condition into a second condition in which it holds a vessel (18) of the human or animal body in an expanded state, wherein the tubular body (2; 2′; 2″) includes at least a first wall portion (4; 4′; 4″) comprising a human or animal tissue of adequate elasticity.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating fibrillation of at least one chamber of a heart comprising a fibrillation detector (1) for detecting a fibrillation, a defibrillator (2) for defibrillating the chamber of the heart, wherein the defibrillator is connected to the fibrillation detector (1) and is adapted to effect defibrillation subsequently to a time interval after detection of the fibrillation, a warning device (3) which is connected to the fibrillation detector (1) and which is adapted to delivery a warning signal when a fibrillation has been detected, and a control means (4) having a control input (5) actuable by a patient, wherein the control means is connected to the defibrillator (2) and is adapted to delay the time of a defibrillation if the control means (4) receives a corresponding signal by way of the control input (5), wherein the apparatus includes a condition detector (6) which is adapted to detect a hemodynamic condition of the heart, and the control means (4) is connected to the condition detector (6) and i

Abstract: An endoscopic catheter adapted for insertion into body cavities, comprising a distal catheter portion and an illumination device (40) which is adapted to illuminate an area around the distal catheter portion with electromagnetic radiation, and an image recording unit (60) which is adapted to record an image of the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the area around the distal catheter portion and pass it to the proximal end of the catheter (10), and an image reproduction unit (62) which is connected to the proximal end of the catheter (10) and adapted to reproduce an image of the recorded electromagnetic radiation, characterized in that the catheter (10) is adapted controllably for insertion into blood vessels, in particular blood vessels, and adapted to reproduce an image of the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the area around the distal catheter portion, with a wavelength for which blood has a high transparency.

Abstract: A method of applying a marker element (6; 6′; 6″; 25; 25′; 26; 28) to an implant (1; 1′; 1″; 1′″; 20; 20′), in particular a stent, intended for implantation in the human or animal body, comprising a main body and an opening (3; 3′; 3″; 3′″; 21; 21′) provided in said main body (2; 2′; 2″; 2′″; 22; 22′) for receiving the marker element (6; 6′; 6″; 25; 25′; 26; 28), wherein to form at least a part of the marker element (6; 6′; 6″; 25; 25′; 26; 28) a hardenable material or material mix is introduced into the opening and hardened therein.