Abstract: A device (1) for closing an opening (2) in a septum (4) of a heart (3) comprises: at least two closure elements (12) with threads (8) for closing the opening (2), a feed catheter (5) for insertion of the closure element (12) into the heart (3), a puncture cannula (6), a stylet (7) for pushing the closure element (12) out of the puncture cannula (6), and a screw catheter (10) having a coil (11) for penetration the edge of the opening (2). The puncture cannula (6) and the elements (12) can be moved through the screw catheter (10) and the coil (11). If the edges of the opening (2) overlap, a lobe (15) away from the feed catheter (5) can be kept in place with a second coil (111), or a suction tube (16) during placement of the anchor (12).

Abstract: A bipolar electrode (1) that can be implanted is provided with at least two poles at its distal end, namely a cathode (4) and an anode (6) spaced apart therefrom. Further, an anchoring is provided at the distal end of the electrode (1), provided for example as a helical screw (5). The different poles are arranged on different shafts or tubes (3) and (7) displaceable in reference to each other, in which the exterior shaft or tube (7) first can be pushed over the anchor (5) in order to protect it during implantation. In the operational state, the poles are adjusted by a relative motion of the two shafts carrying them with regard to their relative positioning.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is used to examine or monitor the state or state of health of plants (2) with the aid of a bipolar electrode (4) which uses its at least two different poles (5) to measure corresponding potentials of the plant and supply them to a detector and/or memory (7), in particular via an amplifier (9), with the result that conclusions regarding the state of, or the possible damage to, a plant (2) can be drawn from changes in the electrical signals and can ensure remedial action.

Abstract: A breast implant (1) having a flexible, but impermeable casing (2) and with an electrically conductive filling (3) is provided with an internal electrode (4) and an external electrode (5), with the electrodes being connected to a resistance or impedance measurement device integrated in a transponder (6). In case of perforation of the casing (2), if filling (3) escapes, then the electrical contact between the electrodes (4) and (5) is completed, and a drop in resistance or impedance is registered by the measurement device. In suspicious cases, the implant could be inspected of the measured resistance or impedance values with an external transmitter-receiver unit (13 or 14) and dangerous damage to the breast implant could be determined.

Abstract: A device (1) for measuring the diameter of an intracardiac opening (2), having a hollow body (3) made from a metal-wire mesh is provided that has twisted individual bars that form the jacket of the discontinuous wall (5) of the hollow body (3) and form longitudinal stabilization between two elastically deformable metal-wire meshes (6) forming the end sides of the hollow body (3) and are deformable in a position of use by an edge (17) of the opening (2) in a contact region into the interior of the hollow body (3). Thus, with the device (1), the size of the opening (2) can be determined in that, in an X-ray or ultrasound image, the deformation of the individual bars (4) is comparable through the opening (2) with markings (19, 20) arranged on the hollow body (3) and/or on the device (1) adjacent to the hollow body (3).

Abstract: In a device (1) for the defibrillation of a heart (2) with an implantable cardiac pacemaker and defibrillator (3), the defibrillation electrode (4) is arranged on the stimulation electrode (5), with the stimulation electrode enclosing the defibrillation electrode. In order to be able to remove the defibrillation electrode without a complicated operation if a defect in the defibrillation electrode (4) occurs during use, it can be moved relative to the stimulation electrode (5) and can be retracted and replaced relative to the implanted stimulation electrode (5) from its position of use, for which the stimulation electrode (5) can be detached or separated from the cardiac pacemaker (3) or its plug (9) provided on this pacemaker.

Abstract: A method for deterring earth-bound animals (9) and/or birds from at least one area (2, 19) of the ground provides that, at sections of the perimeter (20, 21) of the area (2, 19) spaced apart from each other, one electrode (4, 5, 14, 15) each of a pair of electrodes is arranged and is made to electrically contact the ground (11) and the electrodes (4, 5, 14, 15) are each electrically connected to a voltage terminal (17) of a voltage source (7), with the voltage source (7) generating a preferably pulsing current flow through the area (2, 19) between the electrodes (4, 5, 14, 15).

Abstract: An electrode arrangement has a stimulation electrode (7) that can be implanted transvenously for the Tawara node (5) allocated to the left ventricle (3) of a human heart (1). In order to not have to feed the stimulation electrode (7) via coronary veins, an element that can be inserted into the right ventricle (2) and that is used for piercing or forming a channel in the tissue of the heart (1) toward the Tawara node (5) of the left ventricle (3) is part of the electrode arrangement, so that the stimulation electrode (7) can be implanted in the region of the Tawara node (5) of the left ventricle (3). The feeding element can be a hollow needle (8) or a first stimulation electrode (6) for the right ventricle (2). The channel can be formed by a stiletto blade (9) or guide wire (10) or the helical coil of the second stimulation electrode (7) itself.

Abstract: A device (1) that serves for the defibrillation of the heart (2), and can be implanted as a whole. The device includes an implantable combined pacemaker and defibrillator (3), at least one defibrillation electrode (6), and a counter electrode (4, 41, 42), and a stimulation and sensor electrode (5) that can also be implanted, wherein the defibrillation electrode (6) can be retracted subcutaneously near the heart exterior in the region of the cardiac apex (2a), such as by a tension element (13) and a needle (12), and can be implanted, and is configured as at least one flexible helix made of metal or biocompatible steel, thus having high flexibility and low space requirement.

Abstract: A medical catheter (1) that has, on its distal end (2), several poles (3) or electrodes that are arranged axially one next to the other and that are used for stimulating and/or detecting potentials from an organ of the human body. A coil made from as many parallel running, electrically conductive windings as there are poles (3) is provided. The windings are bare, so that the entire cross section of the coil and thus of the catheter (1) can be kept small, and insulation (4), for example, in the form of a plastic cord, extends between the windings that form the poles (3). In this way, the outer dimensions of the catheter (1) are relatively small and, in addition, its distal end (2) has good flexibility.

Abstract: A medical device (1), in particular an occlusion instrument, for closing congenital or pathologically formed openings in the human body, with a collapsible braid (2) of wires and/or filaments made of nitinol or of similar material having a shape-memory effect, wherein the ends (3) of the wires or filaments of the braid are brought together by at least one closure assembly (4) and are held there. To ensure a secure connection of the free ends (3) of the wires of the braid (2), and to be able to easily handle the device and connect it quickly and reliably in a releasable manner to a positioning means, it is provided that the closure assembly (4) is formed by a sleeve into which the ends (3) are inserted and clamped in order to secure them against escape from the sleeve. Good clamping is provided by a clamping element (5) separate from the sleeve.

Abstract: An occlusion element (1) for unwanted openings in the heart is provided. The braid forming the occlusion element (1) is radially constricted in a middle area (3) that passes through the opening in the heart when it is in the position of use, such that, on both sides of this constricted middle area (3), braided occlusion discs (4) and (5) are formed, which engage on both sides over the edges of an unwanted opening in the heart in the position of use. In the starting position, prior to the constriction of the middle area (3), a tubular braid is formed with a double wall along at least part of its axial extent, having a first braid portion (6) of smaller cross section surrounded at a distance on the outside by a second braid portion (7) of greater cross section.

Abstract: An occlusion element (1) for closing an unwanted opening in the heart having two occlusion disks (3) formed from a braid of threads (2) is provided, wherein the threads (2) and the braid of these occlusion disks are each held by a sleeve or holder (5) and (6). The two occlusion disks (3) are initially separate and can be connected with their respective holders (5) and (6), which are oriented toward each other for forming the final shape of the occlusion element (1). The holders (5) and (6) form a spacing between the two occlusion disks (3) and a region (4) with reduced radial dimensions relative to the occlusion disks (3), and provide an arrangement where there are no projecting holders for the braid or threads on the outsides or end faces of the occlusion element (1) and the occlusion disks (3).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is used to examine or monitor the state or state of health of plants (2) with the aid of a bipolar electrode (4) which uses its at least two different poles (5) to measure corresponding potentials of the plant and supply them to a detector and/or memory (7), in particular via an amplifier (9), with the result that conclusions regarding the state of, or the possible damage to, a plant (2) can be drawn from changes in the electrical signals and can ensure remedial action.

Abstract: A catheter kit with a guide wire (1) and a treatment catheter (3) that can be displaced to a treatment site via the guide wire (1) is additionally provided with a guide catheter (7), maneuverable at its distal end (6), having an interior lumen in order to allow acceptance the guide wire (1). The combination of the maneuverable guide catheter (7) and the guide wire (1), initially cooperating as a unit, allows the placement of said guide wire (1) even to hard to access places.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode (1) that can be implanted is provided with at least two poles at its distal end, namely a cathode (4) and an anode (6) spaced apart therefrom. Further, an anchoring is provided at the distal end of the electrode (1), provided for example as a helical screw (5). The different poles are arranged on different shafts or tubes (3) and (7) displaceable in reference to each other, in which the exterior shaft or tube (7) first can be pushed over the anchor (5) in order to protect it during implantation. In the operational state, the poles are adjusted by a relative motion of the two shafts carrying them with regard to their relative positioning.

Abstract: An insertion sleeve (1) of a medical insertion instrument, with which a catheter or balloon catheter (2) can be introduced from the outside into a blood vessel and can be moved through the blood vessel to a position to be treated and after treatment can be retracted back through the fluid-tight insertion sleeve (1). The insertion sleeve (1) is expandable over its entire effective length due to one or more breaks, for example, a continuous slit (9), in the inner wall, and furthermore it is also fluid-tight in the expanded state due to a fluid-tight, expandable casing (7) whose extent can be increased due to its elasticity and/or one or more folds (11) existing in the casing corresponding to the widening of the insertion sleeve (1).

Abstract: A device (1) used for the implantation of an occlusion (2) in an undesired opening in a septum (3) in a heart (4) is provided and has a catheter (5) with a displacement element (7) (pusher) that can move in a longitudinal direction of the catheter in the interior and on whose distal end the occlusion (2) is fixed detachably and can be brought into its position of use, whereupon the displacement element (7) is detached again from the occlusion (2). The occlusion (2) connected to the displacement element (7) is arranged for the implantation process in the distal end region of the catheter (5) and is completely or at least partially enclosed by this end region.

Abstract: A pacemaker electrode (1) with a helical coil (3) arranged in a metal housing (7) is provided. So that no undesired electrical voltage pulse can occur if there is mutual contact between the helical coil (3) and metal housing (7), a permanent electrical connection of the metal housing (7) is provided with the helical coil (3). This electrical connection is realized by an electrical conductor (8), which is advantageously constructed as an additional coil and which is connected directly or indirectly to a part, which is permanently connected in an electrically conductive way to the rotating plug pin (4) and the feed line coil (4) connected to this plug pin and leading to the helical coil (3) by a wiping contact (12).

Abstract: A cardiac pacemaker—electrode (1) provided at its distal end with a helical screw (2), connected to an electrically conductive supply helix (5), which in turn can be coupled to a cardiac pacemaker via a connector (5) and a connector pin (6) and in turn can be rotated for rotating and axially adjusting the helical screw (2). A stylet (8) can be inserted through an interior longitudinal cavity of the supply helix (4), and includes a distal end (9) that can be directly or indirectly connected or coupled to the rotational helical screw (2), with the stylet (8) additionally being directly or indirectly coupled in a rotationally fixed fashion to the proximal end of the supply helix (4) so that when the stylet (8) is rotated both the supply helix (4) as well as the helical screw (2) are rotated without any considerably different rotation of the supply helix (4) occurring.