Abstract: A switch for polarity-independent multi-pole direct current operation includes at least two switching chambers. Each switching chamber includes a single circuit breaker with a stationary contact having a first contact region and a movable electrically conductive contact part having a second contact region. The stationary contact and movable contact part are configured to create a connection between the first and the second contact regions in the ON state and to disconnect the first and the second contact regions in the OFF state. Each chamber also includes two arc chutes for quenching an arc forming between the first and the second contact regions when switching to the OFF state. At least two magnets are configured to generate a magnetic field so as to exert a magnetic force on the arcs to divert each arc in a direction of an arc chute independent of the direction of current.

Abstract: A switching device includes at least a first current path and a second current path, each of which have a first connection and a second connection, whereby the first connections are arranged on the first side of the switching device and the second connections on the second side of the switching device, each current path has at least one contact pair, that has a first contact and a second contact, whereby at least the second contact is arranged on a contact member that is movable to the first contact and whereby in the switched-on status of the switching device, both the contacts are in contact with each other, each contact pair has at least one extinguishing device, whereby the extinguishing devices of both the current paths are arranged in a direction from the first connections to the second connections, behind one another and at least partly covering each other.

Abstract: A switching device suitable for DC operation includes at least a pair of contacts having a first and second contact, wherein at least one of the two contacts is mobile and the two contacts are in contact with one another in a switched-on state and are not in contact with one another in a switched-off state, having an arc driver arrangement which generates a magnetic field at least in the region of the pair of contacts, and comprising a first arc guiding arrangement by which an arc which is produced between the contacts is guided in a first current direction to a quenching device for quenching the arc, wherein a second arc guiding arrangement is provided, by means of which an arc which is produced between the contacts is guided in a second current direction, which is opposite the first current direction, to said quenching device for quenching the arc.

Abstract: A contactor for DC operation includes a first and a second contact that are fixed contacts and a contact bridge that has a third and a fourth contact. The contact bridge, in a closed position, provides a tactile contact between a first contact pair, which comprises the first and the third contact, and between a second contact pair, which comprises the second and the fourth contact. The contact bridge is movable via a guide along a direction of movement. A magnet arrangement is configured to generate an electromagnetic force on an electric arc, which arises on opening the contacts. The contact bridge has at least one recess, which is arranged between the guide and the third contact. The recess is configured to provide an opening at the contact bridge through which the arc, generated at the third contact, is deflected in the direction of movement of the contact bridge.

Abstract: A switch suitable for DC applications includes: two fixed conductive contacts with first contact areas; a movable conductive bridge with two second contact areas for being connected to the two first contact areas in the on-status and for being disconnected from the two the first contact areas in the off-status; and two arc-extinguishing units configured to extinguish electric arcs occurring between the first and second contact areas after disconnecting the second contact areas from the first contact areas. First conductive arc-guiding elements extend from each first contact area into the corresponding arc-extinguishing unit and at least one second conductive arc-guiding element extends into the arc-extinguishing units suitably shaped to guide the electric arcs from each of the second contact areas of the movable bridge into the arc-extinguishing units.

Abstract: A switching device suitable for DC operation includes at least one pair of contacts having a first contact and a second contact, wherein at least one of the two contacts is mobile and the two contacts are in contact with one another in a switched-on state of the switching device and are not in contact with one another in a switched-off state of the switching device, further having an arc driver arrangement for generating a magnetic field and an arc guiding arrangement for guiding an arc, which is produced between the contacts, to a quenching device. The problem of quenching arcs independently of the current direction in just one individual quenching apparatus in each case is solved with a substantially homogeneous magnetic field which is generated by permanent magnets.

Abstract: A switching device having a housing; a first and second contact, at least one of the contacts movable, both in contact when switched-on and not in contact when switched-off; an arc driver assembly producing a magnetic field at least in the area of the contact pair; a first arc conducting assembly which produces an arc between the contacts in a first current direction conducted to a first quenching apparatus for quenching the arc; and a second arc conducting assembly which produces an arc between the contacts with a second current direction opposite the first current direction conducted to a second quenching apparatus, the two arc conducting assemblies each comprising at least two conducting plates, of which at least a first is immovably in the housing and a second is connected at least partially rigidly to a bridge assembly and is movably arranged in the housing.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac electrostimulator includes an atrial sensing channel generating an atrial sense event signal upon detection of atrial activity, a ventricular sensing channel generating a ventricular sense event signal upon detection of ventricular activity, a VES detector detecting ventricular extrasystoles, atrial and ventricular stimulation pulse generators, and a stimulation control unit. The stimulation control unit determines scheduled delivery times of atrial stimulation pulses (T(A)) and/or ventricular stimulation pulses (T(V)), and triggers delivery if no atrial sense event signal arises before the end of an atrial escape interval (VAI) timing out at T(A), or if no ventricular sense event signal arises before the end of a ventricular escape interval (VEI) timing out at T(V). T(A) and T(V) depend upon detection of a ventricular extrasystole, and proper atrioventricular synchrony is maintained by setting a physiologically adequate A-V-delay between T(A) and T(V).

Abstract: A switch for, in particular, direct current operation, having at least one circuit breaker chamber, each circuit breaker chamber having two contact pieces having respectively a first contact area, an electrically conductive bridge circuit which can be moved by means of a contact bridge and which has two contact regions for establishing an electrically conductive connection between the first and second contact regions and for separating at least one of the two contact regions from the respective first contact region, in addition to at least two magnets for generating a magnetic field.

Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a heart stimulator comprising a stimulation control unit, a stimulation unit, an impedance measurement unit and an impedance evaluation unit. The stimulation control unit is operatively connected to the stimulation unit to control timing of stimulation pulses by said stimulation unit. The impedance measurement unit is configured to determine an impedance signal reflecting intracardiac impedance. The impedance evaluation unit is operatively connected to the impedance measurement unit and to the stimulation control unit and is configured to evaluate the impedance signal so as to determine an isovolumic contraction time, an isovolumic relaxation time, an ejection time and a filling time from said impedance signal. The stimulation control unit is further configured to control timing of stimulation pulses depending on a performance index.

Abstract: A switch for, in particular, direct current operation, having at least one circuit breaker chamber, each circuit breaker chamber having two contact pieces having respectively a first contact area, an electrically conductive bridge circuit which can be moved with a contact bridge and which has two second contact regions for establishing an electrically conductive connection between the first and the second contact regions and for separating at least one of the two contact regions from the respective first contact region, in addition to at least two magnets for generating a magnetic field, and an additional magnet for influencing the magnetic field is arranged on the moveable contact bridge.

Abstract: The type of arrhythmia in a patient's heart can be determined by monitoring the atrial and ventricular rate of the heart; detecting a pathological initial ventricular and/or atrial rate during a first time period; if a pathological initial rate is detected, then administering at least one antiarrhythmic cardioactive drug over a short second time period; detecting the heart's response to the administered drug(s), as by comparing the responsive ventricular and atrial rates with the initial ventricular and atrial rates, respectively, within a third time period; and determining the type of atrial or ventricular arrhythmia from the presence or absence of differences, and the type of differences, between the responsive atrial and ventricular rates compared with the initial atrial and ventricular rates. The invention further involves a related device which includes an implantable cardiac device (10) and a drug delivery device (20).

Abstract: A switching device includes at least a first current path and a second current path, each of which have a first connection and a second connection, whereby the first connections are arranged on the first side of the switching device and the second connections on the second side of the switching device, each current path has at least one contact pair, that has a first contact and a second contact, whereby at least the second contact is arranged on a contact member that is movable to the first contact and whereby in the switched-on status of the switching device, both the contacts are in contact with each other, each contact pair has at least one extinguishing device, whereby the extinguishing devices of both the current paths are arranged in a direction from the first connections to the second connections, behind one another and at least partly covering each other.

Abstract: Electrical switching device having a housing, at least two switching chambers within the housing with contacts to interrupt at least one current path, an arc extinguishing device for each switching chamber, and at least one guide channel within the housing, which directs the arc gas exiting the arc extinguishing device towards at least one of the exhaust openings to allow the arc gases to exit the housing, whereby each switching chamber has a guide channel, and whereby the guide channels of the different switching chambers are separated from each other.

Abstract: A switching device having at least one contact pair includes a first contact and a second contact, where at least the second contact is movable relative to the first contact. There is an extinguishing device with at least one extinguishing chamber for extinguishing an arc produced between the contacts, a first guide rail arrangement for guiding the arc with one direction of current and a second guide rail arrangement for guiding the arc with the second direction of current in said extinguishing chamber. Both guide rail arrangements have a first guide rail and a second guide rail, where both first guide rails starting from the first contact run in the opposite direction, and both second guide rails starting from the second contact run in the opposite direction. The first guide rails are connected with each other in an electrically conductive arrangement in the form of a closed loop.

Abstract: A polarity-independent switching device for carrying and disconnecting high DC currents has a gastight, encapsulated, electrically insulating housing which can be filled with an insulating gas, and at least one pair of contacts disposed in the housing and made up of a fixed contact and a mobile contact. The two contacts are in contact with each other in a switched-on state of the switching device and are not in contact in a switch-off state of the switching device. An arc driver arrangement is included which generates a magnetic field at least in the region of the pair of contacts, as well as a first arc routing arrangement with which an arc produced between the contacts is guided in a first current direction to a quenching area arranged at a distance from the contacts.

Abstract: A method for determining if an implantable medical device (IMD) in a patient is magnetic resonance conditional. Embodiments include a Home Monitoring Service Center (HMSC) that indicates if the IMD is MR conditional and what those conditions are. The IMD includes memory with flags, enabling a physician to set a flag to “MR conditional” if the IMD is MR conditional, if there are no abandoned leads in the patient, and if there are no other hardware in the patient that are not MR conditionally approved. In embodiments, the flags indicate safe for 1.5 T, 3.0 T, 1.5 & 3.0 T, up to 2 W/Kg, up to 4 W/Kg, with/without exclusion zone, and date flags are set. During home monitoring, the HMSC reads out a status of the MR conditional flags and the date last confirmed. If the patient needs an MRI scan, physician queries HMSC to determine MR conditional status.

Abstract: A contactor for DC operation includes a first and a second contact that are fixed contacts and a contact bridge that has a third and a fourth contact. The contact bridge, in a closed position, provides a tactile contact between a first contact pair, which comprises the first and the third contact, and between a second contact pair, which comprises the second and the fourth contact. The contact bridge is movable via a guide along a direction of movement. A magnet arrangement is configured to generate an electromagnetic force on an electric arc, which arises on opening the contacts. The contact bridge has at least one recess, which is arranged between the guide and the third contact. The recess is configured to provide an opening at the contact bridge through which the arc, generated at the third contact, is deflected in the direction of movement of the contact bridge.

Abstract: An implantable medical device that continuously measures the patient's intracardiac ventricular impedance. Extracts cardiac performance information based on the intracardiac impedance, including amplitude, timing and variability of cardiac contraction function. The device records and analysis trends in the performance information. The device identifies changes, which exceed the selected threshold limits. In the event of an incipient crisis, the device transmits an alert message.

Abstract: A switch for polarity-independent direct current operation includes fixed contacts, each including a first contact area. A movable bridge contact with second contact areas is configured to form an electrically conducting connection between the contact areas in an ON state and to separate the contact areas in an OFF state. A magnetic field exerts a magnetic force on an arc occurring between the contact areas when the OFF state is generated. Quenching chambers are provided to quench arcs with a first current direction. A first arc deflector plate extends from each of the quenching chambers toward the first contact area and a second arc deflector plate extends toward the second contact area for removing the arc into the quenching chambers. Each movable bridge contact includes two bridge plates which extend around each of the first contact areas so as to quench arcs in a second direction.