Med-el Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh

Tepha, Inc.

Universitaet Rostock

Aesculap Ag

Biotronik Vi Patent Ag

Biotronik Mess-und Therapiegeraete Gmbh & Co Ingenieurbuero Berlin

Universitat Rostock

Universitaet Greifswald

Biotronik Mess-und Therapiegeraete Gmbh Ingeniurbuero Berlin

Detlef Behrend

Katrin Sternberg

David P Martin

Simon F Williams

Niels Grabow

Hans Wilhelm Pau

Mareike Warkentin

Guido Reetz

Max Schaldach

Berthold Nies

Anandhan Dhanasingh

Klaus-Peter Schmitz

Wolfram Schmidt

Daniel Schaudel

Olaf Specht

Heinz Mueller

Daniel Lootz

Claus Harder

Erich Odermatt

Alexander Rzany

Jens Gobrecht

Thomas Lenarz

Bjoern Klocke

Max Schaldach, Jr

Roland Hessler

Rudolf Guthoff

Georg Gradl

Werner Weitschies

Jürgen Wegmann

Heyo K Kroemer

David Martin

Kathleen Schmohl

Sven Kramer

Dietmar Esperschidt

Maria Del Carmen Fuentes

Attila Ovari

Kathleen Grabow

Claus Martini

Gerhard Hennighausen

Absorbable stents and absorbable stent coatings have been developed with improved properties. These devices preferably comprise biocompatible copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate, and optionally poly-L-lactic acid and other absorbable polymers and additives. Compositions of these materials can be used to make absorbable stents that provide advantageous radial strengths, resistance to recoil and creep, can be plastically expanded on a balloon catheter, and can be deployed rapidly in vivo. Stent coatings derived from these materials provide biocompatible, uniform coatings that are ductile, and can be expanded without the coating cracking and/or delaminating and can be used as a coating matrix for drug incorporation.

Polymeric, degradable drug-eluting stents and coatings

Drug delivery systems and biocompatible coatings for use with implantable stimulation devices such as cochlear implants have been developed. These drug delivery systems and coatings comprise polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers and copolymers. The drug delivery systems may be used to deliver pharmacologically active substances, for example, directly from a cochlear implant to the inner ear. The coatings can impart lubricity to cochlear devices for ease of insertion of the electrodes. In the preferred embodiment, the drug delivery system comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer, and in the most preferred embodiment, the PHA polymer comprises poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(4HB)) or copolymer thereof. A particularly preferred embodiment is where the silicone sheath of the cochlear implant electrodes has been surface modified, and coated with P(4HB), and the P(4HB) either contains a pharmacologically active substance or has been coated with such a substance.

Drug eluting cochlear implants

Absorbable stents and absorbable stent coatings have been developed with improved properties. These devices preferably comprise biocompatible copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate, and optionally polylactic acid and other absorbable polymers and additives. Compositions of these materials can be used to make absorbable stents that provide advantageous radial strengths, resistance to recoil and creep, can be plastically expanded on a balloon catheter, and can be deployed rapidly in vivo. Stent coatings derived from these materials provide biocompatible, uniform coatings that are ductile, and can be expanded without the coating cracking and/or delaminating and can be used as a coating matrix for drug incorporation.

Absorbable stents and absorbable stent coatings have been developed with improved properties. These devices preferably comprise biocompatible copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate, and optionally poly-L-lactic acid and other absorbable polymers and additives. Compositions of these materials can be used to make absorbable stents that provide advantageous radial strengths, resistance to recoil and creep, can be plastically expanded on a balloon catheter, and can be deployed rapidly in vivo. Stent coatings derived from these materials provide biocompatible, uniform coatings that are ductile, and can be expanded without the coating cracking and/or delarmnating and can be used as a coating matrix for drug incorporation.

An electrode arrangement for sensing electrical activity in target tissue is described. A support electrode has an elongate electrode body with a base end and a penetrating end for insertion into the target tissue. A fixation electrode has an elongate electrode body with a base end and a penetrating end at an angle to the electrode body. The electrodes are joined together with their electrode bodies in parallel so that the penetrating end of the fixation electrode penetrates a fixed distance into the target tissue so that at least one of the electrodes senses electrical activity in the target tissue.

Electrode configuration and measuring device for measuring the electrical activity in electrically active tissue

The invention relates to an electrode arrangement and a measuring device for measuring the action flow and/or the action potential of an electrically active tissue. The aim of the invention is to provide a simple and economically producible electrode for measuring action flows and/or action potentials in electrically active tissues (preferably the stapedius muscle tissue), ensuring that the electrode is fixed securely, but reversibly, in the muscle tissue and that the muscle tissue is disturbed as little as possible. The electrode arrangement according to the invention comprises a first electrode () and a fixing element (), the first electrode () being connected to a first, long electrical line () and consisting of a long base body () comprising a first end () and a second end (). The first electrical line () is connected to the base body () in the region of the second end () thereof, and means are provided for reversibly fixing the fixing element () to the first electrode ().

Electrode arrangement and measuring device for measuring the electrical activity in an electrically active tissue

An electrode arrangement is described for sensing electrical activity in target tissue. An inner electrode has an elongate electrode body formed as a cylindrical section with an inner penetrating end for insertion into the stapedius muscle target tissue. An outer electrode fits over the inner electrode and an outer penetrating end for insertion into the target tissue. The two electrodes are joined together with their electrode bodies in parallel so that the penetrating ends of the electrodes penetrate in the same direction into the target tissue to sense electrical activity in the target tissue.

Evoked stapedius reflex threshold tile electrode

Evoked stapedius reflex threshold (ESRT) tile electrode

The present invention relates to a combination for the treatment of osteoporosis and/or the prophylaxis and treatment of bone fractures, said combination comprising collagen, an additional peptide, a calcium-containing substance and a wetting agent with a terminally functionalized oligolactone. The invention also relates to artificial bones and implants produced by the combination and to the use of said combination for fixing implants and treating osteoporosis and/or the prophylaxis and treatment of bone fractures. The invention further relates to a method for producing artificial bones and implants.

Treatment of osteoporosis

A composition for the adhesive bonding and/or fixing of biological and/or synthetic tissues includes the components:

Combination for an adhesive bonding of biological tissues

The invention relates to a stapedius muscle electrode array for detecting the action elements generated when a human stapedius muscle is contracted. Said array comprises an electrode (&#x2033;) that is adapted for bipolar discharge and is to be attached to a human stapedius muscle. The electrode has two flexible, elastic, electrically conducting elongate elements (), each of which has a distal () and a proximal end () and is helically preshaped along at least some of the length thereof to the distal end () thereof in such a way that the distal end () and a section of the respective elongate element () which adjoins the distal end () can be placed at least in part around the tendon () extending between the stapedius muscle and the stapes while the helical part can be guided along the tendon (), can be moved in the direction of the stapedius muscle, and can be at least partly twisted into and/or slid onto the region of the muscle belly () adjoining the tendon (). The two elongate elements () are electrically insulated from one another, and the helical parts () thereof are intertwined in such a way as to run around a common centerline (), allowing the helical parts () to be jointly placed around the tendon (), be guided along the tendon (), and be brought in contact with the stapedius muscle.

Stapedius muscle electrode

An implant for implantation in a human or animal body having a structure comprising a) an implant base body; b) a primer layer which is partially or completely applied to the surface of the implant; c) an active ingredient layer consisting of one, two, three or more active ingredients applied entirely or partially to the surface of the primer layer; and d) a diffusion-controlling layer which is applied partially or entirely to the active ingredient layer, and optionally to the primer layer, wherein diffusion of the active ingredients of the active ingredient layer is controlled. Also disclosed is a manufacturing method for an implant.

Implants with membrane diffusion-controlled release of active ingredient

The present invention relates to an ocular implant, particularly a glaucoma stent. It is the object of the present invention to devise an ocular implant which allows the ocular eye pressure to be regulated, i.e., to be maintained at a desired level, while preventing the flow resistance from increasing over time, for example due to fibrosis. In order to achieve this object, the ocular implant according to the invention comprises a small tube (), the wall surface () of which encloses a hollow duct that is open on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the hollow duct, wherein a first opening () allowing ocular humor to flow in and a second opening () allowing the ocular humor to be discharged is provided, and wherein the wall surface () is formed by a liquid-tight material, and wherein at least one pressure-controlled valve () is disposed in the area of the wall surface ().

Ocular implant

A method of applying a marker element () to an implant (), in particular a stent, intended for implantation in the human or animal body, comprising a main body and an opening () provided in said main body () for receiving the marker element (), wherein to form at least a part of the marker element () a hardenable material or material mix is introduced into the opening and hardened therein.

Method of applying a marker element to an implant and an implant provided with a marker element

Growing community of inventors

Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany

Detlef Behrend