One aspect relates to a composite, including a ceramic body having a first layer surface and a second layer surface and at least one cermet conductor that electrically connects the surfaces. The composite includes a first layer with the first layer surface, a first ceramic, a first hole and a first cermet element in the first hole, a second layer with the second layer surface, a second ceramic, a second hole and a second cermet element in the second hole, and an intermediate layer that is located between the first and the second layer. The intermediate layer includes an intermediate layer ceramic, an intermediate hole and one intermediate cermet element in the intermediate hole. A projection of the cross-section of the first hole and a projection of the cross section of the second hole onto a plane P.sub.x,y are arranged offset to each other.

A resectoscope includes a handle portion, a flow sheath, and an electrode. The flow handle portion includes a trigger, the flow sheath extends from the handle portion and has a hub and a shaft extending from the hub including a rigid inner tube and a semi-rigid outer tube, the rigid inner tube extending through the semi-rigid outer tube to define a channel therebetween, wherein the rigid inner tube may include a fiber-reinforced material, the semi-rigid outer tube may include a polymeric material. The retractor tool is slidably disposed in the flow sheath and includes a linkage and a traction member pivotably coupled to the linkage. The electrode is slidably disposed in the flow sheath and may be made at least in part of sheet metal.

A composite material for medical devices includes a superelastic shape memory alloy configured or constituting a matrix and a metal oxide which is dispersed in the matrix.

In-vivo biodegradable medical implants, containing at least in part at least partially fine-grained metallic materials provide a strong, tough, stiff and lightweight implant. The in-vivo biodegradable implants are used in a number of stent applications, for fracture fixation, sutures and the like. The in-vivo biodegradable medical implants enable the reduction of implant size and weight and consequently result in reducing the release of implant degradation products into the body.

One aspect relates to a composite, including a ceramic body having a first layer surface and a second layer surface and at least one cermet conductor that electrically connects the surfaces. The composite includes a first layer with the first layer surface, a first ceramic, a first hole and a first cermet element in the first hole, a second layer with the second layer surface, a second ceramic, a second hole and a second cermet element in the second hole, and an intermediate layer that is located between the first and the second layer. The intermediate layer includes an intermediate layer ceramic, an intermediate hole and one intermediate cermet element in the intermediate hole. A projection of the cross-section of the first hole and a projection of the cross section of the second hole onto a plane P.sub.x,y are arranged offset to each other.

A method for controlling generation of biologically desirable voids in a composition placed in proximity to bone or other tissue in a patient by selecting at least one water-soluble inorganic material having a desired particle size and solubility, and mixing the water-soluble inorganic material with at least one poorly-water-soluble or biodegradable matrix material. The matrix material, after it is mixed with the water-soluble inorganic material, is placed into the patient in proximity to tissue so that the water-soluble inorganic material dissolves at a predetermined rate to generate biologically desirable voids in the matrix material into which bone or other tissue can then grow.

A method for controlling generation of biologically desirable voids in a composition placed in proximity to bone or other tissue in a patient by selecting at least one water-soluble inorganic material having a desired particle size and solubility, and mixing the water-soluble inorganic material with at least one poorly-water-soluble or biodegradable matrix material. The matrix material, after it is mixed with the water-soluble inorganic material, is placed into the patient in proximity to tissue so that the water-soluble inorganic material dissolves at a predetermined rate to generate biologically desirable voids in the matrix material into which bone or other tissue can then grow.

The invention relates to a coating for an implant component, a method for producing an implant component having said coating, and a use of said coating on an implant component. The coating is intended for an implant component, in particular a spinal implant component, and is a TiNb coating which has, in addition to an atom % proportion of Ti and an atom % proportion of Nb, an atom % proportion of 5-30 atom % of Ag.

A radiopaque composite wire for medical applications has a core comprising a rare earth metal, an outer layer comprising a nickel-titanium alloy disposed over the core, and a controlled diffusion zone between the core and the outer layer. The controlled diffusion zone includes at least one compound phase comprising (a) the rare earth metal and (b) nickel and/or titanium.

A biomaterial including a porous biocompatible structure having interconnected pores, wherein the pores have interior walls and are interconnected by passageways, the interior walls and passageways being coated with an osteoinductive aqueous demineralized bone extract solution, the aqueous demineralized bone extract solution including growth factors, proteins, a demineralized bone matrix and at least one of a weak acid and a guanidine hydrochloride, wherein the demineralized bone matrix is present per 100 g of the solution in an amount of from about 2 g to about 10 g.