Nanostructured surfaces on selected substrates are described which are highly resistant to cell adhesion. Such surfaces on medical implants inhibit fibroblast adhesion particularly on nanorough titanium deposited on smooth silicone surfaces. The nanostructured deposited metal coatings can also be engineered so that several cell types, including endothelial, osteoblast, and fibroblast cells, show little if any tendency to attach to the coated surface in vivo.

The presently disclosed embodiments relate to devices and methods for efficiently removing the nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2) from a gas stream while enhancing the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in the gas stream without making any reaction byproduct that will adversely influence a respiratory treatment. The devices and methods for nitric oxide (NO) generation and nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2) removal or scrubbing can be embedded into other therapeutic devices or used alone.

A composite electrode intracardiac defibrillation catheter includes a first electrode group including at least two first electrodes for detecting an electrophysiological electrical signal of a site or a cell group in a heart chamber, and a second electrode group including at least one second electrode located between an adjacent pair of the at least two first electrodes for causing an electric current by a high-voltage defibrillation electric shock for defibrillation to flow in a contact site in the heart chamber or a contact site in a vein, and a conductive length of a surface of the at least one second electrode in a longitudinal direction of the composite electrode intracardiac defibrillation catheter is longer than a conductive length of each of the at least two first electrodes.

A composite electrode intracardiac defibrillation catheter includes a first electrode group including at least two first electrodes for detecting an electrophysiological electrical signal of a site or a cell group in a heart chamber, and a second electrode group including at least one second electrode located between an adjacent pair of the at least two first electrodes for causing an electric current by a high-voltage defibrillation electric shock for defibrillation to flow in a contact site in the heart chamber or a contact site in a vein, and a conductive length of a surface of the at least one second electrode in a longitudinal direction of the composite electrode intracardiac defibrillation catheter is longer than a conductive length of each of the at least two first electrodes.

Techniques to fabricate and use a nanocomposite coating that includes one or more nanotubes such as carbon nanotubes are disclosed. In some examples, a guidewire may include the nanocomposite material. The guidewire is immune to electromagnetic interference, is thermally robust, and is capable of accommodating inactive markers and active electronics.

The invention relates to a device (17) for treatment of body tissue, in particular for the permanent occlusion of varicose veins, preferably in the lower limbs, of varicocele and/or of vascular malformations and/or for the use in aesthetic surgeries, preferably laser assisted lipolysis, and/or for tumor treatment by means of laser induced thermotherapy and/or photodynamic therapy, by means of a light diffuser (13) circumferentially and endoluminally irradiating said tissue by laser light energy, said diffuser (13) being connected at its proximal end to a source (10) of laser light energy via a flexible wave guide (12) comprising a fiber optic core (1) covered by an optical cladding (2) having a refractive index smaller than that of the core (1), wherein in the cladding (2) and/or in the core (1) imperfections (18) are provided, designed as recesses and adapted to direct the light, preferably to refract and/or reflect the light propagating within the core (1) and/or its optical cladding (2) in generally radial directions, wherein a cap (7) transparent to the laser light enclosing the distal end of the core (1) and its optical cladding (2) in a fluid tight and/or liquid tight manner is provided. According to the invention the device (17) is characterized in that the outer surface (19) of said optical cladding (2) is fused in the region (A) between said imperfections (18) to the inner surface (21), preferably the inner diameter, of the cap (7) and/or in that the outer surface (19) of said optical cladding (2) extending over a distance in front and/or behind the region (A) provided with the imperfections (18) is fused to the inner surface (21), preferably the inner diameter, of the cap (7).

The invention refers to an endoscope including at least one channel which may be contaminated in use, wherein the channel wall of the at least one channel is formed of a material having properties capable of photocatalysis. The invention further refers to a method for cleaning such an endoscope including the steps of: connecting the endoscope to a reprocessing device, performing a photocatalytic treatment at least in the at least one channel for the purpose of the decomposition of organic residues on the surface of the channel, and rinsing the endoscope. The invention further refers to a cleaning device for cleaning such an endoscope.

The present invention relates to a coating for a device, wherein the coating comprises a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film comprises a polymerisation product formed from a polymerisation solution comprising dopamine, or a salt thereof, and at least one amino acid, or a salt thereof; and a metallic layer formed on the polymeric film.

The present invention relates to a coating for a device, wherein the coating comprises a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film comprises a polymerisation product formed from a polymerisation solution comprising dopamine, or a salt thereof, and at least one amino acid, or a salt thereof; and a metallic layer formed on the polymeric film.

The present invention relates to a coating for a device, wherein the coating comprises a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film comprises a polymerisation product formed from a polymerisation solution comprising dopamine, or a salt thereof, and at least one amino acid, or a salt thereof; and a metallic layer formed on the polymeric film.