Abstract: A cooling device is provided having a heat source arranged on a support element, the support element arranged on a rigid heat barrier element and the heat barrier element arranged on a housing such that the support element, the heat barrier element and the housing form a mechanically rigid unit, the heat barrier element having a low heat conductivity, wherein a heat conducting element, arranged between the housing and the support element, bears against a first surface of the support element with a second surface and faces a fourth surface of the housing with a third surface, wherein the heat conducting element has a high heat conductivity, the second surface is at an angle to the third surface, and the heat conducting element is formed separately from the support element and the housing.

Abstract: An endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism includes a base part with an arcuate wall portion defining a base part wall opening between the base part arcuate wall portion circumferential ends and a rotatable part with a rotatable arcuate wall portion defining a rotatable part arcuate wall opening between the rotatable arcuate wall portion circumferential ends. A path guide rotates and axially moves the rotatable part relative to the base part between an open and closes state. A biasing device acts to bias the rotatable part toward the closed state, whereby an endoscope eyepiece may be pushed through an endoscope eyepiece side opening to a coupled position in the open state and the rotatable part rotates to the closed state and moves axially toward the base to retain the eyepiece in the coupled position.

Abstract: A holding device for human-medicine or veterinary-medicine applications having: a joint between a proximal holding segment and a distal holding segment; wherein one axially displaceable thrust element, in each case is arranged in the holding segments; wherein the joint has a tightening bolt, which defines the pivoting and tightening axis, and has deflection elements, by means of which a thrust force, acting relative to the axis, of the proximal thrust element is deflectable to lock the joint onto the tightening axis and to displace the distal thrust element; and wherein the deflection elements include at least one ramp system with a wedge body. A holding system including the specified holding device and a method for locking the joint of the specified holding device.

Abstract: A video endoscope that includes a handle with a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongate shaft with one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal end section of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, where the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electric transmission element of the interface portion and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first and second connector elements co-operating to form a detachable electrical connection, and where the handle includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to at least one stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing.

Abstract: A keypad includes a support, a snap disk on a first side of the support transformable from a released state to a loaded state, a cover forming a seal over the first side, a pocket in the cover, a magnet and a plunger disposed in the pocket, the plunger adapted to engage and transform the snap disk to the loaded state, a magnetic field sensor on a second side of the support, the second side opposite the first side and logic circuitry adapted to obtain a value of a strength of a magnetic field from the sensor, compare the value against a predetermined threshold value that corresponds at least approximately to the strength of a magnetic field, and when the plunger has transformed the snap disk to the loaded state and the value reaches or exceeds the threshold value, output a signal indicating that a key press occurred.

Abstract: A gear arrangement including two drive units (210, 220, 310, 320, 410), and two translatory transmission elements (151, 152, 251, 252, 351, 352), to each of which a rotationally movable function unit (141, 142) of a distally arranged two-part end effector (140) can be coupled. The first drive unit (210, 310, 410) has at least one proximally arranged rotation element (311, 411) or a thrust element (210) for opening or closing the end effector (140) by rotation of at least one function unit (141, 142). The second drive unit (220, 320), with which the translatory transmission elements (151, 152, 251, 252, 351, 352) are movable in opposite directions, has at least one proximally arranged rotation element (224, 320, 421) for simultaneous and unidirectional pivoting of the function units (141, 142) of the end effector (140). A surgical instrument includes the gear arrangement (200, 300, 400) in the handle (180).

Abstract: This application provides an endoscopic device having at least one shaft with at least one portion deflectable, and having at least one deflection mechanism, which is configured to deflect the deflectable portion and includes at least one first connection member and at least one second connection member. When the connection members are arranged in a straight position relative to each other, a straight-position spacing exists defined by a shortest connection between a geometric midpoint of the first connection member and a geometric midpoint of the second connection member and, when the connection members are arranged in a deflection position relative to each other, a deflection-position spacing exists which is defined by a shortest connection between a geometric midpoint of the first connection member and a geometric midpoint of the second connection member, and the deflection-position spacing in the deflection position is greater than the straight-position spacing in the straight position.

Abstract: Improved fluorescent imaging and other sensor data imaging processes, including hyperspectral imaging, devices, and systems are provided to enhance endoscopes with multiple wavelength capabilities and providing sequential imaging and display. A first optical device is provided for endoscopy imaging in a white light and a fluoresced light mode with an imaging unit including one or more image sensors. A mechanism in the first optical device to automatically adjust the focus of the first optical device using one or more deformable, variable-focus lenses, wherein the automatic focus adjustment compensates for a chromatic focal difference between the light collected at distinct wavelength bands caused by the dispersive or diffractive properties of the optical materials or optical design employed in the construction of the first or second optical devices, or both. Further variable spectrum imaging is enhanced with the use of adjustable spectral filters.

Abstract: A video endoscope, more specifically a video mediastinoscope, and an associated method for its configuration, comprises an elongate rigid shaft and a handle detachably attached to a proximal end section of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprises an optics shaft comprising an imaging optics and an electronic image sensor, wherein the optics shaft and a plug connector housing arranged at a proximal end of the optics shaft form a hermetically sealed unit enclosing the imaging optics and the image sensor, and wherein the handle comprises a handle housing in which an electronics unit is accommodated, wherein the electronics unit is hermetically sealed.

Abstract: Improved fluorescent imaging and other sensor data imaging processes, including hyperspectral imaging, devices, and systems are provided to enhance endoscopes with multiple wavelength capabilities and providing sequential imaging and display. A first optical device is provided for endoscopy imaging in a white light and a fluoresced light mode with an imaging unit including one or more image sensors. A mechanism in the first optical device to automatically adjust the focus of the first optical device using one or more deformable, variable-focus lenses, wherein the automatic focus adjustment compensates for a chromatic focal difference between the light collected at distinct wavelength bands caused by the dispersive or diffractive properties of the optical materials or optical design employed in the construction of the first or second optical devices, or both. Further variable spectrum imaging is enhanced with the use of adjustable spectral filters.

Abstract: A video endoscope that includes a handle with a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongate shaft with one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal end section of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, where the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electric transmission element of the interface portion and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first and second connector elements co-operating to form a detachable electrical connection, and where the handle includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to at least one stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing.

Abstract: A keypad includes a support, a snap disk on a first side of the support transformable from a released state to a loaded state, a cover forming a seal over the first side, a pocket in the cover, a magnet and a plunger disposed in the pocket, the plunger adapted to engage and transform the snap disk to the loaded state, a magnetic field sensor on a second side of the support, the second side opposite the first side and logic circuitry adapted to obtain a value of a strength of a magnetic field from the sensor, compare the value against a predetermined threshold value that corresponds at least approximately to the strength of a magnetic field, and when the plunger has transformed the snap disk to the loaded state and the value reaches or exceeds the threshold value, output a signal indicating that a key press occurred.

Abstract: The present application relates to an operating appliance for interacting with a user, including a transparent cover device, a support device with a sensor cutout, and a pressure switch, wherein the transparent cover device forms an operating area and a lower side lying opposite to the operating area and the support device is arranged on or at the lower side and the pressure switch is located and aligned within the sensor cutout in such a way that a user input by means of a finger of the user on the operating area is detectable by the pressure switch, wherein a finger indentation is provided on the operating area and arranged above the pressure switch.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing a stereo image includes a first objective for producing a first image, a second eye objective for producing a second eye image, a first viewing direction device rotatable about a first axis assigned the first objective, and a second viewing direction device rotatable about a second axis assigned the second objective. The viewing direction of the apparatus is rotatable by simultaneous rotation of the first and second viewing direction devices. The first objective or part is movable in a translational fashion. A cam mechanism is provided and embodied to couple a rotation of the first viewing direction device to a translational movement of the first objective or part.

Abstract: The present application provides an endoscopic device having at least one shaft, which has at least one portion deflectable in at least one plane, and having at least one deflection mechanism, which is configured to deflect the deflectable portion and includes, arranged in series, at least one first connection member and at least one second connection member interacting for a deflection with the first connection member. The first connection member is formed at least partially from a first material, and the second connection member is formed at least partially from a second material, of which the elasticity differs from that of the first material.

Abstract: An optical instrument (1) for minimally invasive surgery includes an instrument housing (2) for receiving optical elements, wherein the instrument housing (2) is sealed in fluid tight fashion by way of at least one end window (7) on the distal side and/or proximal side. The end window (7) is arranged in a window frame (8) that surrounds the end window (7) around the entire circumference thereof. The end windows (7) is able to be attached with little stress in the associated window frame (8) based on at least two portions (12) that project radially to the inside from the window frame (8). The at least two portions (12) are formed on the inner circumferential surface of each window frame (8) facing the respective end window (7).

Abstract: A trocar is provided that is adapted to insert a lighting attachment into a body cavity. The trocar connects at its distal end to the lighting attachment such that it can be pushed into the body cavity. An endoscope may then be inserted through the trocar into the body cavity. The lighting attachment is configured to detach from the trocar and attach to the endoscope head to provide additional lighting to the endoscope. The lighting attachment includes foldable lighting panels that expand when in use in order to light a wider field of view. The lighting attachment may be powered by induction coil from the endoscope.