Patents Assigned to Richard Wolf GmbH
  • Arrangement and method for diagnosing malignant tissue by fluorescence observation
    Patent number: 6061591
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and method for diagnosing malignant tissue by fluorescence observation with an endoscope. A stroboscope is used as a white light source in order to illuminate the interesting tissue region through the endosocope. A laser is simultaneously used in order to stimulate the fluorescence. At a time, the analyzer is activated in the dark phase between two light flashes of the stroboscope and deactivated during a visible light flash. The tissue, with a continuous fluorescence stimulation by exposure to light with a stimulating wavelength, may be observed under a pseudo-white light. The spectrogram may be represented on a screen which displays a normal white light endoscopic picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Freitag, Franz Dankwart-Eder
  • Coupling for connecting a tubing to a medical instrument, apparatus or other tubing
    Patent number: 6059325
    Abstract: The coupling consists of two releasably coupleable coupling parts of which one coupling part is allocated an instrument, apparatus or other tubing and the other coupling part is to be connected to another tubing. In the coupled condition one coupling part with a convex spherical surface lies against a concave spherical surface formed on the neighbouring region of the other coupling part. With this, both coupling parts are sealingly axially braced against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Heckele, Thomas Poschko
  • Device and method for rinsing channels of medical instruments
    Patent number: 6044855
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a device and a method for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments, in particular instruments of minimal invasive surgery (MIS). Instead of the rigid connection of cleaning tubings to instrument connections and exits which has been used up to now and which have the disadvantage that certain contaminated regions remain inaccessible for a secure cleaning, there is suggested a docking of injector nozzles in defined chronological intervals, the injector nozzles being fixed in a centric position to the openings of the instrument connections. At the same time various types of injector nozzles are applied for adaptation to various instrument connections and openings. By measuring the rinsing fluid quantity flowing to the instrument connections and the total discharging rinsing fluid quantity, the quality of preparation may be evaluated and documented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventor: Harry Monch
  • Rinsing device for trocar sleeves
    Patent number: 6035870
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rinsing device for trocar sleeves. A rinsing and accommodating tube for a trocar sleeve integrated into a basket system may be pivoted from a horizontal rinsing position into a vertical equipping and removal position by way of a pivoting part which is pivotably mounted on a base. All disassemblable individual parts of the trocar sleeve are mounted in a basket system with point contact free of areas shaded to rinsing and may after assembly of the individual parts remain in the basket for sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventor: Harry Monch
  • Disassemblable cock
    Patent number: 6012702
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disassemblable cock with which a plug rotatable in the cock housing is releasably latched with the housing. The plug can be moved by tension or pressure from a working position into an intermediate position in which the sealing surfaces of the plug and of the cock housing are located out of bearing yet the plug remains connected to the housing (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Heimberger
  • Medical instrument for supplying and removing rinsing fluid
    Patent number: 5989211
    Abstract: The medical instrument is equipped with a handle and has a shank for supplying and removing rinsing fluid into or out of a hollow cavity inside the body. There are tubings which can be releasably inserted onto connection pieces connected to the shank and which can be fixed on the connection pieces. The handle is formed as a two-part housing, wherein for opening and closing the housing a first housing part is adjustable relative to a second housing part so that with an opened housing the tubings can be pushed or pulled from then freely situated connection pieces and with a closed housing the tubing ends located on the connection pieces are fixed onto the connection pieces with a friction fit by way of the first housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schaumann, Rudolf Heimberger, Detlef Schweier
  • Device for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of tissue
    Patent number: 5989181
    Abstract: The device comprises a treatment laser and at least two diagnosis lasers of differing wavelengths, wherein a receiving means is allocated to each diagnosis laser. The signal of the receiving means is led to an electronic evaluation and control means. In the distal end section of the endosopic part of the device the light beams of all lasers are guided together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Kaspar Dutting, Marc Schurr, Gerhard Buess, Gerhard Muller, Bernd Wagner
  • Device for the photodynamic endoscopic diagnosis of tumor tissue
    Patent number: 5971918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the photodynamic endoscopic diagnosis of human or animal tumor tissue with the help of a marker substance capable of fluorescence and with an endoscope and a light source. With this, means are provided in order to guide light from the light source via an endoscope to the diagnosis location in each case in one of at least two selectable spectral regions, that is in a white light region and in a region with blue-violet light, in order thus in each case to be able to carry out a visual examination with white light and stimulate a marker substance deposited in any tumor tissue to fluoresce. The means for selecting the light comprises an anti-fading filter which can be pivoted into the beam path of the white stimulation light on examination with white light and which filters out light, lying in spectral region stimulating fluorescence, from the white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventor: Ulf Zanger
  • Surgical Instrument
    Patent number: 5968074
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having at least two distal jaw parts each having a proximal part, an instrument holder for enabling a user to hold the surgical instrument, a pull-push rod connected to the jaw parts for pivotably moving the jaw parts such that the jaw parts are movable commonly and in opposite directions from one another, and a sliding block guide for guiding movement of the push-pull rod consisting of a circular arc-shaped groove foamed in the proximal part of each the jaw part. Each circular groove in each respective jaw part is displaced by 180.degree. from another circular groove in another jaw part. Each circular groove defining a virtual circle. At least two circular arc-shaped groove blocks are disposed on the instrument holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Prestel
  • Endoscope in particular a mediastinoscope
    Patent number: 5954632
    Abstract: An endoscope, in particular a mediastinoscope, in which the handle and the optics guided therein form an inseparable unit and which includes a first and second spatula-like part which can be separated from one another in the longitudinal direction. An adjusting mechanism is provided which permits a separation, a fastenable displacement parallel to the axis and a fastenable pivoting of the two parts relative to one another. In particular by way of the pivotability an expansion of a body cavity to be visually examined or which is to undergo therapy by way of introduced auxiliary instruments is made possible according to requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Heckele, Martin Weigel, Marcel Dahan, Albert Linder
  • Suction and rinsing instrument
    Patent number: 5935097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suction/rinsing instrument comprising a suction channel for removing fluid and a rinsing channel for supplying rinsing fluid. The suction channel is provided for receiving an auxiliary instrument. Via a grip part of the instrument, the auxiliary instrument, for example a forceps, may be controlled. The auxiliary instrument is fixed on the suction/rinsing instrument by way of a receiver. The receiver can be traversed in the axial direction of the shank, the traversing is effected via operating means provided on or near the grip part, so that the operator, without having to let go of the grip part, may selectively, with only one hand, push forward the auxiliary instrument an thus operate or also retract the auxiliary instrument and clear the suction/rinsing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Metsch, Manfred Boebel, Gerhard Fritz Buess, Marc O. Schurr, Klaus Roth
  • Device for connecting a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connection of an endoscope
    Patent number: 5930424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for connecting a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connection of an endoscope. An end section of the optical fiber is mounted as a bundle of fibers in a housing part and a coupling part is provided for the fastening with a positive fit of this housing part to the fiber optic connection on the endoscope side. To ensure that the optical fiber ends always come into contact with one another free of play and to improve the cleaning access, the coupling part is arranged on the housing part axially displaceable against a spring force in the direction of the fiber optic connection on the endoscope side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Heimberger, Uwe Schaumann, Martin Dolt
  • Device for correcting the tone of color pictures recorded by a video camera
    Patent number: 5926213
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for correcting the tone of color pictures recorded by a video camera, in particular an endoscope camera. A control device, which may also be part of a digital video camera, comprises a memory for storing a table which indicates a characteristic adjusting curve for tone correction values. The control device may further comprise an interface for inputting one or more characteristic adjusting curves according to the field of application of the device according to the invention. A simple rotary transducer which is connected via a lead to a control device serves as the input medium for the tone correction. After activating an automatic white balancing by way of a key connected to the control device, the correction values lies at the white point. The white point is always located on the adjusting curve and serves as a starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hafele, Michael Vogele, Jean-Pierre Heinrichs
  • Operating rod for a medical instrument, in particular for an endoscopic instrument
    Patent number: 5919205
    Abstract: The operating rod is provided for a medical instrument, in particular for an endoscopic instrument and consists of at least two rod parts transmitting tension and/or compression forces and which at their ends facing one another, are connected to one another with a positive fit at least in the direction of their longitudinal axis. In order to achieve a high force transmission with a slimline construction, the face ends facing one another, of the rod parts are arranged essentially in a plane lying obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the rod and are provided with toothed profiles engaging into one another with a positive fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Heimberger, Uwe Schaumann
  • Rack for medical forceps
    Patent number: 5913430
    Abstract: There is disclosed a rack with receptacles for medical forceps. The forceps comprise a forceps jaw at the distal end of a shank and a handle with two scissor type grips which can be spread apart for opening the forceps jaw. To each of the receptacles arranged parallel to one another, in each case, there are allocated two grip supports fixing the grips in their spread apart position, a shank support for the shank and two lateral supports for the handle. This achieves the object that after the insertion into the rack has been effected, the opened forceps jaw parts cannot close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Gobel, Joachim Peuckert
  • Endoscopic instrument
    Patent number: 5911736
    Abstract: The endoscopic instrument comprises two working parts provided at the distal end region of an elongate shank, of which at least one is pivotingly movable relative to the other, and is provided with handle at the proximal end region of the shank for actuating at least one of the working parts via an actuation rod running in the shank, wherein the working parts in the region of their pivoting mounting submit to a spring force for pressing these parts onto one another. For achieving an exact bearing force of the working parts on one another and an increased security against their damage during use of the instrument the shank at its distal end is provided with a fork-shaped holder with two resilient distal fork arms producing the pressing force onto the working parts, whose at least one fork arm comprises a receiver bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Dingler, Ernst Falk
  • Control device for endocscopes
    Patent number: 5888192
    Abstract: A control device serves the steering of the distal end of an endoscope, this being by operating control cables running to the distal end of the endoscope by way of a handle. The control device is accomodated by a control housing at the proximal end of the endoscope and has an adjusting and braking mechanism for adjusting and fixing the distal endoscope end as well as further as a handle, a lever which is to be operable with one hand and which serves as a combined braking and control member. This lever, from a first position, can be rotated about an axis wherein it acts upon the control cables via a shaft connected to the handle as well as via an insert rotatably mounted in the housing and connected to the shaft, and in a second position together with the insert can be fixed against rotation by way of a friction fit via a brake effective between the control housing and the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Heimberger
  • Holding arm system
    Patent number: 5888190
    Abstract: The invention relates to a holding arm system, particularly for holding surgical instruments in the region of an operation, with a holding arm incorporated into arm segments and into hinge joints connecting these. The holding arm at the proximal end is fastened to a rail which is guided in a horizontal position on the operating table. Each arm segment comprises straight-lined tube segments as outer sleeves and, in each arm tube, a shaft which is axially rotatable relative to the arm tube and which, with conical gearwheels on the end faces, engages into the shaft of the repective connecting arm segment. A fastening device is operable from a single arm segment and locks the whole holding arm by way of a braking device which engages at a defined location within the arm tube and by these means prevents the rotating of the shafts, connected with a positive fit, in the arm segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Joachim Peuckert
  • Device for correcting the chromaticity of color pictures recorded by a video camera
    Patent number: 5867284
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for correcting the tone of color pictures recorded by a video camera, in particular an endoscope camera. A control device works in combination with a preferably triangular keyboard so that a free tone correction of the three ground colors of the video picture may be effected independently of the color temperature of the recorded object, i.e. in particular, independently of the light source employed. The switching surface is in the form of a surface PAD keyboard which allows the evaluation of the location of a finger tip or likewise at any position on the triangle, and thus represents a very effective input medium for the tone correction according to the invention. A similarly provided automatic white balancing function permits the white point of the camera color space to lie in the surface center of the surface PAD keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Heinrichs, Michael Vogele, Ulrich Hafele
  • Endoscopic instrument
    Patent number: 5846181
    Abstract: The endoscopic instrument for introducing elongate medical assisting devices into the body of a patient comprises an elongate shank which is provided at its proximal end with a handle for the instrument, whereby the shank comprises at least one recess for receiving and guiding an elongate assisting device, said recess beginning distally and extending at least partly along said shank's length. For improving the introduction of the assisting device into the body of the patient the shank is surrounded by a hollow outer shank which comprises at least one longitudinal slit extending from its distal end along at least a part length of the outer shank, whereby the outer shank is twistable or distally displaceable over the inner shank for overlapping the recess of said inner shank, and can be positioned in the overlapping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Heckele, Uwe Schaumann, Martin Seebach