Abstract: A surgical tool, which can be identified in a simple and at the same time unambiguous manner. This is achieved in that a surgical tool has an electrical conductor element having a tool-specific electronic signature. An unambiguous identification of the tool is possible via this tool-specific electronic signature. Each surgical tool of the claimed type thus has a signature, using which it can be unambiguously identified.

Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a surgical HF generator during a HF surgical procedure performed with a handheld HF surgical instrument supplied with HF energy by the HF generator. The method includes evaluating a succession of images of an operating area that are captured in an image sequence during the HF surgical procedure, including subjecting the images to automatic real-time image recognition to detect a predetermined structure and/or a predetermined operating situation, and in response to detection of the structure and/or operating situation, suggesting or performing a change of an operating parameter and/or operating mode of the HF generator. The system can include the HF generator, at least one handheld HF surgical instrument, a display device, a video endoscope, and a processor that is capable of receiving and evaluating image signals from the video endoscope.

Abstract: A medical endoscope and insertion portion for a medical endoscope having a fiber tube that encloses an image guide and is surrounded by optical fibers, the distal opening of said fiber tube being sealed by a window, which is heated by an electric resistance heater located close by, wherein the heater is designed as heating foil arranged on the outer surface of the fiber tube.

Abstract: A medical endoscope (1) fitted with an optics duct (4) receiving an optical system (9, 10) enclosed by a system tube (6), the distal end of the optics duct (4) being closed by a window (5) to the inner surface of which is mounted an electrical heater (11), characterized in that the heating ring (11) rests against the inner surface of the window (5) while being pressed in that direction by a spring (13).

Abstract: A medical endoscope and insertion portion for a medical endoscope having a fiber tube that encloses an image guide and is surrounded by optical fibers, the distal opening of said fiber tube being sealed by a window, which is heated by an electric resistance heater located close by, wherein the heater is designed as heating foil arranged on the outer surface of the fiber tube.

Abstract: A medical endoscope (1) fitted with an optics duct (4) receiving an optical system (9, 10) enclosed by a system tube (6), the distal end of the optics duct (4) being closed by a window (5) to the inner surface of which is mounted an electrical heater (11), characterized in that the heating ring (11) rests against the inner surface of the window (5) while being pressed in that direction by a spring (13).

Abstract: A surgical exploratory testing system (8, 11) to select a laparoscopic trocar's puncture site (5, 6, 7) through the abdominal wall (1) is characterized in that said system is designed as a coil unit (9) which can be placed on the puncture site (5, 6, 7) and which is connected to an eddy current detector (11).

Abstract: A surgical, vascular coagulation forceps (1) comprising two mutually displaceable jaws (3, 4) bearing flat electrodes (12, 13) connected to different terminals of an hf source (16), or one of said jaws being fitted with an ultrasonic oscillator, characterized in that a coil unit (18) connected to an eddy current sensor (20) is mounted on at least one of the jaws (3, 4).

Abstract: A rigid video endoscope, fitted with a tube unit (1) comprising a metallic outer tube (2, 2?) sealed off distally by a window (3) and a metallic inner tube (4, 4?) which supports a video camera (5) and an objective (6) in its distal end segment (4), said tube unit being fitted with a proximal terminal part (12) wherein the proximal end segment (4?) of the inner tube (4, 4?) is sealed off by a glass fusion element (7) that is traversed by fusion-imbedded metal contact pins (8) of which the inward ends are connected by conductors (10) to contact pins (9) of the video camera (5) and wherein the proximal end segment (2?) of the outer tube (2, 2?) is hermetically connected to the proximal end segment (4?) of the inner tube (4, 4?), the outer tube (2, 2?) being electrically insulated at least at its distal end segment (2) from the inner tube (2, 2?), is characterized in that the proximal end segments (2?, 4?) of the two tubes (2, 2?; 4, 4?) are connected in the terminal part (12) by means of an annular glass fusion

Abstract: An endoscope having a tubular stem that, at its distal end, houses a camera and a distally pointing illumination device. The tubular stem defines an empty space extending from the camera in the proximal direction. The empty space receives a camera cable and is used to house implements useful during operation of the endoscope in a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A fluorescence endoscope to view human organs exhibiting zones marked by fluorescence, the endoscope including a light conduit, a lamp, a short pass filter controlled by a timer so as to be selectively movable into and out of the light path between the lamp and the light conduit, a video camera system viewing the image through a stationary long pass filter, and a video-processing unit connected in series with the video camera system. The video processing unit is controlled by the timer and timed to generate time-separate normal and fluorescence images. The video camera system includes a video camera having a frame frequency that is synchronized with the timer. The video processing unit separately processes and prepares the fluorescence images taken when the short pass filter is inserted into the light beam path and the normal images taken when the short pass filter is retracted out of the light beam path, and displays the fluorescence and normal images in congruent superposition on a display.

Abstract: An endoscope having a distal tubular shaft section of smaller diameter in which at least on longitudinally-extending device, such as a light guiding fiber bundle, is arranged. An objective and a video camera are disposed in a free cross-sectional area of the tubular shaft section. The video camera is arranged for rotation about its viewing direction by a rotation device. An electric motor is arranged proximally of the video camera in the free cross-sectional area. The electric motor is connected to the video camera with the motor drive shaft being disposed parallel to the axis of the tubular shaft section.

Abstract: An illumination system for endoscopes having a light source of which the brightness is controlled by a control unit. A hook-up cable containing a bundle of optic fibers is provided to transmit the light from the light source to a light guide situated in the endoscope and extending to a distal end of the endoscope. At least one fiber of the bundle of fibers is optically coupled at one end near the light source with a light sensor. The light sensor cooperates with the control unit to control the brightness of the light source.