Abstract: An observation instrument has a hollow shaft in whose distal end region there is arranged an optoelectronic imaging system which has on the image entrance side a distal deflection prism whose deflection faces lead an image into an optical lens system which images the image onto the image plane of an image sensor arranged proximally from the lens system, the image sensor having an active region which is situated asymmetrically relative to the outer contour of the image sensor. A first plane, which is defined by the main beam and a first orthogonal on the image plane of the image sensor, and a second plane, which is defined by the main beam and a second orthogonal on the deflection faces of the distal deflection prism, being rotated relative to one another about the main beam in such a way that it is possible to produce a sight cone which is symmetrical relative to a midplane of the hollow shaft and whose image area is situated fully in the active region of the image sensor.

Abstract: An instrument includes a hollow body with an internal diameter and an optoelectronic image recording system, which is arranged in an end region of the body and has a lens system on an image entrance side. The lens system has a cylindrical section and an image sensor. An external diameter of the cylindrical section is less than the internal diameter of the body, such that an interspace remains between an inner side of the body and an outer side of the lens system, providing access in the body for components. With a viewing direction of 0° to 90° from the optical axis of the lens system, a deflection prism is arranged on the image entrance side at the lens system, and has a section extending laterally beyond the external diameter of the cylindrical section. An image entrance plane of the image sensor runs approximately parallel to the optical axis.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plates are provided by imagewise exposing negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors having a negative-working radiation-sensitive imageable layer, followed by contacting with a processing solution that has a pH of at least 7 and up to and including 11. This processing solution also includes component (1) that is a nitrogen-containing base having an atmospheric pressure melting point of at least 40° C.; component (2) that is a non-ionic surfactant that independently has an atmospheric pressure melting point, glass transition temperature, or pour point of at least 40° C.; component (3) that is a hydroxy-containing solution promoter; and component (4) that is a hydrophilic surface protective compound. The method is carried out in a manner such that the exposed and processed precursor is not further treated with any liquid (such as gumming or rinsing solution) between processing and mounting onto a printing press.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plates are provided by imagewise exposing negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors having a negative-working radiation-sensitive imageable layer, followed by contacting with a processing solution that has a pH of at least 7 and up to and including 11. This processing solution also includes component (1) that is a nitrogen-containing base having an atmospheric pressure melting point of at least 40° C.; component (2) that is a non-ionic surfactant that independently has an atmospheric pressure melting point, glass transition temperature, or pour point of at least 40° C.; component (3) that is a hydroxy-containing solution promoter; and component (4) that is a hydrophilic surface protective compound. The method is carried out in a manner such that the exposed and processed precursor is not further treated with any liquid (such as gumming or rinsing solution) between processing and mounting onto a printing press.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors have improved bakeability and good shelf life and can be imaged using either UV or infrared radiation. These precursors have a negative-working imageable layer that has a unique polymeric binder comprising a polymeric backbone and further comprising at least (a) and (b) pendant groups distributed in random order along the polymeric backbone. The (a) pendant groups are ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable groups, and the (b) pendant groups are defined by Structures (I), (II), and (III) described in the disclosure.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an imageable layer comprising a free radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing dye that is defined by Structure (I) shown in the disclosure, which dyes comprise one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable groups in an organic group that is attached to the methine chain. These infrared radiation absorbing dyes exhibit a reduced tendency to crystallize in the imageable layers in the presence of tetraaryl borate counter anions and therefore provide improved shelf life.

Abstract: Endoscopic 3D data collection, including generating modulated measuring radiation, transmitting the measuring radiation to at least one partial area of a surface of an internal bodily cavity, receiving a signal radiation from the partial area of the surface of the cavity, transmitting the signal radiation from the distal to a proximal end portion of the shaft for reception by a time-of-flight (TOF) image sensor, and a controller to control the generation of the measuring radiation, to control the TOF image sensor and to evaluate the data supplied by the TOF image sensor to generate 3D data, also including a position sensor to record a position and an orientation of the shaft. The invention also relates to a method for endoscopic 3D data collection.

Abstract: An endoscope, exoscope or microscope, including an optical fibre bundle for transmitting light from the proximal end to the distal end, the optical fibre bundle showing a contiguous bundle at the proximal end and a plurality of partial bundles or else individual fibres at the distal end. Furthermore, it shows a light source for coupling light into the one proximal end of the optical fibre bundle and including a multiplicity of individually actuatable individual-light sources arranged in an array-like manner, and a control unit for actuating the individual-light sources using an assignment function which represents the assignment of a proximal fibre end to a partial bundle. Here, the proximal ends of the fibres which are assigned to one partial bundle are arranged on a surface in such a way that proximal ends of fibres assigned to a different partial bundle are arranged therebetween.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor a negative-working imageable layer and an outermost water-soluble overcoat layer that is disposed directly on the negative-working imageable layer. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer comprises: (1) one or more film-forming water-soluble polymeric binders, (2) organic wax particles, and (3) non-wax matte particles. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer has a dry thickness (t) that is defined by the following equation (I): t=w/r wherein w is the dry coverage of the outermost water-soluble overcoat layer in g/m2, and r is 1 g/cm3. The organic wax particles have an average largest dimension D(wax) that is less than 0.9 of t (in ?m), and the non-wax matte particles have an average largest dimension D(matte) that defined by the following equation (II): 1.5 times t?D(matte)?40 times t(in ?m).

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an imagable layer comprising a free radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing dye comprising an infrared radiation absorbing cation and a counter anion, and a polymeric binder. The salt formed between the infrared radiation absorbing cation and a tetraphenyl borate has solubility in 2-methoxy propanol at 20° C. that is greater than or equal to 3.5 g/l. The use of these infrared radiation absorbing dyes in the imagable layers provides a reduced tendency of these dyes to crystallize in the presence of tetraaryl borate counter anions.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors have improved bakeability and good shelf life and can be imaged using either UV or infrared radiation. These precursors have a negative-working imageable layer that has a unique polymeric binder comprising a polymeric backbone and further comprising at least (a) and (b) pendant groups distributed in random order along the polymeric backbone. The (a) pendant groups are ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable groups, and the (b) pendant groups are defined by Structures (I), (II), and (III) described in the disclosure.

Abstract: An observation instrument has a hollow shaft in whose distal end region there is arranged an optoelectronic imaging system which has on the image entrance side a distal deflection prism whose deflection faces lead an image into an optical lens system which images the image onto the image plane of an image sensor arranged proximally from the lens system, the image sensor having an active region which is situated asymmetrically relative to the outer contour of the image sensor. A first plane, which is defined by the main beam and a first orthogonal on the image plane of the image sensor, and a second plane, which is defined by the main beam and a second orthogonal on the deflection faces of the distal deflection prism, being rotated relative to one another about the main beam in such a way that it is possible to produce a sight cone which is symmetrical relative to a midplane of the hollow shaft and whose image area is situated fully in the active region of the image sensor.

Abstract: A beam combining device for combining light from a first light source and light from a second light source of a light-source device for a medical apparatus includes a body made of a transparent material, a face which reflects in at least either a dichroic or polarization-dependent manner and is situated in or on the body, which face is transparent to light having a first spectrum or a first polarization and reflects light having a second spectrum or a second polarization, and a light-entrance face on the body, which light-entrance face is provided and arranged so that light enters the beam combining device through the light-entrance face. At least either the light-entrance face or the face reflecting in a dichroic or polarization-dependent manner is curved.

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a negative-working radiation-sensitive imageable layer and an outermost layer comprising a vinyl alcohol copolymer comprising at least one unit of each of the (a), (b), and (c) recurring units, in any order, defined in the disclosure. The (c) recurring units are present in the vinyl alcohol copolymer in an amount of at least 0.5 mol %, based on the total recurring units. These precursors can be used to prepare lithographic printing plates either on-press or off-press after imaging using near-UV, visible, or infrared radiation.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor a negative-working imageable layer and an outermost water-soluble overcoat layer that is disposed directly on the negative-working imageable layer. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer comprises: (1) one or more film-forming water-soluble polymeric binders, (2) organic wax particles, and (3) non-wax matte particles. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer has a dry thickness (t) that is defined by the following equation (I): t=w/r wherein w is the dry coverage of the outermost water-soluble overcoat layer in g/m2, and r is 1 g/cm3. The organic wax particles have an average largest dimension D(wax) that is less than 0.9 of t (in ?m), and the non-wax matte particles have an average largest dimension D(matte) that defined by the following equation (II): 1.5 times t?D(matte)?40 times t (in ?m).

Abstract: An instrument includes a hollow body with an internal diameter and an optoelectronic image recording system, which is arranged in an end region of the body and has a lens system on an image entrance side. The lens system has a cylindrical section and an image sensor. An external diameter of the cylindrical section is less than the internal diameter of the body, such that an interspace remains between an inner side of the body and an outer side of the lens system, providing access in the body for components. With a viewing direction of 0° to 90° from the optical axis of the lens system, a deflection prism is arranged on the image entrance side at the lens system, and has a section extending laterally beyond the external diameter of the cylindrical section. An image entrance plane of the image sensor runs approximately parallel to the optical axis.

Abstract: A method is described for producing an imaged lithographic printing plate, wherein the developer comprises a hydrophilic polymer which comprises (m1) primary, secondary and/or tertiary amino groups, and (m2) acid groups selected from —COOH, —SO3H, —PO2H and —PO3H2, and (m3) optionally alkylene oxide units —(CHR1—CH2—O)p—, wherein R1 is H or —CH3 and p is an integer from 1 to 50.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an imageable layer comprising a free radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing dye that is defined by Structure (I) shown in the disclosure, which dyes comprise one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable groups in an organic group that is attached to the methine chain. These infrared radiation absorbing dyes exhibit a reduced tendency to crystallize in the imageable layers in the presence of tetraaryl borate counter anions and therefore provide improved shelf life.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (a) a lithographic substrate with a hydrophilic surface and (b) a radiation-sensitive coating on the hydrophilic surface comprising (i) one or more types of monomers and/or oligomers and/or polymers, each comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated group accessible to a free-radical polymerization, (ii) at least one sensitizer, and (iii) at least one coinitiator capable of forming free radicals together with the sensitizer, said coinitiator being other than metallocenes, characterized in that the at least one sensitizer comprises a compound of formula (I) wherein at least one of the groups R9 to R12 is a bulky group which has a van der Waals volume of at least 55 ?3.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an imageable layer comprising a free radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing dye that is defined by Structure (I) shown in the disclosure, which dyes comprise one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable groups in an organic group that is attached to the methine chain. These infrared radiation absorbing dyes exhibit a reduced tendency to crystallize in the imageable layers in the presence of tetraaryl borate counter anions and therefore provide improved shelf life.