Abstract: An instrument and a method are proposed for endoscopically controlled shortening and/or fragmentation of stents made from electrically conductive material situated in the gastrointestinal tract, in the tracheobronchial system or in other hollow organs. The instrument comprises an electrode device with an electrode for introducing a high-frequency current into at least one wire of the stent and/or to form electric arcs between the electrode and the at least one wire. Use of the instrument and the method results in little or reduced damage being caused by current and/or heat in tissues directly adjacent to the application site and in tissues remote therefrom.

Abstract: It is very difficult to carry out injections during endoscopic operations. Here it is proposed to expel a specified amount of fluid from the end of a tube or from a nozzle, with hydraulic parameters such as pressure, rate of pressure increase, duration and/or velocity that can be adjusted to specified values, and with energy such that after traveling a distance between the tube end or the nozzle and the tissue in substantially free flight, the fluid penetrates into the tissue.

Abstract: It is particularly difficult to perform injections during endoscopic operations. The invention proposes that to expel a defined quantity of fluid from the end of a tube or a nozzle according to hydraulic parameters (settable in a defined way) such as pressure, speed of increase of pressure, duration and speed and with such energy that the fluid penetrates into the tissue after traversing in a substantially exposed manner a distance between the end of the tube or the nozzle and the tissue.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an artificial tissue comprising a formable composition comprising a hydrogel, an electrolyte, and combustible fibers, said composition being useful for modeling organs, parts of organs, or systems of organs. The artificial tissue exhibits properties allowing training of special surgical techniques, particularly those making use of surgical high-frequency effects.

Abstract: A method for rinsing a field of inspection or operation during an endoscopic procedure includes filling a proximal portion of a conduit with a fluid quantity defining a slug of liquid and accelerating the slug of liquid using gas which is fed into the conduit upstream of the fluid quantity, so as to have the slug of liquid discharged from the conduit at a high speed.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for viewing vessels, in particular blood vessels, in body cavities and hollow organs, comprising an ultrasonic transducer (14) which can be guided into a viewing position by means of an endoscopy device (10, 12), an ultrasonic unit (34) which can be connected to the ultrasonic transducer (14) and which is based on the Doppler principle and which is designed to detect an organ and/or fluid movement at at least one predetermined spacing from the ultrasonic transducer, a Doppler evaluation unit (38) which is connected downstream of the ultrasonic unit (34) and which is designed for digital conversion of an output signal of the ultrasonic unit (34) into a visual representation of the organ and/or fluid movement at the at least one predetermined spacing, and a video output unit (40) which receives an output image signal of the Doppler evaluation unit (38) and an electronic image signal of the endoscopy device (12) and which is designed to produce a combined overall image (24) fo

Abstract: Plasma coagulation devices are known in which a generally bare electrode wire is disposed in a tube that can be passed through the working channel of an endoscope until its end arrives in the field of view of the endoscope. Through the tube argon is supplied. A high-frequency current is supplied to produce a coagulation current in the form of an arc in the argon atmosphere between the end of the electrode wire and the portion of tissue to be coagulated. To simplify the arrangement and to improve its performance, in particular by reduction of the resistance to flow, it is proposed to supply the argon directly through the working channel and to use as conductor a wire insulated with thermally stable material, which at its end comprises a discharge section with a protective device to prevent a damaging direct flow of current into the portion of tissue to be coagulated.

Abstract: Electrosurgical instruments for the coagulation of biological tissue are known that comprise a gas source to supply an inert gas, in particular a noble gas, to at least one outflow opening as well as an HF source to supply a coagulation current to an electrode device that is disposed in the region of the at least one outflow opening. It is proposed to make the outflow opening slit-shaped in such a way that the inert gas emerges in a flat or fan-shaped stream, which in its marginal regions flows laminarly so that the inert gas reaches the tissue substantially without becoming mixed with ambient air.

Abstract: A method for coagulating tissue during endoscopic surgery by using argon plasma coagulation is described. An endoscope is used having a flexible, hollow tube inserted through one of the working channels of the endoscope. Inside the tube an electrode is arranged stationarily being offset from the exit opening at the distal end of the tube in such a manner that the electrode cannot come into contact with the tissue. Argon or another inert gas is supplied from a source of gas through the tube to the exit opening with such a low flow rate that gas exiting through the exit opening is a non laminar stream which forms an inert gas atmosphere between the distal end of the tube and the region of the tissue to be coagulated, while the exit is maintained at a distance from the tissue to be coagulated, whereby the area of tissue to be coagulated is positioned sidewardly of the extended longitudinal axis of the protruding end portion of the tube.