Abstract: Forceps suitable for gripping body tissue or organs including a pair of jaws the gripping force of which can be adjusted. The forceps include an operating rod providing with axially spaced angularly offset cams which are selectively engagable by rotating the control rod with longitudinally slidable link assemblies separated by compression springs of differing stiffnesses. Rotation of the control rod to a particular angular position determines whether no spring or one or more springs are connected in series to determine the gripping force exerted by the forceps when the control rod is axially displaced. A control rod actuating lever is locked in position by means of a locking device.

Abstract: Surgical forceps, for example for endoscopic use, having distal mouth parts which are actuated by means of proximal grip sections via a rod and are mounted displaceably in the tubular forceps housing. An overload safety device, which prevents further actuation on exceeding a certain actuation force by radially deflecting the rod or a section of it against spring action and positively engaging it with a fixed part of the forceps housing, is provided to protect the sensitive mouth parts.

Abstract: Bipolar forceps for grasping and coagulating tissue, are constructed so as not to damage the mesosalpinx fused with a fallopian tube, when carrying out uterine tube sterilisation by coagulation. To this end the forceps are provided with a first and a second jaw for gripping and holding the tissue to be coagulated, the first jaw having a recess at its distal end and a mandrel being provided on the second jaw, which mandrel protrudes into the recess in the first jaw with clearance, when the jaws are in a closed position. A region between the jaws, which accommodates the tissue to be coagulated is limited distally by the mandrel and proximally by a limb of a bar on the first jaw for engaging in the second jaw when the jaws are in their closed position.

Abstract: A coagulation, washing and suction instrument has a shaft having a washing and a suction canal, by way of which a washing fluid can be supplied to, or removed from, respectively, a bodily cavity. The instrument consists of three detachably connected parts, namely a shaft having a washing and a suction canal; a handle which can be pushed onto, and secured to, the proximal end of the shaft, the handle being made of an insulating material and having a high frequency connector for supplying a coagulation electrode on the distal end of the shaft, and finger pressure releasable connection canals for the supply to, and the removal from, the canals of the shafts, of the washing fluid; and a part for the introduction of auxiliary instruments, which can be coupled proximally to the shaft and to the handle and which can be shut off.

Abstract: A latching device for enabling pieces of tissue or foreign bodies to be held securely by medical forceps during a medical operation comprises two elongate spring members whose opposed ends are secured in closed, telescoping tubes which are hinged to the handles of a forceps. The forceps handles are elastically yielding to some degree and by closing them together the spring members are moved towards one another and are caused to hook together by means of butting faces. Hence the tissue or the like which the forceps has taken hold of is automatically held secure once the manual pressure on the handle has been relaxed. If the handles are pressed closer together, the hooked interengagement is released and the spring-loading in the forceps handles opens them and allows the forceps jaws to release the tissue or the like which is being held.

Abstract: Apparatus for fixing fascial holding sutures in open laparoscopy defines a central channel which allows it to be slipped onto, and fixed in position on, a trocar canula holding a laparoscope. A push-pull rod is radially displaceable by means of a hand lever, for detachably clamping the fixing apparatus to the trocar canula. The apparatus basically comprises a tapered seal and a retaining plate which is detachably connected thereto and has at several points thereon manually operable clamping devices for securing the fascial holding sutures.

Abstract: An instrument for holding surgical needles comprises a pair of forceps having forceps jaws at a distal end of the instrument and having a pair of hand grips for operating a movable jaw of the forceps by way of a push and pull rod. The movable jaw is releasably retainable in a closed needle gripping position. The hand grips extend obliquely outwardly in the proximal direction of the instrument and are arranged in mirror image symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof. The hand grips are actuable in the transverse direction of the longitudinal axis, the forceps jaws, when closed, lying in the direction of that axis. The transverse force exerted on the hand grips is convertable to a longitudinally directed force for actuating the movable jaw, to grip a surgical needle. The instrument can be passed through conventional trocar sleeves.

Abstract: An instrument for guiding a laser light transmitting fiber in intra-abdominal endoscopic work, comprises a shaft to the distal end of which is pivoted a fiber guide for deflecting the distal end of a fiber emerging from the distal end of the shaft. The shaft contains a fiber guide drive tube through which the fiber extends and which is articulated to the fiber guide by means of a link. A lever is provided for shifting the drive tube axially in the shaft to deflect the fiber guide and thus the distal end of the fiber, and a fiber feed device has a fiber feed member mounted for displacement axially of the shaft for advancing and retracting the fiber.

Abstract: A mediastinoscope having a shaft which is traversed by a photoconductor and an observation optical system, with the shaft being provided at its distal end with an atraumatically shaped cap, the greatest diameter of which is greater in comparison with the diameter of the shaft and into a cavity of which distally has an aperture, channels and the end of the optical system open out. Auxiliary instruments extending through a shaft channel can be conducted distalwards as far as the treatment location.

Abstract: A pincers attachment for a surgical handle has a connecting rod which is axially displaceable by operation of the handle. At the distal end of a shaft there is a laterally opening recess for receiving a clip having compressible legs. The distal end of the connecting rod is connected to a closing rod which presses the legs of the clip together in the recess when the handle is actuated.

Abstract: The applicator for utilization in combination with an endoscope tube comprises a coil connected to a longitudinal passage through a shaft and comprising hollow turns connected to the shaft passage for reception of a sewing thread, whose proximal extremity is passed through a loop projecting from a radial opening at the distal extremity of the shaft, is then drawn through the shaft passage and fastened to the proximal shaft extremity. Tying the single stitch after piercing the tissues is performed by passing the needle axially through the coil and then around the thread and twisting the coil out of the loop formed thereby to form the first half of a knot which is then complemented by the second half of the knot tied in the same way, the knot being tied by subsequently pulling together the two halves.

Abstract: The applicator for utilization in combination with an endoscope tube comprises a coil connected to a longitudinal passage through a shaft and comprising hollow turns connected to the shaft passage for reception of a sewing thread, whose proximal extremity is passed through a loop projecting from a radial opening at the distal extremity of the shaft, is then drawn through the shaft passage and fastened to the proximal shaft extremity. Tying the single stitch after piercing the tissues is performed by passing the needle axially through the coil and then around the thread and twisting the coil out of the loop formed thereby to form the first half of a knot which is then complemented by the second half of the knot tied in the same way, the knot being tied by subsequently pulling together the two said halves.

Abstract: The instrument for sample tissue specimens comprises an inner shaft extending eccentrically through a distally closed outer shaft and intended for reception of an optical system comprising a lateral objective, which inner shaft is distally connected or connectible to a cutting edge which cooperates with an edge of a distal lateral viewing and cutting aperture in the outer shaft acting as a mating cutting edge over the area of this distal lateral aperture by axial displacement of the inner shaft within the outer shaft.

Abstract: A flexible or partially flexible endoscope comprising several passages and image guides passing through the shaft has the features that its distal omnilaterally steerable shaft is proximally constructed semirigidly or rigidly, is secured in a coupling element situated on the control housing and is traversed by several image guides which have allocated to them at the proximal control housing several monoculars and/or binoculars via rigid or flexible longitudinal elements. It is possible thereby to replace numerous separate endoscopes by a single endoscope.

Abstract: The applicator for inserting a pessary into the uterus, which pessary comprises a chain combined with a distal coil screwable into the base of the uterus. The applicator has an inner shaft, which received the chain in its leading end, installed in an outer shaft and with its leading end securing the nearer of the coil in a formlocked or forcelocked manner, as well as a handle at the opposite end of the shaft whose rotation and axial displacement allow screwing the coil out of the outer shaft and into the base of the uterus to the extend of its longitudinal dimension. The outer and inner shafts are withdrawable from the uterus with respect to the screwed-in coil and chain which are to be released, after completion of the application.

Abstract: The rectoscope comprises a short, wide tube having a proximal coupling housing or a coupling housing which may be coupled at its distal side to a tube of optional length and width. The coupling housing may be coupled at its proximal side to a mandrel or an instrument carrier which is equipped with axially parallel through-bores, for sealed traversal by an optical system and auxiliary instruments. The tube is rigidly connected to an operating table or the like by means of a handle. Passages through which an inert gas may be introduced into the rectum under pressure lead into the rectoscope through the handle or separately.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hysteroscope which is insertable into the uterus via an entrance adaptor, and consists in a guiding element intended for firm and rigid connection to the entrance adaptor and may be pushed together and pulled apart telescopically by means of handles, a hysteroscope shaft comprising an optical system being insertable through said guiding element and through the entrance adaptor and adapted to be coupled to the proximal extremity of the guiding element.

Abstract: A trocar sleeve of the kind having a widened part forming a housing between the distal portion of the sleeve and its proximal portion, which latter extends from a plug for the widened housing part, and a ball valve in the widened housing part which ball valve is closable by resilient means and which is openable by a trocar passing through the sleeve.In this invention, the widened part forming the housing receives an insert of U-shaped cross-section which is securable to the plug to stress an inserted sealing gasket of deformation-resistant plastics material which is to be drilled through to form a valve seating. The space in the U formed by the insert forms a space for the ball of the ball valve to move in, the ball, before the insert is screwed to the plug, being connected to a shaft insertable in the insert and carrying a tangentially loaded helical spring and being placed under stress by connecting the insert to the plug.

Abstract: This invention relates to surgical forceps for applying clips to fallopian tubes in an operation known as tubal ligation. Such forceps are known which comprise a stem having an opening at its distal end for insertion of a clip formed by two branches held apart by an elastic connecting strap comprising a closing lever displaceable in said stem axially with respect to said clip by means of a proximal handle and situated in the area of said stem opening, which by actuation of said handle is pivoted into the closed position and brings the free extremities of said clip branches into coupled engagement gripping one behind the other in hooklike manner.

Abstract: A device for obtaining tissue samples of the kind having tong-like handle members and in which a punch assembly provided with a distal recess and a cutting edge is axially extensible from a shaft and insertable in a tube provided with a counter cutting edge. According to the invention the punch assembly comprises a continuous distally closed tube which is axially movable in relation to a tubular receiver member for collecting punched-out tissue that is carried by said tube and loosely connected proximally to said shaft and closing off said shaft distally over at least a larger distal length, said punch assembly also being axially movable with respect to said shaft.