Abstract: A process for manufacturing a viscoelastic injection agent having first and second poloxamers and at least one other component, the process including: a) mixing a first injection agent by mixing a the first poloxamer with the second poloxamer and a third amount of the at least one other component to obtain a predetermined amount of the injection agent; b) determining the viscosity of the injection agent obtained in step at different temperatures at a predetermined shear rate to obtain a present viscosity-over-temperature-curve; c) verifying if a maximum viscosity of the present viscosity-over-temperature-curve lays at a predetermined specific temperature range in a predetermined maximum viscosity range depending on the predetermined shear rate; and d) mixing a new injection agent, having amended at least the first amount of the first poloxamer and/or the second amount of the second poloxamer based on determined properties of the first injection agent

Abstract: A medical capsule is equipped with a sensor device having light emitting and light receiving elements. The sensor device can detect blood on the basis of light absorption properties of the blood. The capsule has a casing forming a recess or gap at its outer surface. The recess has a pre-selected width which represents a fixed measuring track between the light emitting and light receiving elements being arranged at opposing sides of the recess or gap when seen in its width direction. The medical capsule also has a shielding plate/layer/membrane arranged at least at or near the bottom of the recess or gap and extending along the width direction of the recess or gap preferably to exceed the recess at both sides into its width direction to prohibit emitted light from bypassing the recess via the casing material of the capsule.

Abstract: A medical capsule including an electrical circuit and an internal power source for selectively supplying the electrical circuit with electrical energy, wherein at least a photosensitive element is provided for initiating a supply of electrical energy to the electrical circuit when a light signal having a predetermined intensity is irradiated and the invention related to a system comprising a medical capsule in a package, and an extracorporeal device including a light source for emitting a light beam, wherein the package of the medical capsule is adapted and provided to be permeable for the predetermined intensity.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a spacer in the form of an attachment (15) to be mounted to an endoscope (1), said attachment being formed like a cap, enclosing a spatial volume (16) and being made of an insulating material. The attachment (15) is further equipped with a mounting device/adapter (6) designed to be coupled to a distal end of the endoscope (1). The attachment (15) comprises an area (11) designed to be in contact with a target tissue and further forms an aperture (12) enclosing a surface area (12a). Within the spatial volume, there is arranged an electrode (9) comprising a distal (9b) and a proximal (9a) end, the distal (9b) end of the electrode (9) having a predetermined minimum distance to the closest point of the surface area (12a).

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical implant-cutting instrument of the bipolar type, operated with direct current, with an instrument head which is located at the distal end of an instrument shank, wherein at least two mutually opposing instrument branches, preferably of the linear type, are arranged on the instrument head and between them define a cutting gap for receiving an electrically conductive implant or implant section between them. The electrodes are formed on the mutually facing longitudinal sides of the branches or these are each equipped with at least one electrode, which electrodes are in turn shaped at their mutually facing longitudinal sides to form a cutting edge in order to effect a quasi-linear or punctiform physical contact engagement with the electrically conductive implant or implant section for an electrical short circuit of the mutually opposing electrodes.

Abstract: A capsule endomicroscope has a predetermined axial length and a diameter smaller than the axial length. The endomicroscope can acquire images of a surface of a hollow organ, and includes a microscopic image acquisition assembly having an optical axis oriented in a radial direction of the endomicroscope to acquire microscopic images of a section of the surface of a hollow organ present in a predetermined image acquisition area on a radial outer surface of the endomicroscope through a housing of the endomicroscope that has sectionally light-transparent material. A light source emits light rays in a radial direction through the light-transparent material of the housing during image acquisition. The light source and the light-transparent material of the housing located between the light source and the predetermined image acquisition area are interconnected to each other such that no refraction interface exists between the light source and the image acquisition area.

Abstract: A medical capsule is equipped with a sensor device having light emitting and light receiving elements. The sensor device can detect blood on the basis of light absorption properties of the blood. The capsule has a casing forming a recess or gap at its outer surface. The recess has a pre-selected width which represents a fixed measuring track between the light emitting and light receiving elements being arranged at opposing sides of the recess or gap when seen in its width direction. The medical capsule also has a shielding plate/layer/membrane arranged at least at or near the bottom of the recess or gap and extending along the width direction of the recess or gap preferably to exceed the recess at both sides into its width direction to prohibit emitted light from bypassing the recess via the casing material of the capsule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices, and methods for using the devices, to create and secure a tissue fold during an endoluminal medical procedure. The devices and methods may be used for folding and securing, for example, a fundus wall onto an esophagus wall or esophageal tissue in the region of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to reduce the diameter of the esophagus opening in that region. One aspect of the invention includes forming the tissue fold by closing a grasping arm that is pivotably connected to an overtube that has been positioned at the juncture of the fundus wall and esophagus wall. A further aspect of the invention includes tissue clips configured to be inserted and positioned through an endoluminal device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns capsule endomicroscope having a predetermined axial length and a diameter being smaller than the axial length the capsule endomicroscope being adapted to acquire images of a surface of a hollow organ, comprising a microscopic image acquisition assembly the optical axis thereof is orientated into the radial direction of the capsule endomicroscope in a way to acquire microscopic images of a section of the surface of a hollow organ present in a predetermined image acquisition area on an radial outer surface of the capsule endomicroscope through a housing of the capsule endomicroscope consisting of at least sectionally light-transparent material, and a light source adapted to emit light rays in the radial direction of the capsule endomicroscope through the light-transparent material of the housing during image acquisition, wherein the light source and the light-transparent material of the housing located between the light source and the predetermined image acquisition area are inter

Abstract: The present invention relates to an endoscope cap with a holding and withdrawal device for a tissue clip (4) that can be placed onto a spreading sleeve (3) of the endoscope cap (1). The endoscope cap comprises an end groove (7) that opens at the front edge of the spreading sleeve (3) and that slits open the cap wall on both sides, and a withdrawal thread or web (11) that radially traverses the end groove (7) in a forward axial cap section and that is introduced or can be introduced slideably into an endoscope channel for actuation thereof at a radial inside of the endoscope cap (1).

Abstract: What is disclosed is an endoscopic surgical instrument with a hose-shaped outside jacket, in which a likewise hose-shaped inside jacket is supported relatively displaceable, on whose distal end section a sleeve or shaft-shaped instrument head is formed or mounted. In the instrument head is fixed a needle-shaped RF electrode electrically-insulated, whose electrical supply line is routed through the inside jacket, and which projects freely beyond the distal end of the instrument head in the axial direction. In the instrument head is formed a flush channel, extending at least axially, opening at both instrument head ends.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a spacer in the form of an attachment (15) to be mounted to an endoscope (1), said attachment being formed like a cap, enclosing a spatial volume (16) and being made of an insulating material. The attachment (15) is further equipped with a mounting device/adapter (6) designed to be coupled to a distal end of the endoscope (1). The attachment (15) comprises an area (11) designed to be in contact with a target tissue and further forms an aperture (12) enclosing a surface area (12a). Within the spatial volume, there is arranged an electrode (9) comprising a distal (9b) and a proximal (9a) end, the distal (9b) end of the electrode (9) having a predetermined minimum distance to the closest point of the surface area (12a).

Abstract: A resection device comprising a cup-shaped cap for a shaft-type inserting means is disclosed which is fixed at the distal end of the shaft-type inserting means or is formed at the same and includes an expanding sleeve portion to which a spring-biased tissue clip is attached which can be withdrawn by means of a releasing or withdrawing device over the distal front edge of the cap. In accordance with the invention, inside the expanding sleeve portion a cutting device is arranged which is held at the inner wall of the expanding sleeve portion at a predetermined axial distance from the distal front edge of the cap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices, and methods for using the devices, to create and secure a tissue fold during an endoluminal medical procedure. The devices and methods may be used for folding and securing, for example, a fundus wall onto an esophagus), all or esophageal tissue in the region of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to reduce the diameter of the esophagus opening in that region. One aspect of the invention includes forming the tissue fold by closing a grasping arm that is pivotably connected to an overtube that has been positioned at the juncture of the fundus wall and esophagus wall. A further aspect of the invention includes tissue clips configured to be inserted and positioned through an endoluminal device.

Abstract: A surgical implant-cutting instrument of the bipolar type, operated with direct current, is disclosed, with an instrument head which is located at the distal end of an instrument shank and which is provided for minimally invasive insertion of the instrument into a patient's body, wherein at least two mutually opposing instrument branches, preferably of the linear type, are arranged on the instrument head and between them define a cutting gap for receiving an electrically conductive implant or implant section between them. According to the invention electrodes are formed on the mutually facing longitudinal sides of the branches or these are each equipped with at least one electrode, which electrodes are in turn shaped at their mutually facing longitudinal sides to form a cutting edge in order to effect a quasi linear or punctiform physical contact engagement with the electrically conductive implant or implant section for an electrical short circuit of the mutually opposing electrodes.

Abstract: A magnetic guiding device (robotics) for an intracorporeal object includes a motor-driven positioning device having a maximum of three degrees of freedom to be activated for translational motion of a connecting interface of the positioning device to which a magnetic end effector is connected or connectable, the latter including a maximum of two degrees of freedom to be activated for rotational motion of a magnetic field generator. At least one of the two degrees of freedom of the magnetic end effector is encased in an effector housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices, and methods for using the devices, to create and secure a tissue fold during an endoluminal medical procedure. The devices and methods may be used for folding and securing, for example, a fundus wall onto an esophagus wall or esophageal tissue in the region of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to reduce the diameter of the esophagus opening in that region. One aspect of the invention includes forming the tissue fold by closing a grasping arm that is pivotably connected to an overtube that has been positioned at the juncture of the fundus wall and esophagus wall. A further aspect of the invention includes tissue clips configured to be inserted and positioned through an endoluminal device.

Abstract: An endoscope-like implanting instrument includes an endoscope cap having a holding and withdrawing mechanism for a tissue clip adapted to be slipped onto an expanding sleeve of the endoscope cap. The endoscope cap has a front groove opening at the front edge of the sleeve. A withdrawing thread radially crosses the front groove at an axial front cap portion. The instrument further includes a tissue grasping mechanism being shiftably inserted into the working channel for manually grasping and drawing the tissue inside the endoscope cap. A clamping mechanism is integrally arranged inside the endoscope cap in axial extension to the working channel, holding a capsule-like device and connected with the tissue clip via a thread, band or string such that the capsule-like device will be automatically detached by the grasping mechanism when being manually actuated for tissue grasping.

Abstract: A medical implant is disclosed, said implant having a flexible hollow body (1) which can be implanted inside the stomach (8) of a patient and which has a first tube-like end section (2) and a second tube-like end section (3), wherein the first tube-like end section (2) is dimensioned such that it can be fitted into the esophagus (7) of the patient, and the second tube-like end section (3) is dimensioned such that it can be connected to the small intestine loop (9) of the patent in a sealing manner.

Abstract: A proctological instrument is disclosed comprising an instrument handle to which at its proximal end a bending-resistant tubular shaft is mounted at the distal end of which a cap is fixed or formed to which a tissue clip adapted to be withdrawn from the cap by means of a releasing or withdrawing device is attached in a preferably spring-elastic manner. In accordance with the invention, the tubular shaft is offset at its distal end portion in an area directly ahead of the cap and/or the cap itself is offset at a predetermined fixed angle so that the withdrawing direction for the clip defined by the cap is aligned at the angle with respect to the tubular shaft axis.