Abstract: The invention provides a sample container arrangement comprising a carrier for at least one sample container and a tempering module, comprising at least one tempering element and being at least sectionally in contact with the carrier such that the at least one tempering element is suitable to temper the at least one sample container, wherein the sample container arrangement is such that the carrier is kept in contact to the tempering module by negative pressure relative to ambient pressure.

Abstract: A gas operated surgical instrument is provided. The instrument includes a pressurized gas connection for connection to a source of pressurized gas, a working piston adapted to be acted upon by a pressurized gas, an actuating element for actuating the instrument, and a regulating device coupled to the actuating element and to the working piston for regulating a feed force of the working piston. The regulating device is configured such that, for feed forces below a predetermined limit force, it defines a first work area in which the working piston is movable in the distal direction solely owing to a feed force applied with the actuating element, and that above the limit force the regulating device defines a second work area in which the working piston is movable in the distal direction by being acted upon by pressurized gas.

Abstract: In order to provide a surgical instrument which is particularly simple to manipulate and enables force to be transmitted particularly directly to at least two tool elements wherein the surgical instrument comprises said at least two tool elements which are movable relative to one another and are arranged at a distal end of a guide device of a surgical instrument, and also comprises a force transmission device for transferring an actuating force from a proximal end of the force transmission device to a distal end of the force transmission device for the purposes of moving at least one of the at least two tool elements relative to the guide device, it is proposed that the surgical instrument should comprise a coupling device for selectively coupling the force transmission device directly or indirectly to at least one of the at least two tool elements.

Abstract: In order to improve a surgical sealing element holder for holding a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar with a trocar sleeve, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, such that a sealing element of the sealing system can be replaced in a simple and reliable manner and it is ensured that sealing in relation to a channel of the trocar sleeve is perfect at all times it is suggested that a holder sealing element be provided for sealing the sealing element holder with respect to an inner wall surface of the trocar sleeve. In addition, an improved surgical sealing system is provided.

Abstract: In order to simplify the structure of the cartridge and reduce the structural size in a cartridge with a plurality of C-shaped ligature clips, with a housing accommodating ligature clips arranged in a row one behind the other and parallel to one another, with a transport element, which can be slid forward and back relative to the housing in the direction of the row and which when sliding forward and back relative to the housing causes at least one ligature clip to advance towards a discharge end of the cartridge, it is proposed that the ligature clips each have two legs connected by means of a bridge section and are divided by a longitudinal slit into two adjacent sections, which are connected to one another in the region of the free ends of the legs, and that the transport element passes through the ligature clips arranged in a row in the space between the two adjacent sections of the ligature clips.

Abstract: A compressed gas operated instrument incorporating a connector for a compressed gas cartridge to which the compressed gas cartridge is connectable in sealed manner by means of a supply channel for the compressed gas flowing out of the compressed gas cartridge is provided which incorporates a regulating valve in the supply channel for governing the compressed gas stream through the supply channel. The regulating valve comprises a valve body which is sealed in a valve chamber with respect to a wall of the valve chamber by means of a first seal and is mounted in the valve chamber in displaceable manner. The valve body is connected on the upstream side thereof in sealed manner to a connector element by means of a second seal and also be displaceable with respect to the connector element by displacement thereof in the valve chamber.

Abstract: In order to improve a surgical sealing element holder for holding a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar with a trocar sleeve, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, such that a sealing element of the sealing system can be replaced in a simple and reliable manner and it is ensured that sealing in relation to a channel of the trocar sleeve is perfect at all times it is suggested that a holder sealing element be provided for sealing the sealing element holder with respect to an inner wall surface of the trocar sleeve. In addition, an improved surgical sealing system is provided.

Abstract: In order to improve a surgical sealing element holder for holding a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar with a trocar sleeve, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, such that a sealing element of the sealing system can be replaced in a simple and reliable manner and it is ensured that sealing in relation to a channel of the trocar sleeve is perfect at all times it is suggested that a holder sealing element be provided for sealing the sealing element holder with respect to an inner wall surface of the trocar sleeve. In addition, an improved surgical sealing system is suggested.

Abstract: A compressed gas operated instrument incorporating a connector for a compressed gas cartridge to which the compressed gas cartridge is connectable in sealed manner by means of a supply channel for the compressed gas flowing out of the compressed gas cartridge is provided which incorporates a regulating valve in the supply channel for governing the compressed gas stream through the supply channel. The regulating valve comprises a valve body which is sealed in a valve chamber with respect to a wall of the valve chamber by means of a first seal and is mounted in the valve chamber in displaceable manner. The valve body is connected on the upstream side thereof in sealed manner to a connector element by means of a second seal and also be displaceable with respect to the connector element by displacement thereof in the valve chamber.

Abstract: In order to improve a surgical protection device for a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, the protection device comprising a base member which can be arranged on the trocar or on a part thereof, is closed in a ring shape and has an opening and several protection elements which are arranged in circumferential direction and point parallel or towards a longitudinal axis of the protection device, the protection elements having free ends pointing essentially in a distal direction, such that protection of the sealing element can be as complete as possible irrespective of the degree of expansion thereof, it is suggested that at least some of the protection elements have retaining elements on an outer side at their free ends or in the area of their free ends for engagement with the sealing element. Furthermore, an improved surgical sealing system is suggested.

Abstract: In order to simplify the structure of the cartridge and reduce the structural size in a cartridge with a plurality of C-shaped ligature clips, with a housing accommodating ligature clips arranged in a row one behind the other and parallel to one another, with a transport element, which can be slid forward and back relative to the housing in the direction of the row and which when sliding forward and back relative to the housing causes at least one ligature clip to advance towards a discharge end of the cartridge, it is proposed that the ligature clips each have two legs connected by means of a bridge section and are divided by a longitudinal slit into two adjacent sections, which are connected to one another in the region of the free ends of the legs, and that the transport element passes through the ligature clips arranged in a row in the space between the two adjacent sections of the ligature clips.

Abstract: A surgical obturator is provided which has a tubular housing, a blade carrier displaceable in the tubular housing in a longitudinal direction between an advanced cutting position and a retracted protected position. A blade with a cutting edge is held on the blade carrier. A protective cap engages over the blade and is displaceable in the tubular housing in the longitudinal direction between an advanced rest position in which the blade is completely covered in its protected position and a retracted work position. The protective cap has a slit through which the cutting edge passes. In a work position of the protective cap, the blade projects through the slit. A retracting device is arranged in the tubular housing for displacing the blade from the cutting position to the protected position. The retracting device is activatable by displacement of the protective cap from the work position to the rest position.

Abstract: In a surgical obturator for piercing a body wall, comprising a tubular housing that at one end forms an introduction tip with a continuously decreasing diameter, and comprising a blade projecting from the introduction tip for making an incision in the body wall, in order to reduce the risk of injury during piercing of the body wall it is proposed that the introduction tip comprises a central protective cap, which is displaceable in longitudinal direction relative to the introduction tip between an advanced inoperative position and a retracted working position, that the blade in the housing is displaceable in longitudinal direction between an advanced cutting position and a retracted protected position, that disposed in the housing is a retraction device that displaces the blade from the cutting position into the protected position, and that the retraction device may be activated by a displacement of the protective cap from the working position into the inoperative position.

Abstract: To enable puncture of a body wall with a greater degree of sensitivity with a surgical obturator for puncturing the body wall having a knife, the cutting edge of which extends outwards from a tip of the obturator in the direction of various sides and backwards in relation to the tip, and which is orientated throughout its entire length parallel to the puncturing direction, so that the cutting edge points in the puncturing direction, it is proposed that the cutting edge be of helical line-shaped configuration.

Abstract: Surgical scissors are provided having two scissor blades mounted for pivotal movement relative to each other about a pivot axis and having one cutting edge each. The scissor blades have, proximal of the pivot axis, one sliding surface area each, the sliding surface areas sliding along each other and the scissor blades contacting each other distally of the pivot axis at a moving point of contact of the cutting edges sliding along each other when the scissors are opened and closed. At least one of the cutting edges is provided with a hard material coating, and at least one of the two sliding surface areas have a first hard material coating-free surface. A method for the manufacture of surgical scissors is also proposed.

Abstract: In order to provide a surgical instrument which is particularly simple to manipulate and enables force to be transmitted particularly directly to at least two tool elements wherein the surgical instrument comprises said at least two tool elements which are movable relative to one another and are arranged at a distal end of a guide device of a surgical instrument, and also comprises a force transmission device for transferring an actuating force from a proximal end of the force transmission device to a distal end of the force transmission device for the purposes of moving at least one of the at least two tool elements relative to the guide device, it is proposed that the surgical instrument should comprise a coupling device for selectively coupling the force transmission device directly or indirectly to at least one of the at least two tool elements.

Abstract: A surgical sealing element, for example, for a trocar and/or for sealing shafts of elongated surgical instruments during insertion into a human or animal body, is provided. The surgical sealing element comprises a flexible wall closed annularly, the wall comprising a first edge and a second edge, and an opening for a shaft of a surgical instrument, the opening being variable in diameter and limited by the first edge. In a sealing position, the wall is folded with fold lines extending in a direction towards the first edge in such a manner that the first edge defines a wave line.

Abstract: In order to improve a surgical sealing element, in particular, for a trocar and/or for sealing shafts of elongated surgical instruments during insertion into a human or animal body, wherein the sealing element defines a longitudinal axis, is provided with an opening, which is variable in diameter and is oriented transversely or essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis and through which an instrument can be inserted, and comprises a flexible wall which is closed annularly, wherein the wall has a first and a second edge each closed upon itself and wherein the first edge limits the opening, such that all instruments currently available can be reliably sealed irrespective of the diameter of their instrument shaft it is suggested that the wall be foldable in a wave-like manner and in a sealing position be folded in a wave-like manner without kinks with fold lines extending in the direction towards the first edge in such a manner that the first edge defines a wave line which is located entirely on a cylind

Abstract: In order to maximise the pivoting range of the arms in a surgical instrument for the placement of C-shaped ligature clips having two legs connected to one another by means of a bridge section with two clamping jaws, which in an open position receive an open ligature clip between them and are movable into a closed position by approaching one another and in so doing close the ligature clips by their legs approaching one another, with two elastically deformable arms, each bearing a clamping jaw at its distal end, and with a slide, which is displaceable relative to the arms in the longitudinal direction thereof, and which abuts against the abutment surfaces of the arms and as a result of this abutment against the abutment surfaces elastically pivots the arms relative to one another in a pivoting plane out of a starting position into an end position upon displacement of the slide relative to the arms, in association with a small size of the instrument, it is proposed that at least over a part of their length and a

Abstract: In order to improve a surgical protection device for a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, the protection device comprising a base member which can be arranged on the trocar or on a part thereof, is closed in a ring shape and has an opening and several protection elements which are arranged in circumferential direction and point parallel or towards a longitudinal axis of the protection device, the protection elements having free ends pointing essentially in a distal direction, such that protection of the sealing element can be as complete as possible irrespective of the degree of expansion thereof, it is suggested that at least some of the protection elements have retaining elements on an outer side at their free ends or in the area of their free ends for engagement with the sealing element. Furthermore, an improved surgical sealing system is suggested.