Abstract: A drying system for drying medical instruments including: a drying chamber configured to receive a medical instrument, a drying gas generation system for providing drying gas, a hose system including a hose through which the drying gas is discharged from the drying gas generation system, and a valve arranged in a wall of the drying chamber, the hose system is connected to the valve for the valve to provide the drying gas into the drying chamber. Wherein the valve is configured to discharge the drying gas exiting the valve into the drying chamber in a main flow direction.

Abstract: A method for manipulating laparoscopic images taken during a laparoscopic procedure using a video laparoscope. The method including: analyzing the laparoscopic images relative to visibility of an object; calculating a placement of a pre-generated 3D model of the object relative to the location of the object in the laparoscopic images; generating a visual representation of the 3D model; comparing at least one of color information and brightness information of the visual representation of the 3D model and of the laparoscopic images at the location of the 3D model and adjusting the representation of the 3D model based on the comparison in regions where the difference is below a predefined threshold; and generating composite images using the laparoscopic images and the adjusted representation of the 3D model.

Abstract: A foot switch device includes: a housing, a pedal moveably mounted on the housing, a bias element, and a switching device, wherein the pedal is configured to be moveable against a force of the bias element to operate the switching device, and wherein the bias element has a non-linear load deflection curve.

Abstract: A stopcock for a liquid channel of a medical endoscope, having a housing, a spring element and a plug rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the plug in a working position lies with its conical surface against a seal surface of the housing and can be placed in a medium access position in which the conical and the seal surface have no contact and the housing and the plug remain connected, characterized in that the plug includes one or more transverse grooves, in the outer wall of a conical piece, running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the conical piece and having straight groove bottoms, and the spring element in the medium access position engages with one or more transverse grooves. A medical endoscope having at least one liquid channel, characterized in that it includes at least one stopcock, by which the liquid flow through the channel can be regulated.

Abstract: A reprocessing system including: a reprocessing device for a surgical instrument, wherein the reprocessing device has a cabinet for accommodating the surgical instrument within the cabinet; a sensor configured to detect at least one or more non-contact operating gesture patterns of a reprocessing device operator for the reprocessing device; and a controller comprising hardware, the controller being configured to: receive an output from the sensor indicating detection of the at least one or more non-contact operating gesture patterns of the reprocessing device operator for the reprocessing device; and operate the reprocessing device based on the output from the sensor.

Abstract: A foot switch device, includes: a housing; a pedal, the pedal being moveably attached to the housing; and a switching circuit; the switching circuit being configured to detect movement of the pedal relative to the housing, and to issue a switching signal when such movement is detected; wherein the switching circuit includes a coil arranged in the housing and a yoke attached to the pedal, so that movement of the pedal moves the yoke into or out of the coil. Also, a medical device system with a foot switch device.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrosurgical handheld instrument consists of an electrically conductive wire, the two ends of the wire being connectable to an electrode carrier of the handheld instrument. In this case, the wire has two portions R1 and L1, which are adjacent to the two ends of the wire and are aligned parallel to one another and rectilinearly. Two second portions R2 and L2 follow on from these two first portions R1 and L1, these two portions R2 and L2 being connected to one another by a portion C. This portion C in turn has a flattened portion CC.

Abstract: An endoscope including: a retaining body; and a flexible printed circuit board providing an electrical connection between an electrical component arranged in a proximal end region of the endoscope and an internal electrical terminal provided in the proximal end region distanced along a longitudinal axis from the electrical component. The flexible printed circuit board includes: a first circuit board section extending in a longitudinal axial direction and guided at least partially in a cavity in the endoscope by the electrical terminal in the direction of the electrical component, and a second circuit board section arranged on the retaining body and guided along a lower side of the retaining body directed in a direction of an internal space in the endoscope and along an upper side of the retaining body directed in a direction of an outer sleeve of the endoscope towards the electrical component, and electrically contacts the electrical component.

Abstract: A flow control unit for use with an endoscope reprocessing device, the flow control unit including: a main fluid supply line coupled to an inlet, the inlet receives processing fluid from a fluid source, at least one supply channel supplying the processing fluid to an internal channel of an endoscope, the at least one supply channel is coupled to the main fluid supply line, a dedicated switchable valve in the supply channel for opening the supply channel to pass the processing fluid through the supply channel or closing the supply channel to block the flow, and a processor for operating the switchable valve according to a reprocessing routine, and upon termination of the reprocessing routine, set the switchable valve to a safe switching state in which a flow rate through the main supply line is lower than a maximum flow rate through the main supply line.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system for generating high-frequency alternating current for an ablation of body tissue, containing a high-frequency voltage supply unit which is or is to be electrically connected to a first and second electrode, and which is configured to supply the electrodes with a high-frequency alternating voltage. The electrosurgical system further includes a feedback unit which is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes and which is configured to generate and transmit an output signal dependent on the electrical resistance between the first and second electrodes. The electrosurgical system also includes a control unit that is configured to control the high-frequency voltage supply unit in such a way as to be able to automatically switch between at least one first and one second operating mode.

Abstract: A resectoscope for endoscopic surgery with a tubular shaft and a handle, the shaft comprising a longitudinally displaceable electrode instrument and, at its distal end, an electrically insulating insert, the electrode instrument having an elongated shaft section with one or two support arms and, in its distal end region, an electrode that can be acted upon by high-frequency current, characterized in that the insulating insert has one or more guide elements for holding a support arm, the support arm being longitudinally displaceable in the guide element.

Abstract: A method for operating an electrosurgical generator and an according electrosurgical generator. Electrosurgical generator is configured to supply power to electrosurgical instrument. Electrosurgical generator is identifiable by serial number and includes at least two modules. Modules are embodied as hardware and or software modules. Each module functions according to operation mode wherein at least partially specified by license key. In initializing process of electrosurgical generator, identification information being indicative of serial number is available or made available at at least one module and license information being indicative of license key is available or made available at at least one module. Each module provides any identification and license information being available or being made available to it to at least one other module. At least one module generates a link of identification and license information and provides generated link to each of the other modules.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electro surgical generator for controlling electro surgical instruments connected to the electro surgical generator, including a plurality of interconnected regular modules, the plurality of interconnected regular modules including at least one socket module for connecting the electro surgical instrument, and at least one first inverter module for generating a feed signal for providing a high frequency energy for at least one electro surgical instrument connected to the socket module, wherein, each regular module communicates at least with another regular module and/or with a communication module, each regular module is sending a communication frame at an individual repetition frequency and the individual repetition frequency is varied depending on a state of the electro surgical generator.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator including an inverter unit generating HF energy and a high-voltage connection supplying the HF energy to an output socket for an electrosurgical instrument. The high-voltage connection includes a base module with a distribution unit and at least one connection port. The distribution unit comprises a HF distribution line and data communication wiring, both being supplied to the at least one connection port for which a sub module is provided connecting to the HF and the data signals and supplying the output socket. Thereby electrical connections and data communications are established at once. Consequently, inserting a different sub module allows for simplified alteration of type and variant of the generator. A newly developed version of the sub module may just be inserted into the connection port without any need of alteration of the base module. Modernization and updating is facilitated.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electro surgical generator for controlling electro surgical instruments connected to the electro surgical generator, and the electro surgical generator includes a plurality of interconnected regular modules, the plurality of interconnected regular modules including at least one socket module for connecting the electro surgical instrument, and at least one first inverter module for generating a feed signal for providing a high frequency energy for at least one electro surgical instrument connected to the socket module, wherein each regular module communicates at least with another regular module or with a communication module, each regular module is sending a communication frame at an individual repetition frequency and the individual repetition frequency of each regular module is different to the repetition frequencies of at least one, a plurality or all of the other regular modules.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator for outputting a HF voltage to an electrosurgical instrument includes a power supply unit, an inverter unit generating the HF voltage, a base module and a plurality of function modules for performing various functions of the electrosurgical generator, at least one thereof being configured for controlling a user interface. Each of the function modules features a galvanically separated local operating power supply includes a transformer being fed by the base module having an operating power distribution unit. A central AC generator is provided generating AC voltage supplied to the operating power distribution unit. The transformers are decentralized at each of the function modules. This combination of centralized AC generation and decentralized transformers increases efficiency, reduces space demand and facilitates effective shielding, thereby providing a more economical, compact and EMR improved electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: An Electrosurgical generator including an inverter unit generating a high-frequency alternating voltage to be supplied to at least two output sockets for connection of electrosurgical instruments. The inverter unit is a multilevel inverter. It includes a plurality of co-operating inverter cells which are connected in a cascaded manner in a first state and being split into at least two groups (I, II) in a second state. The inverter unit is selectively switchable between said first and second state. Each group is assigned one of the output sockets and feeds its HF voltage thereto. This enables simultaneous controlling of the distinct groups and their HF output. Thereby, unwanted interference patterns can be avoided. Uncontrolled low-frequency beat can be largely suppressed, allowing improved control of thermal energy and cutting power. Quality of the work performed can be increased which is beneficial for the patient.

Abstract: A device for detecting activation of electrosurgical instrument switching steps, including: a power converter for generating an electrical measurement current, wherein the power converter has at least a first and second controllable switching step; a control device for the controllable switching step, at least first and second instrument switching steps, wherein the first and second instrument switching steps being electrically connected to the power converter, and an evaluation device for evaluating the generated measurement current.

Abstract: Surgical handheld devices are essentially made up of a device body or main body and of a tubular shaft. In the production of known surgical devices, the tubular shafts are welded to the device bodies. A large number of very complex work steps are necessary for this purpose. On account of the high quality demands placed on surgical handheld devices in respect of mechanical stability and sterility, the weld seam has to meet the most stringent requirements. The invention makes available a method for producing a surgical handheld device, which can be used particularly easily and reliably. This is achieved by the fact that at least one device body (18) and at least one tubular shaft (13) of a surgical handheld device are connected to each other with form-fit engagement by hydroforming.

Abstract: An electro surgical generator for generating feed signals for feeding electro surgical instruments, includes functional modules which include at least one inverter module for generating a feed signal providing high frequency energy for at least one instrument, and at least one output module connecting an instrument to the output module, wherein at least one, some or all functional modules include a coupling identifier making the respective module distinguishable from others which are different, at least one of the functional modules or a electro surgical generator communication module are adapted to identify the functional module by the coupling identifier, and a bus system is provided for communication between the modules and/or the communication module, and/or some or all of the functional modules have a control base module controlling the respective functional module and/or for operating a communication of the respective functional module with another functional module and/or with the communication module.