Abstract: A method for endoscopic imaging including: capturing white light images with a video endoscope under white light illumination; evaluating the captured white light images for a structure having a predefined characteristic, when the presence of the structure having the predefined characteristic is found in a white light image, setting a special light imaging mode in which a light source generates special light illumination using the at least one special light and one or more images of a video stream are captured under the special light illumination and subjected to image processing in the set special light processing mode; identifying a subregion of the at least one white light image that contains the structure with the predefined characteristic and reading out only the subregion of a CMOS image sensor associated with the video endoscope, and processing the image data read out from the subregion as one or more special light images.

Abstract: A system including: a foot switch for controlling a medical device; and a receiver for the medical device to be controlled as components. Where the foot switch and the receiver are configured for wirelessly transmitting uniquely assignable control signals after completion of coupling at least from the foot switch to the receiver; one of the components comprises an NFC read module for reading out a transponder in a vicinity and an other component comprises the transponder that can be read out by the NFC read module; and the NFC read module is configured at least to initiate the coupling of the foot switch and the receiver on the basis of items of information read out from the transponder.

Abstract: A surgical tool, which can be identified in a simple and at the same time unambiguous manner. This is achieved in that a surgical tool has an electrical conductor element having a tool-specific electronic signature. An unambiguous identification of the tool is possible via this tool-specific electronic signature. Each surgical tool of the claimed type thus has a signature, using which it can be unambiguously identified.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator for operating an electrosurgical instrument is characterized by a control device which is adapted to control a cooling device at least with a first control curve and a second control curve, wherein the first control curve is used to control the rotational speed of the cooling device depending on the monitored temperature during a first operating mode of the electrosurgical generator and the second curve is used to control the rotational speed of the cooling device depending on the monitored temperature during a second operating mode of the electrosurgical instrument, wherein the first control curve and the second control curve are different from each other. A method for operating an electrosurgical generator for operating an electrosurgical instrument and to an electrosurgical generator system includes an electrosurgical generator and an electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: An electrically insulating insert for detachable connection to the distal end region of a resectoscope shaft, characterized in that the insulating insert has a hollow portion with an elongate cavity for the passage of pass-through instruments, and that the insulating insert has fastening means for detachable connection to the resectoscope shaft. An electrode instrument is connected to this insulating insert and to a resectoscope including the same.

Abstract: A plug connection between distal video and proximal cable units, including: a plug; and a connector inserted into the plug, the plug is a glass cast part arranged at a proximal end of the distal video unit; the connector is arranged at a distal end of the proximal cable unit; the plug is connected to a housing of the distal video unit, has electrical feedthroughs and is connected on a distal side to a first flexboard in the distal video unit and has a connector receptacle; the connector is enclosed in a housing formed to fit the connector receptacle; the connector has a plurality of electrical feedthroughs arranged in accordance with an arrangement of the electrical feedthroughs of the plug; and the electrical feedthroughs are connected proximally to a second flexboard having a planar solder pad structure having solder pads, to which signal and connecting cables are soldered.

Abstract: A surgical generator providing a high-frequency alternating voltage to a surgical instrument. It includes a control unit and a user interface connected thereto. The control unit is configured for controlling the surgical generator based on a set of functions. A signaling interface is provided for optical signaling in a bidirectional manner to and from the remote control. The signaling interface configures the control unit and/or the surgical generator dependent on communication from the remote control. Thereby the surgical generator can be re-configured by limiting certain functions for different fields of application by the remote control. Optical signaling avoids risks of radio transmission. It is an efficient short range communication usable within same room only, providing safety against external access. Thus, re-configuration can be accomplished in a safe and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A method for monitoring consumables during a medical procedure, wherein unused consumables are provided in a supply area, consumables are used in a surgery area, and used consumables are deposited in a collection area. The method including: observing the supply area and the collection area with at least one first camera, registering, by a first automatic image processing method, when unused consumables are removed from the supply area, registering, by a second automatic image processing method, when used consumables are deposited in the collection area, and balancing the consumables removed from the supply area and the consumables deposited in the collection area.

Abstract: A method for detecting an image irregularity in one or more still images or video images produced by an endoscopic instrument. The method including: producing the one or more still images or video images; transmitting the one or more still images or video images to a processor comprising hardware; detecting, with the processor, a presence or an absence of the image irregularity in the one or more still images or video images; and where the presence of the image irregularity is detected, issuing a notification to a user about the presence of the image irregularity.

Abstract: A transport trolley including at least one receiving compartment configured to receive an instrument tray; and one or more of: a pre-cleaning device configured to pre-clean a surgical instrument in the instrument tray, the pre-cleaning device is configured to be connected to the surgical instrument by a coupling; and a pre-cleaning apparatus configured to pre-clean an outside of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes: an electrosurgical supply device, and an electrosurgical instrument, wherein the electrosurgical instrument includes a memory element which can be read out by the electrosurgical supply device when the electrosurgical instrument is connected to the electrosurgical supply device, and configuration data is stored on the memory element, which can be evaluated by the electrosurgical supply device in order to configure operating parameters which are compatible with the electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical system is characterized in that the configuration data is arranged in a flexible data structure which allows the memory element to simultaneously store multiple sets of configuration data which can be read and evaluated by different types of electrosurgical supply devices.

Abstract: An illumination device including an illumination source having a light source; a sensor; and a processor; and a light guiding cable having main and secondary fiber bundles. The light guiding cable comprises a first end coupled to the illumination source and an opposite second end configured for coupling with a surgical instrument such that the light source provides the surgical instrument with light from the light source. The first end is coupled to the illumination source such that light from the light source is coupled into the main fiber bundle and light guided in the secondary fiber bundle is directed to the sensor. The processor receives a signal from the sensor indicative of an illumination level at the sensor and generates a control signal if the illumination level of the sensor is above a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a high resistance condition at an instrument terminal of an electrosurgical generator, which includes current and voltage measuring devices for determining a current and a voltage at the terminal to determine the high resistance condition, and includes a calculation device connected to the measuring devices which is configured to evaluate the determined current and voltage, including: determining a crest factor value from the current and/or voltage, wherein the crest factor value describes a ratio of a peak value to an effective value of the current and/or voltage; comparing the determined crest factor value with a comparison value by means of a comparison device, wherein the comparison value is stored in a data storage device; and signaling a high resistance condition with a signaling device when the determined crest factor reaches or exceeds the predetermined crest factor comparison value. Also, an electrosurgical generator and electrosurgical generator system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) comprising a medical technology device (10) controllable via a foot switch (20), and a foot switch (20), wherein the foot switch (20) comprises a transmitter and the medical technology device (10) comprises a receiver for the wireless transmission of unambiguously assignable signals for the control from the foot switch (20) to the medical technology device (10), and wherein the receiver of the medical technology device (10) is designed to measure the signal strength of signals from the foot switch (20), and the medical technology device (10) is designed to emit a warning if the measured signal strength or the signal-to-noise ratio lies below a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A shaft and an Albarran, which can be produced in a particularly simple way and can be cleaned particularly easily and time-efficiently. This is achieved by a shaft, or an optical guide tube, and at least one pull wire tube guide being formed in one piece. Owing to this one-piece configuration of the shaft, the long closed pull wire tubes can be eliminated by design. Because of the open construction of the shaft, the shaft can be cleaned particularly easily and time-efficiently. Furthermore, the production of the shaft is particularly straightforward.

Abstract: A shaft and a handheld surgical device with which an optical unit and an access article may be positioned in a simple and reliable way in the shaft. This is achieved in that at least one web, through which an optical unit is directed from the proximal end of the shaft into a bore of a shaft tip, is arranged on an inner wall of a shaft. The at least one web is configured in such a way that the distal tip of the optical unit is guided into the bore when the optical unit is inserted into the shaft, specifically regardless of the shape of the cross section of the shaft.

Abstract: An endoscope including: a handle, an elongated shaft, and a video camera disposed in the shaft. The elongated shaft having a unit including a plurality of nested tubes. The plurality of nested tubes including a first tube and a second tube at least partially disposed within the first tube, the first tube and the second tube being fixed to one another through adhesive bonding. The first tube having a first bore formed in the first tube, the first bore communicating with a first gap between the first tube and the second tube, and an adhesive is provided in the first gap.

Abstract: A surgical generator configured to output a high-frequency alternating voltage to a surgical ultrasound instrument. An oscillator generates a driving oscillation for an inverter generating high-frequency voltage being for the surgical instrument. A matching-coil emulation device includes a correction device acting on the driving oscillation. The correction device includes a mixing unit and a feedback circuit, modifying the driving oscillation supplied to the inverter. An estimator calculates a virtual current which would flow in the emulated matching-coil if it were present, based on this and a measured output voltage an artificial phase shift is determined for steering of the oscillator. Thereby, the transfer function is reshaped mimicking that of a physical matching coil. Accordingly, a bulky matching coil that must be precisely tuned to the ultrasound instrument and restricts use of newer and different ultrasound instruments is no longer needed.

Abstract: Electrosurgical generator for providing a high-frequency alternating voltage to an electrosurgical instrument, including a control unit and an inverter for high voltage that generates a high-frequency alternating voltage fed to an output socket for the instrument. A detection unit is provided that includes a capacitive detector configured for detecting a capacitance of a plugged-in cable of the instrument. Thereby a parasitic capacitance induced by the instrument's cable can be detected. The capacitance is however low picofarad range and difficult to detect, further complicated by the requirement of galvanic separation for patient safety. However, the invention realized that just a qualitative detection is sufficient to determine whether the instrument's cable is being plugged in. The invention provides simple and efficient measurement circuit for such detection. Thereby, a safe and cost-effective plugging-in detection is realized.

Abstract: A surgical device system, and methods for operating a surgical device system, includes: at least one surgical instrument, a surgical generator for providing surgical energy to at least one surgical instrument, and at least one supplementary device for providing a supplementary function to at least one of the surgical generator and/or the at least one surgical instrument; the surgical generator being configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one supplementary device, wherein the surgical generator and the at least one supplementary device are configured to establish a first communication channel for exchanging operational data, the first communication being defined by a number of first communication channel parameters; and wherein the surgical generator the at least one supplementary device are configured to establish a second communication channel for exchanging first communication channel parameters.