Abstract: In an endoscope designed for laser lithotripsy use is made of a laser lithotripsy unit having a guide tube insertable in the barrel of the endoscope, which guide tube encloses a laser light guide which carries at its distal end a fused-on head to concentrate the beam. The laser light guide is guided in the guide tube so as to be axially displaceable and immobilizable, thus making it possible for the distance between the head and the concretion intended for destruction to be adjusted to obtain optimum energy transmission, the relevant conditions being maintained during the operation by virtue of the fact that the distal end of the guide tube for the lithotripsy unit is held in contact with the concretion.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the quantity of light emitted by a light source for illuminating an object under examination by means of an endoscope fitted with a video camera, comprises a signal processing circuit including a window generating device and a window superimposition device for visually displaying and optically defining a window and which generates a measuring window in the video picture displayed by a monitor connected to the video camera and superimposes the measuring window on the video picture in the form of a frame. A video signal for adjusting the quantity of light emitted by the light source is integrated only within the measuring window.

Abstract: A device for locating and disintegrating concretions and stones in bodily cavities by means of a shock wave generator comprises a reclining surface for the patient, with an opening therein below which the generator, including a flexible precursor section, is so arranged that the fluid sealed off from the outside is in contact via the opening with the body section to be treated, either directly or indirectly via a diaphragm sealing off the precursor section. To this end, the reclining surface and the shock wave generator are displaceable with respect to each other.

Abstract: A diagnostic coupler is provided for transmitting ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic locating transducer to a patient body, particularly for use in a lithotriptic apparatus having an ultrasonic shock wave transducer and at least one ultrasonic locating transducer. The coupler is a dimensionally stable body which is releasably arranged on the ultrasonic locating transducer by fitting to the shape of the ultrasound emitting end of the transducer. The material of the coupler has a characteritic wave impedance which is substantially the same as that of the patient body tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-surgical instrument having a probe stem whose distal end is provided with an electrode connectable to an HF current source. To enable the electrode to be used both for coagulation and for resection accompanied by coagulation, the electrode has a part-spherical portion and an annular portion. This annular portion is arranged to project up at an angle from a plane face of the part-spherical portion.

Abstract: In a lithotriptor a shock wave transducer is provided with a focussing cup and with a forward section containing a coupling medium shut off by means of a diaphragm for application to a patient's body. In the wall of the cup there is mounted a locating system comprising an x-ray emitter the outlet of which is located in the coupling medium. The outlet is closed by means of a balloon which can be filled with gas and which can be evacuated. When the balloon is filled with gas, it expands in the direction of radiation of the x-rays up to or almost up to the diaphragm of the forward section.

Abstract: A lithotripter comprises a transducer for generating focussed ultrasonic shock waves, and having an axis, a focus on said axis, the focus being positionable on a concretion or tissue which is to be destroyed, at least one diagnostic X-ray imaging system for locating the concretion of tissue including an X-ray emitter having an axis and an image intensifier, and at least one ultrasonic locating transducer having an axis, the X-ray emitter and the ultrasonic locating transducer being connected to the shock wave transducer in such a way that the axes of the locating systems intersect at said focus, with the axes of the locating systems preferably being offset from the axis of the shock wave transducer.

Abstract: Apparatus for dissolving concretions within a bodily cavity, for example in the gall bladder, under the action of a solvent fluid applied within the bodily cavity, comprises an ultrasonic transducer arranged to be coupled to the exterior of the patient's body and to be focussed on selected parts of the bodily cavity. The transducer emits ultrasonic waves within a frequency range of between 20 and 40 kHz and with just enough power to generate cavitations in bodily cavity fluid within the body cavity, or in the solvent fluid, or in both of these fluids to cause dispersion therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for measuring the throughflow of a body liquid, in particular an apparatus for measuring the flow of urine in urological function diagnostics. The apparatus comprises a collecting funnel connected to a tube, which can be suspended in a WC bowl. In the tube are two axially spaced transducers one for continuously determining the electrical conductivity of fluid flowing through the tube from the funnel and the other for determining the specific electrical conductivity of the liquid. An electronic evaluation system determines the throughflow of the liquid upon the basis of the values determined by the transducers.

Abstract: Equipment is disclosed for the controlled insufflation of a fluid into a body cavity through a probe inserted thereinto, particularly for insufflating gas through the conduit of an endoscope partly inserted into the body cavity. The equipment comprises a supply device for delivering the fluid and on which a selected nominal value for the pressure in the body cavity can be set and the relevant actual value of the body cavity pressure can be displayed by means of a measuring instrument. The inlet side of a circulating pump, is connected by way of a filter to the body caviy. During an operation the pump draws off fluid from the body cavity and circulates it back to the body cavity. Part of the circuit on the delivery side of the pump and part of the circuit leading to the measuring instrument have a common portion leading to the body cavity. When the pump is running, therefore, a retroactive dynamic pressure is applied to the measuring instrument.

Abstract: A technoscope for checking for damage, especially a crack, in a surface of a cavity in a technical component, is arranged not only to establish the area of damage but also to measure the depth of a damaged area. To this end, the technoscope has a measuring attachment comprising a measuring probe with two electrodes for straddling the damaged area, and being supported in the cavity by a support element. The depth of the damaged area is measured by means of a depth measuring instrument sensitive to the disturbance of current flow between the electrodes, and the potential difference resulting therefrom.

Abstract: A laser light applicator comprises a laser light conductor fiber and a light guiding element of larger diameter than the fiber, distally connected thereto by means of a butt joint. The light conductor element is provided at its distal end with a ball head which has been formed with plane, blackened, ground surfaces converging to provide a wedge having at its top a truncated unblackened edge. The ball-head diameter is preferably between 1.5 and 2.0 mm, the plane surfaces being angled by between 54.degree. and 60.degree. with respect to each other.

Abstract: In an endoscope optical system comprising an inner tube accommodating the optical components of the system and an outer tube enclosing the inner tube, optical fibers are disposed in the chamber defined between the two tubes, for transmitting light to a site to be inspected by means of the endoscope. For uniform illumination of the site to provide images to satisfactory quality, coaxial or paraxial arrangement of the inner tube within the outer tube is achieved by bridging the chamber by means of webs extending longitudinally of the tubes, the optical fibers being accommodated in sub-chambers defined between the webs.

Abstract: Apparatus for introducing fluids into, and withdrawing fluids from, a hollow organ of the body, in particular a galibladder, for conducting litholysis, comprises a piston-type injection device having a multi-directional valve and which can be removably inserted into an operating mechanism. The injection device has a chamber located in front of its piston and serving as a settling chamber for a mixture of organ secretion and stone sludge removed with the solvent from the hollow organ. The valve is for the sequential connection of the pressure chamber to the hollow organ, to a tank for the solvent, and to a receiving vessel for fluid drawn off.

Abstract: An operating insert to be passed through a resectoscope shaft comprises a channel for an axially displaceable cutting loop which extends parallel to an optical system through the operating insert. The cutting loop has branches secured within a tube and merging at their proximal ends into an electrode stem which extends beyond the shaft as far as an electrode carrier. An annular cylindrical sealing element of plastics material or the like is secured on the stem or on the inner side of the channel and bears via sealing projections against the inner surface of the cutting loop so as to prevent the passage of fluid to the proximal end of the channel while allowing axial movement of the stem and the tube within the channel.

Abstract: A uretero-renoscope assembly comprises a first shaft to accommodate an optical system and an auxiliary instrument passage, this first shaft being connected at its proximal end to a housing provided with connections for a light conductor cable and for the infeed or discharge of flushing fluid or the like. The first shaft has a cross-sectional area which decreases in steps in the distal direction, and has a circular cross-section at its proximal end which merges into an oval cross-section at the distal end. A second shaft of circular cross-section can be pushed onto the first, with the first shaft in position in the ureter after withdrawal of the uretero-renoscope, forming a further stepped increase in cross-section and providing a further passage, for example for flushing fluid.

Abstract: In the sealed interior of an image-generating recording or transmitting device, for example an endoscope, videoscope, endo-technoscope or the alike, there is provided at least one sensor which responds to minute changes in atmospheric humidity. The actual value of the humidity is compared by an electronic monitoring device with a maximum admissible limit humidity value. If the actual humidity value reaches a preselectable limit value range, an analog signal is displayed and, if the maximum admissible limit value is exceeded, a signal is generated to actuate an air pump to load the interior of the recording and/or transmitting device with excess air pressure.

Abstract: An endoscope, in particular a resectoscope, for excising tissue, having a barrel insertable into a body cavity for feeding in and draining out an irrigating liquid and for carrying a working element which can be actuated from the proximal end of the endoscope and whose field of activity can be monitored visually through an endoscope telescope positioned at the proximal end of the endoscope, in which to protect a surgeon, a protective shield can be releasably secured on a lengthwise segment of the endoscope, namely on a lengthwise segment comprising those segments of the working element and of the endoscope telescope which project proximally from the barrel of the endoscope.

Abstract: A biconvex rod lens for the optics assembly of a medical or technical endoscope comprises of a light transmitting rod and a correcting lens cemented to one end of the rod. The rod is provided with at least one cylindrical collar which is of greater diameter than the adjacent lengths of the rod, for supporting the rod lens on the inner surface of an internal tube in the shaft of the optics assembly. In order to avoid shear forces arising in the cemented joint between the rod and the correcting lens when the shaft and thus the tube are bent when the endoscope is in use, the correcting lens and the rod have, in the region of the cemented joint, a smaller diameter than the cylindrical collar or collars. Fracture of the rod lens is there by avoided.

Abstract: Medical forceps are described which have a fixed jaw part and swingable jaw part with which parts a fixed handle part and a swingable handle part respectively are associated. In order to limit the pressure force which can be produced on the jaw parts, the swingable grip part is divided into two parts which are undetachably connected on a line with each other by a flexural spring element. For the fixing of the gripping position of the jaw parts detent elements which come into detachable engagement with each other are provided on the grip parts.