Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises a control system which comprises a hydraulic circuit for lowering or raising the at least one supporting element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for creating a free transcutaneous access to an endoscopic operating area, in particular to a hollow internal body organ, which device has a conical inset that is to be inserted into an incision. A device for creating a transcutaneous access that combines simple construction with good handling qualities for several medical instruments is, according to the invention, characterized in that several medical instruments can be inserted simultaneously into the operating area by way of the conical inset, so that the individual medical instruments are positioned in the conical inset at a secured angle to one another.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element, wherein the carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises at least one carrying arm, which is pivotable about at least one at least approximately horizontal pivot axis such that pivoting of the carrying arm raises or lowers the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure further comprises a mechanical control system acting on the pivotability of the at least one carrying arm in the upward direction differently from the downward direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument, in particular an endoscopic instrument, with an instrument shaft, a tool positioned on the distal end of the instrument shaft, and a handle, which can be secured on the instrument shaft so that it can be moved in an axial extension of the instrument shaft. In order to create an instrument which makes possible a comfortable, safe, and reliable handling even with the most varied application purposes, it is proposed with the invention that the handle can be secured on the instrument shaft so that it can be moved by at least one degree of freedom with respect to the instrument shaft.

Abstract: A medical instrument especially suited for the HALS operating technique that can be entirely inserted together with one of the surgeon's hands into the operating area for operating purposes and includes a housing [(1)] and at least one tool [(2)] arranged in the housing [(1)], where the tool [(2)] can be moved between a rest position arranged in the housing [(1)] and a working position extending out of the housing [(1)].

Abstract: A medical instrument for manipulating, in particular retracting tissue or an organ in the human or animal body, comprises an elongated shaft having a distal portion introducible into the body, and at least one working element arranged at a distal end portion of the shaft for manipulating the tissue or organ. The at least one working element comprises at least one magnetically acting element producing a magnetic field for manipulating the tissue or organ. A method for manipulating, in particular retracting tissue or an organ uses the instrument.

Abstract: A seal comprises a first sealing member and a second sealing member. The sealing members each have an accessway to facilitate access from one side of the sealing member to the other side of the sealing member. The accessways are offset to facilitate sealed access of an object through the sealing members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical gripping and/or cutting instrument with a shaft having on its distal end a tool consisting of at least two jaw members and on its proximal end a handle consisting of at least two gripping members. For opening and closing, at least one jaw member of the tool can be displaced with respect to the other jaw member of the tool by means of a rotatably configured gripping member of the handle. To produce a medical gripping and/or cutting instrument that allows operation that relieves the hand along with optimized action, it is proposed with the invention that at least one portion of at least one gripping member of the handle can rotate around the longitudinal axis of this gripping member.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises a control system which comprises a hydraulic circuit for lowering or raising the at least one supporting element.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element, wherein the carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises at least one carrying arm, which is pivotable about at least one at least approximately horizontal pivot axis such that pivoting of the carrying arm raises or lowers the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure further comprises a mechanical control system acting on the pivotability of the at least one carrying arm in the upward direction differently from the downward direction.

Abstract: An instrument access port comprises a retractor (811) for retracting the sides of an incision (813) and a valve (829) for sealing around an instrument (814) inserted through the retracted incision (813). The retractor (811) comprises a distal member for insertion into the incision (813), a proximal member for location externally of the incision (813) and a retracting member for extending between the distal member and the proximal member. The valve (829) is coupled to the retractor (811) to define a low profile sealed instrument access port.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises a control mechanism for lowering or raising the at least one supporting element, wherein the control mechanism includes a force load switch for activating the lowering or raising of the at least one supporting element, wherein the force load switch activates the lowering or raising of the at least one supporting element upon detecting compressive and/or tensile forces or motions acting via the at least one supporting element on the force load switch.

Abstract: A technique for imaging relative elastic properties combines B-scan and power Doppler signals to produce images of relative vibration amplitude. A method for imaging relative elastic properties of tissue includes vibrating an area of tissue of interest and capturing a power Doppler image of at least part of the vibrating tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument, in particular an endoscopic instrument, with an instrument shaft, a tool positioned on the distal end of the instrument shaft, and a handle, which can be secured on the instrument shaft so that it can be moved in an axial extension of the instrument shaft. In order to create an instrument which makes possible a comfortable, safe, and reliable handling even with the most varied application purposes, it is proposed with the invention that the handle can be secured on the instrument shaft so that it can be moved by at least one degree of freedom with respect to the instrument shaft.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises a control mechanism for lowering or raising the at least one supporting element, wherein the control mechanism includes a force load switch for activating the lowering or raising of the at least one supporting element, wherein the force load switch activates the lowering or raising of the at least one supporting element upon detecting compressive and/or tensile forces or motions acting via the at least one supporting element on the force load switch.

Abstract: A hypodermic needle is provided comprising a first, hollow needle having movably secured therein one or more further, hollow needles. Each further needle and part of the hypodermic needle being movable relative to one another between a stressed position and an unstressed position. In the stressed position, each further needle is substantially parallel to the first needle. In the unstressed position, the free end of each further needle lies beyond the axial and/or radial terminus of the first needle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved hypodermic needle and to a fluid injection device. In one embodiment, a hypodermic needle (10) is disclosed, and a fluid injection device comprises the hypodermic needle (10) and driving means coupled to the needle (10). The hypodermic needle (10) itself comprises a first, hollow needle (12) adapted to have movably secured therein at least one further, hollow needle (14), the at least one further needle (14) and part of the hypodermic needle (10) being movable relative to one another between a stressed position of the at least one further needle (14), in which the at least one further needle (14) is substantially parallel to the first needle (12), and an unstressed position of the at least one further needle (14), in which the free end of the at least one further needle (14) lies beyond the axial and/or radial terminus of the first needle (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a retractor for use in endoscopic surgery, comprising a shaft having a hand piece arranged on the proximal end thereof and whose distal end can be moved out of an initially extended and straight position, whereby the adjustable distal end consists of several link elements that can be moved into a ring-shaped structure and the ring-shaped structure can be bent in relation to the shaft. In order to produce a retractor which can be used atraumatically and can be handled in a highly hygienic manner, it is also proposed in accordance with this invention that the distal end of the shaft should be moved into the closed ring structure and the closed ring structure be bent in a continuous manner at an angle of up to 90 degrees. The invention also relates to a medical instrument for introducing a retractor into a human or animal body and to a method for the use of a retractor in endoscopic surgery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument for surgery. A medical instrument especially suited for the HALS operating technique can be entirely inserted together with one of the surgeon's hands into the operating area for operating purposes and includes a housing (1) and at least one tool (2) arranged in the housing (1), where the tool (2) can be moved between a rest position arranged in the housing (1) and a working position extending out of the housing (1).