Abstract: A bipolar electrode instrument for use in a resectoscope and having an elongated shaft section, through which a first conductor extends, which forms a working electrode to which high-frequency current can be applied at the distal end of the electrode instrument, and a second conductor further extending through the shaft section, which forms a counter electrode in the distal end region of the electrode instrument. The working electrode and the counter electrode are spatially separated from one another in such a way that the distance between them cannot be bridged by a straight conductor which has a length of 6 mm or less. When used in a resectoscope for endoscopic surgery with a cladding tube, the electrode instrument is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable inside the cladding tube.

Abstract: High-frequency electrodes for handheld surgical devices are used above all in urology in electrosurgical work in the bladder, prostate, and urethra. These electrodes are known to be manufactured from a platinum-iridium alloy. The costs of these materials have proven to be particularly disadvantageous. A high-frequency electrode, an electrode instrument, and a resectoscope for which the production costs are reduced and the reliability of the electrode during the treatment is ensured. This is achieved in that the high-frequency electrode consists of a platinum-tungsten alloy, in particular is produced therefrom.

Abstract: An electrically conductive irrigation fluid for use in bipolar resectoscopic surgery, wherein the irrigation fluid being brought into contact with the electrode of a resectoscope and tissue being coagulated and/or resected by means of the electrode surrounded by the irrigation fluid, wherein the irrigation fluid includes metal ions. Moreover, the method relates to a resectoscopy system including a resectoscope and an irrigation system that is connected to the resectoscope, the resectoscope having a handle and a tubular shaft, and the shaft including an electrode instrument that is arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable and has in its distal end region an electrode to which high-frequency current can be applied, wherein the irrigation system includes an irrigation fluid, which can be conducted through the shaft of the resectoscope to the electrode.

Abstract: An electrode instrument, a surgical handheld device and a production method, by means of which the quality of the aforementioned instruments can be improved. This is achieved by virtue of an electrode instrument for a surgical handheld device having an electrical conductor which is electrically insulated by an insulation in the form of flexible tubing, wherein the conductor is pressed in an electrode carrier, wherein the electrode carrier has a cross section with six pressed sides at the pressed position.

Abstract: Electrosurgical handheld devices are used mainly for endoscopic applications in urology or in gynaecology. However, the field of use of these instruments is not limited to these regions of the human body and instead also includes the treatment of further organs in the lower part of the human abdomen. The invention makes available an electrosurgical handheld device and also a handle, a main body and an adapter, which are particularly easy and cost-effective to produce and which at the same time ensure a laminar flow of the irrigation liquid at the distal end of the handheld device. This is achieved by the fact that a feedthrough extending through a handle is funnel-shaped, wherein a cross section of the feedthrough tapers from a distal side to a proximal side of the handle.

Abstract: An electrosurgical handheld devices, and contact bodies of electrosurgical handheld devices, prove very difficult to clean. Cleaning them is very laborious, particularly when they have bores and receptacles of small diameters. Even mechanical cleaning cannot guarantee that the necessary degree of cleaning is achieved. The invention makes available an electrosurgical handheld device and a contact body that can be cleaned particularly easily and thoroughly and in a time-efficient manner. This is achieved by the fact that the contact body for an electrosurgical handheld device has at least one receptacle that is designed as a continuous bore through the contact body.

Abstract: A surgical radiofrequency instruments such as resectoscopes, for example, are used for removing or manipulating body tissue. A particular disadvantage of known instruments has been that the arrangement of an electrode instrument in an inner shaft can influence a flow behavior of an irrigation liquid. The invention makes available an electrode instrument by which the irrigation liquid is not disturbed. This is achieved by the fact that an electrode instrument has two electrode carriers which are arranged parallel to each other and are connected to each other by at least one guide element, and this at least one guide element extends, at least in part, convexly away from a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Radiofrequency instruments such as the resectoscope described here are used in medicine for treating body tissue and in particular for removing or manipulating this tissue. A particular disadvantage of the known instruments is that an irrigation liquid is disturbed by an electrode instrument in such a way that the resulting turbulence limits the view of the operator. The invention makes available an electrode instrument by which this problem is solved. This is achieved by the fact that two electrode casing tubes run from an electrode to the proximal end region of the electrode instrument and each have a respective electrical contact, namely an active contact and a return contact.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode instrument for use in a resectoscope and having an elongated shaft section, through which a first conductor extends, which forms a working electrode to which high-frequency current can be applied at the distal end of the electrode instrument, and a second conductor further extending through the shaft section, which forms a counter electrode in the distal end region of the electrode instrument. The working electrode and the counter electrode are spatially separated from one another in such a way that the distance between them cannot be bridged by a straight conductor which has a length of 6 mm or less. When used in a resectoscope for endoscopic surgery with a cladding tube, the electrode instrument is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable inside the cladding tube.

Abstract: A resectoscope for endoscopic surgery with a tubular shaft and a handle, wherein the shaft includes a longitudinally displaceable electrode instrument and an illuminating device, with an electrode to which high-frequency current can be applied being arranged in the distal end region of the electrode instrument, characterized in that the illuminating device in the distal end region of the resectoscope can emit UV radiation in the wavelength range from 200 nm to 400 nm.

Abstract: An electrically conductive irrigation fluid for use in bipolar resectoscopic surgery, wherein the irrigation fluid being brought into contact with the electrode of a resectoscope and tissue being coagulated and/or resected by means of the electrode surrounded by the irrigation fluid, wherein the irrigation fluid includes metal ions. Moreover, the method relates to a resectoscopy system including a resectoscope and an irrigation system that is connected to the resectoscope, the resectoscope having a handle and a tubular shaft, and the shaft including an electrode instrument that is arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable and has in its distal end region an electrode to which high-frequency current can be applied, wherein the irrigation system includes an irrigation fluid, which can be conducted through the shaft of the resectoscope to the electrode.

Abstract: A working surface of the electrode head, designed to be essentially hemispherical in shape, is made of a suitable high-temperature-resistant metal. The electrode head is supplied with power via an electrical connecting line. The rear surface of the electrode head forming the sectional surface of the hemisphere is planar and is covered with an insulating cover made of a ceramic material. The transitional region from the working surface to the rear surface does not have an edge but instead is rounded with a minimum radius of curvature, which is substantially greater than one-thirtieth of the width, which corresponds to the hemisphere diameter (=twice the radius of the hemisphere), which is the dimension of the electrode head in the direction of its maximum extent. The relatively large radius of curvature prevents the main activity of the electrode from occurring at its boundary due to excessively high local current densities.

Abstract: The electrode head includes two working surfaces in accordance with an actual bipolar electrode. These may be manufactured lithographically, exhibiting even more complicated outlines. Working surfaces are depicted, which are structured as annulus sector-shaped, concentrically arranged areas, when projected in a plane. Moreover, a further area is situated centrally, which is disc-shaped in a planar projection. Plasma is ignited alternately at both poles. If the individual concentric zones are situated close enough with respect to each other a continuous plasma layer will result.

Abstract: A working surface of the electrode head, designed to be essentially hemispherical in shape, is made of a suitable high-temperature-resistant metal. The electrode head is supplied with power via an electrical connecting line. The rear surface of the electrode head forming the sectional surface of the hemisphere is planar and is covered with an insulating cover made of a ceramic material. The transitional region from the working surface to the rear surface does not have an edge but instead is rounded with a minimum radius of curvature, which is substantially greater than one-thirtieth of the width, which corresponds to the hemisphere diameter (=twice the radius of the hemisphere), which is the dimension of the electrode head in the direction of its maximum extent. The relatively large radius of curvature prevents the main activity of the electrode from occurring at its boundary due to excessively high local current densities.