Abstract: A surgical instrument and use of a surgical instrument in open surgery. The instrument has two gripping limbs and a blocking element that releasably locks the gripping limbs relative to one another. The blocking element has a female locking assembly and a male locking assembly. The female locking assembly has a mechanical control device for locking and releasing a locking portion of the male locking assembly. A mechanical control assembly is assigned to the male locking assembly and moves the locking portion of the male locking assembly out of an end position that defines a neutral position into an end position that defines a functional position and, conversely, out of the end position that defines the functional position into the end position that defines the neutral position. The control assembly includes securing elements that secure the locking portion in both end positions.

Abstract: A device for controlling the energy supply to a medical instrument contains the medical instrument and an energy supply device. The energy supply device has at least a first and a second energy supply mode that can be preselected on the energy supply device and which supplies energy to the medical instrument according to a preselected energy supply mode. The energy supply device additionally has a third mode which differs from the at least two energy supply modes, can be preselected on the energy supply device, can detect an actuation of an energy supply operating element arranged on the medical instrument, and can carry out the supply of energy to the medical instrument in the first or second mode based on the detected actuation.

Abstract: A medical instrument with a distal and a proximal end. A first tool element and a second tool element are arranged or formed on the distal end so as to be movable relative to one another. The tool elements define a tool element direction of extent from proximal to distal. The first tool element defines a first tool element face and the second tool element defines a second tool element face. The first tool element face and the second tool element face face toward one another. The tool elements define in the region of their tool element faces a width. The widths extend in a direction transverse to the tool element direction of extent and transverse to a surface normal of the first tool element face and/or the second tool element face.

Abstract: A bipolar sealing instrument includes a first actuating mechanism for manual actuation of a tool provided at a distal instrument tip at least in a low-load working force range. A second actuating mechanism includes an electric motor configured to be automatically activated when a high-load working force range is reached, in order to subsequently transfer the tool into a high-load working posture/position in a motor-assisted or fully automatic manner supporting the manual actuation.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an instrument shaft, two instrument branches that can be positioned relatively to one another in a working position and a rest position, a handle element on which an operating element is movably arranged for positioning the instrument branches, and a coupling mechanism having a translating unit that converts a movement of the operating element, non-linearly, into a relative movement of at least one of the two instrument branches. The coupling mechanism includes at least one bias element that biases the mechanism into the rest position and/or into the working position of the instrument branches.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft portion which at least partly houses an axially movable cutting element. A handle receives the shaft portion. A trigger element for the cutting element is movably arranged on the handle. The instrument also includes a coupling mechanism which converts a rotation of the trigger element into an axial movement of the cutting element with the interposition of a pinion. The coupling mechanism is designed such that the rotation of the trigger element produces a rotation of the pinion about the central axis thereof and additionally an axial movement of the central axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to a bipolar electrosurgical device for a laparoscopic environment, as well as methods for the use of such a device. Embodiments of the device may include a set of opposing jaws comprising at least one bipolar electrode pair disposed thereon, the set of jaws configured to deliver radiofrequency energy to a target tissue. Embodiments of the set of jaws, when closed, may have a diameter no greater than about 5 mm. The device may further include a shaft with a diameter that may be no greater than about 5 mm. Each of the jaws has a tissue-facing surface of each jaw that may include a complementary self-aligning configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the other jaw. Embodiments of the device may further include a pinless rotation assembly formed from rotatably cooperative features of the first jaw and the second jaw that connect the jaws together and enable the jaw set to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an instrument shaft, two instrument branches that can be positioned relatively to one another in a working position and a rest position, a handle element on which an operating element is movably arranged for positioning the instrument branches, and a coupling mechanism having a translating unit that converts a movement of the operating element, non-linearly, into a relative movement of at least one of the two instrument branches. The coupling mechanism includes at least one bias element that biases the mechanism into the rest position and/or into the working position of the instrument branches.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft portion which at least partly houses an axially movable cutting element. A handle receives the shaft portion. A trigger element for the cutting element is movably arranged on the handle. The instrument also includes a coupling mechanism which converts a rotation of the trigger element into an axial movement of the cutting element with the interposition of a pinion. The coupling mechanism is designed such that the rotation of the trigger element produces a rotation of the pinion about the central axis thereof and additionally an axial movement of the central axis.

Abstract: A device for controlling the energy supply to a medical instrument contains the medical instrument and an energy supply device. The energy supply device has at least a first and a second energy supply mode that can be preselected on the energy supply device and which supplies energy to the medical instrument according to a preselected energy supply mode. The energy supply device additionally has a third mode which differs from the at least two energy supply modes, can be preselected on the energy supply device, can detect an actuation of an energy supply operating element arranged on the medical instrument, and can carry out the supply of energy to the medical instrument in the first or second mode based on the detected actuation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to a bipolar electrosurgical device for a laparoscopic environment, as well as methods for the use of such a device. Embodiments of the device may include a set of opposing jaws comprising at least one bipolar electrode pair disposed thereon, the set of jaws configured to deliver radiofrequency energy to a target tissue. Embodiments of the set of jaws, when closed, may have a diameter no greater than about 5 mm. The device may further include a shaft with a diameter that may be no greater than about 5 mm. Each of the jaws has a tissue-facing surface of each jaw that may include a complementary self-aligning configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the other jaw. Embodiments of the device may further include a pinless rotation assembly formed from rotatably cooperative features of the first jaw and the second jaw that connect the jaws together and enable the jaw set to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to a bipolar electrosurgical device for a laparoscopic environment, as well as methods for the use of such a device. Embodiments of the device may include a set of opposing jaws comprising at least one bipolar electrode pair disposed thereon, the set of jaws configured to deliver radiofrequency energy to a target tissue. Embodiments of the set of jaws, when closed, may have a diameter no greater than about 5 mm. The device may further include a shaft with a diameter that may be no greater than about 5 mm. Each of the jaws has a tissue-facing surface of each jaw that may include a complementary self-aligning configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the other jaw. Embodiments of the device may further include a pinless rotation assembly formed from rotatably cooperative features of the first jaw and the second jaw that connect the jaws together and enable the jaw set to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device for cutting and sealing tissue includes an upper jaw located at a distal end of the electrosurgical device that opposes a lower jaw. The lower jaw is pivotally connected to the upper jaw by a pivot connection. The pivot connection includes a passage that contains a portion of the upper jaw. The upper jaw is axially displaceable through the passage to pivot the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw between a relatively open condition and a relatively closed condition. The upper jaw and lower jaw are operable in the relatively closed condition to deliver RF energy to tissue.

Abstract: An electrode structure and a mechanism for automated or user-selected operation or compensation of the electrodes, for example to determine tissue coverage and/or prevent arcing between bottom electrodes during electrocautery is disclosed.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device for cutting and sealing tissue includes an upper jaw located at a distal end of the electrosurgical device that opposes a lower jaw. The lower jaw is pivotally connected to the upper jaw by a pivot connection. The pivot connection includes a passage that contains a portion of the upper jaw. The upper jaw is axially displaceable through the passage to pivot the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw between a relatively open condition and a relatively closed condition. The upper jaw and lower jaw are operable in the relatively closed condition to deliver RF energy to tissue.

Abstract: Embodiments of the technology provide an articulable electrosurgical instrument and methods of performing electrosurgery with an articulating capability. The electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having an end effector associated with a distal end thereof that is able to deliver energy to a target tissue site. An articulable joint is positioned between that shaft and the end effector. Articulation of the articulable joint is controlled by a stabilizable articulation actuator, which may include a rotatably stabilizable disk residing within a well. The end effector may take the form of forceps including an upper and a lower jaw; the jaws are configured to grasp target tissue and to deliver energy, such as radiofrequency energy. In some of these instruments, the end effector is adapted to seal tissue by the application of radiofrequency energy, and then to cut through the sealed tissue portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to bipolar electrosurgical devices, as well as methods of manufacture and use of such devices. Embodiments of the device may include a set of opposing jaws comprising at least one bipolar electrode pair disposed thereon, the set of jaws configured to deliver radiofrequency energy to a target tissue. In some embodiments, a standoff member is provided to maintain a physical gap between the pair(s) of electrodes.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with cauterizing and resecting tissue. A pair of electrodes are placed on opposed tissue surfaces, and radio frequency power is applied through the electrodes to cauterizing a tissue mass therebetween. After cauterization has been effected, the tissue may be resected along a plane within the cauterized region with minimum or no bleeding. The tissue mass may then be removed.

Abstract: Provided are a portable input device for inputting coordinates, a method of calibrating the device, and a computer readable recording medium storing a computer program for making a computer perform the method. The portable input device includes two digital cameras, a calibration tool, a storage section, and a controller for calculating coordinates of an object on an input surface based on images taken by the two digital cameras based on images taken by the two digital cameras so as to include the calibration tool. The controller also calibrates positions and widths of a detection band which corresponds to a detection zone defined in a vicinity of the input surface. The positions and the widths of the detection band are stored in the storage section in relationship to positions on the input surface.

Abstract: A surgical device of suturing vascular vessels is described, as well as methods for suturing tissue employing the surgical device. The device includes at least one needle advanceable through tissue and into a needle capture element within a distal end of the surgical device to draw lengths of suture material which can then be used to close various puncture wounds, particularly in vascular tissue.