Abstract: A device is disclosed for the disintegration of concretions in body cavities. The device comprises at least one piezoelectric transducer element, for connection to a generator. The transducer element is connected between a reflector and a horn. Ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer element are directed by means of a sonotrode, to a concretion to be destroyed. At least the horn is provided with surface depressions which do not run parallel to its axis of symemtry, for the generation of transverse and rotational oscillations.

Abstract: A means for checking the iluminating means of an endoscope allows both the lamp of the endoscope and the light-guide cable to be checked for their operating conditions. For this purpose, the checking means has a beam splitter positioned in the beam path from the lamp which conveys part of the quantity of light emitted by the lamp to a detecting means. A detecting means provided with a device to receive the distal end of the light-guide cable picks up the quantity of light coming from the cable. From the signal derived therefrom and the signal generated by the detecting means, the transmission factor is found in a calculating circuit by quotient formation and is shown on a display. In this way it is possible to determine whether the transmission factor of the light-guide cable will allow the objects which are going to be viewed to be adequately illuminated or whether the cable needs to be replaced.

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: 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 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: 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: The device comprises a rotationally driven surgical instrument incorporating a hand-held element having a mount rotatably installed therein for reception of interchangeable cutting and milling inserts, a driving motor for driving the mount receiving the tool inserts, a control unit for controlling the driving motor with means of setting the rotational speed and of preselecting the rotational speed range and direction of rotation as well as a digital indicator for displaying the rotational speed set up in each case. For the purpose of accessible storage of setting data, the control unit incorporates a non-volatile read-write memory for digital storage of rotational speeds, a code carrier as well as a coding/decoding arrangement.

Abstract: In a device for supplying light to endoscopes, in particular video endscopes, the light is passed from a light source by way of a revolving filter plate with areas of primary colors, and a runner wheel, to a photoconductor of the endoscope, for illuminating an object to be examined, the colored image of which is passed to the video endoscope. The runner wheel rotates faster than the filter plate so that the beam of light on passing each transition from one colored area of the filter plate to another is covered by an opaque region of the runner wheel.

Abstract: A plug and socket type connector for connecting an endoscope to supply units such as light projectors, pumps and electrical generators, comprises a casing incorporating connections which may be coupled to corresponding connections of the supply unit or units in question, and the casing is provided with a reception device for releasably connecting a plug of a light conductor cable to the casing.

Abstract: A video endoscope having a semiconductor image converter which is incorporated in the endoscope and which receives the image of the object illuminated periodically by an illumination device with a sequence of partial colors, for example by using a filter wheel, and converts same into video signal components which correspond to partial color separations of the image and which are read successively and selectively separated according to partial colors into an intermediate store and are then read out simultaneously for the formation of an individual image and are processed for the representation of the image into television-compatible video signals, in which the lamp of the illumination device is pulsed with variable pulse amplitudes.

Abstract: An endoscopic television system includes: a character generator which is controlled by a keyboard to store characters selected by actuation of the keyboard in a character store; an image control trigger by synchronization pulses derived from an endoscopic image video signal to read out the stored characters in the character store and to generate a character video signal; a mixer for mixing the endoscopic image video signal and the character video signal to generate a composite signal that is supplied to a television monitor. The characters are displayed on the television monitor in the portion of the screen not occupied by the endoscopic image.

Abstract: A video endoscope has a strobe lamp operable in a mode wherein the strobing is synchronized to a selected tone or a periodic vibration in a patient, such as from the vocal cords, and is alternatively operable in a mode wherein the strobing is so rapid so as to appear as a substantially continuous light source. In the second mode, wherein the resulting image is to be displayed by a video system, the trigger circuit for operating the lamp is supplied with the video signal so that the lamp is triggered during either the horizontal or vertical blanking interval so that triggering of the strobe lamp does not cause interference in the video picture.

Abstract: The light projector provided with a system for setting the intensity of illumination for a cavity which is being filmed by means of a video camera, and from which the picture is shown on a monitor screen. The video signal from the camera is supplied as an actual value to a comparator which, as a function of the signal and of an adjustable reference value, drives a servo-motor connected to its output side, which adjusts the intensity of illumination within the cavity by means of a shutter situated in the beam path of the light projector.