Abstract: The invention relates to a support element to compensate for deformations of the cornea H of an eye, having an annular support body 2 in one or more pieces, which makes it possible to compensate for keratoconus with minimised stress on the cornea of the eye being treated. This is achieved according to the invention in that the support body 2 has a cross section which is flattened on one side and otherwise rounded, so that a circumferential front-side flattening 6 is formed on it.

Abstract: Device for cutting a curved channel into the cornea (105) of an eye, with a holding means (301, 302) that can be applied to the cornea (105) in a radial direction defined by the radius of curvature of the cornea (105), and with a cutting means (303) that has a curved blade (303.3) for cutting the curved channel, wherein the holding means (301, 302) has a guide means (301.2) with which the blade (303.3) for cutting the channel is guided in a plane extending transversely with respect to the radial direction, and wherein the holding means (301, 302) is designed to define the position of the blade (303.3) in the radial direction during the cutting of the channel.

Abstract: A local deformation of the cornea of an eye can be compensated by a set comprising at least two implant members for insertion into at least one receptacle inserted into the cornea, wherein at least two implant members are arranged in differing planes located one above the other. Undesirable repercussions and side effects of the intervention in the eye can be detected as early as the simulation takes place and suitable receptacles and the like can be accordingly selected in order to minimise such repercussions and side effects and, at the same time, to provide optimum compensation for the deformation of the cornea in order to compensate for the deformation.

Abstract: Parasite arcs which occur during the operation of plasma torches have an adverse economic effect and endanger important parts of the torch. Countermeasures of the prior art are only partly effective. Equipping the annular passage between the electrode and the surrounding nozzle which carries the plasma gas with an electrically insulating lining on the inside of the nozzle provides only partial protection. To insulate the segment of the inner wall part of a water-cooled nozzle adjacent to the end wall part by means of insulating parts penetrating the wall part in question from the outer segment is very expensive and complex, depending on the design and the choice of insulation materials. The invention proposes that secondary passages be distributed uniformly between the annular passage for the plasma gas and an annular passage between the nozzle endpiece and the torch casing, uniformly over the circumference.

Abstract: A plasma burner has an annular passage extending along an insulated tube defining the outer wall of the electrode lance and located between the electrode lance and the multi wall burner shell to deliver the auxiliary gas outwardly of the plasma gas. The nozzle forming end of the electrode lance has a coolant circulation as has the burner shell and the annular passage extends substantially to the coolant inlets and outlets of the burner. The construction avoids the formation of parasitic arcs.

Abstract: In a plasma torch having an output end, the torch including an electrode having a longitudinal axis, and a generally cylindrical nozzle body surrounding, and positioned concentrically with, the electrode and the nozzle body, the nozzle body includes: a radially symmetrical, generally cylindrical inner wall spaced radially from the electrode; a radially symmetrical, generally cylindrical outer wall surrounding, and arranged concentrically with respect to, the inner wall; a front end wall located in the vicinity of the torch output end and joining together the inner and outer walls; and an electrical insulating component forming part of at least one of the inner and front end walls and extending entirely across its associated wall for electrically insulating the inner and outer walls from one another at at least one location in the vicinity of the front end wall.

Abstract: A plasma burner for introducing an ionizable gas stream into an electric arc comprises a nozzle having an outlet opening for discharging the gas stream. The outlet opening is defined by an outlet part of the nozzle; the outlet part has an inner nozzle face conically tapering, at an acute first cone angle, in a direction of the outlet opening. The plasma burner further has an electrode surrounded by the outlet part and having an outer electrode face conically tapering, at an acute second cone angle, in the direction of the outlet opening. The inner nozzle face and the outer electrode face together define a conical annular channel.

Abstract: Plasma burner having a frontal face from which a plasma jet is to be projected, for producing a long initial firing arc, having first and second concentrically arranged electrodes extending perpendicularly to the frontal face, and a nozzle surrounding the electrodes, the first electrode being centrally arranged to constitute an auxiliary electrode and having a cylindrical main portion, an electrode tip at its front end and a conically tapered portion located between the main portion and the electrode tip and tapering toward the electrode tip, the second electrode being annular and surrounding the first electrode to constitute a nozzle electrode, and having a central channel composed, successively, in the direction toward the frontal face, of a first cylindrical section, a conically tapered section and a second cylindrical section smaller in diameter than the first cylindrical section, the central channel and the first electrode together forming an annular channel.