Abstract: A polypectomy snare comprising two snare parts has a snare part that is completely electrically insulated and another snare part that is not electrically insulated in at least one distal portion thereof. The snare furthermore has at least one electrically insulated, HF surgically inactive skid at its distal end.

Abstract: A polypectomy snare comprising two snare parts has a snare part that is completely electrically insulated and another snare part that is not electrically insulated in at least one distal portion thereof. The snare furthermore has at least one electrically insulated, HF surgically inactive skid at its distal end.

Abstract: Symmetrical and asymmetrical snares are used for endoscopically controlled methods by which tumors in hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract can be ensnared and RF-surgically removed from the organ wall for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. These snares are characterized in that one of the two snare portions, in the case of asymmetrical snares the longer of the two snare portions, is completely electrically insulated or is made from electrically non-conductive material and that the other of the two snare portions is made from electrically conductive material and its surface is not electrically insulated. In one embodiment, the asymmetrical snare is characterized in that the long snare portion is so much flexurally stiffer than the short snare portion that it tensions the short snare portion like the string of a bow.

Abstract: Symmetrical and asymmetrical snares are used for endoscopically controlled methods by which tumors in hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract can be ensnared and RF-surgically removed from the organ wall for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. These snares are characterized in that one of the two snare portions, in the case of asymmetrical snares the longer of the two snare portions, is completely electrically insulated or is made from electrically non-conductive material and that the other of the two snare portions is made from electrically conductive material and its surface is not electrically insulated. In one embodiment, the asymmetrical snare is characterized in that the long snare portion is so much flexurally stiffer than the short snare portion that it tensions the short snare portion like the string of a bow.

Abstract: Symmetrical and asymmetrical snares are used for endoscopically controlled methods by which tumors in hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract can be ensnared and RF-surgically removed from the organ wall for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. These snares are characterized in that one of the two snare portions, in the case of asymmetrical snares the longer of the two snare portions, is completely electrically insulated or is made from electrically non-conductive material and that the other of the two snare portions is made from electrically conductive material and its surface is not electrically insulated. In one embodiment, the asymmetrical snare is characterized in that the long snare portion is so much flexurally stiffer than the short snare portion that it tensions the short snare portion like the string of a bow.

Abstract: An asymmetrical opening RF surgical resection loop comprises a short electrically non-insulated loop section and a long electrically insulated loop section, where the distal ends of the loop sections are interconnected. Furthermore, a manipulation wire guided in an insulated catheter and displaceable in the longitudinal direction thereof is connected to this loop section in order to slide the long loop section out from the catheter. The short loop section is withdrawn from the catheter by the long loop section. An insulated stop wire is connected to the short loop section and is also pulled out a predefined length from the catheter by this, where at least the pulled out section of the stop wire is electrically insulated. By means of an entrainer device, the stop wire and the short loop section connected to this is withdrawn into the catheter upon withdrawal of the manipulation wire.

Abstract: Electrosurgical instruments that transmit electrical energy from an electrosurgical generator via an electrode and a current path of ionized gas into biological tissue. In order to obtained a defined, low treatment depth in the target tissue, the electrosurgical instrument contains a resistive element with a predetermined impedance between the distal end of the connection line and the electrode, installed in such a way that treatment current is limited after ionizing of the gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for argon-plasma coagulation (APC) is disclosed, in which after activation of the apparatus for APC a specified amount of noble gas flows out of the APC instrument before the high-frequency voltage for ionizing the noble gas is switched on, or can be switched on. As a result an increase in safety is achieved.

Abstract: An instrument and a method are proposed for endoscopically controlled shortening and/or fragmentation of stents made from electrically conductive material situated in the gastrointestinal tract, in the tracheobronchial system or in other hollow organs. The instrument comprises an electrode device with an electrode for introducing a high-frequency current into at least one wire of the stent and/or to form electric arcs between the electrode and the at least one wire. Use of the instrument and the method results in little or reduced damage being caused by current and/or heat in tissues directly adjacent to the application site and in tissues remote therefrom.

Abstract: Electrosurgical instrument for the coagulation of biological tissue, wherein from a gas source a noble gas is sent through a tubular probe to at least one outflow opening in a distal end region of the probe, with an electrode device disposed in the distal end region of the probe, which can be connected to an HF source in order to supply a coagulation current, and wherein the at least one outflow opening has a slit-like structure, such that at least two outflow openings are provided, disposed opposite one another with their long axes oriented perpendicular to or at an angle to, but not parallel to a long axis of the probe, and that the probe is flexibly constructed at least in the region of the outflow openings, in such a way that when the probe is bent in the region of the outflow openings, their cross sections are enlarged or reduced.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided that comprises at least three, and preferably four forceps elements with hook-shaped distal sections having free ends and associated proximal sections that are connected to actuators for moving the distal sections. The distal sections are shaped and movably disposed in such a way that they can be brought together to form a single hook, which can be used in particular for blunt dissection, and can be combined in groups, for example groups of two, to form at least one pair of forceps which can be moved with respect to one another in order to grasp tissue or spread it apart. This design allows a single instrument to be used for many different dissection procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus for argon-plasma coagulation (APC) is disclosed, in which after activation of the apparatus for APC a specified amount of noble gas flows out of the APC instrument before the high-frequency voltage for ionizing the noble gas is switched on, or can be switched on. As a result an increase in safety is achieved.

Abstract: Electrosurgical instrument for the coagulation of biological tissue, wherein from a gas source a noble gas is sent through a tubular probe to at least one outflow opening in a distal end region of the probe, with an electrode device disposed in the distal end region of the probe, which can be connected to an HF source in order to supply a coagulation current, and wherein the at least one outflow opening has a slit-like structure, such that at least two outflow openings are provided, disposed opposite one another with their long axes oriented perpendicular to or at an angle to, but not parallel to a long axis of the probe, and that the probe is flexibly constructed at least in the region of the outflow openings, in such a way that when the probe is bent in the region of the outflow openings, their cross sections are enlarged or reduced.

Abstract: It is very difficult to carry out injections during endoscopic operations. Here it is proposed to expel a specified amount of fluid from the end of a tube or from a nozzle, with hydraulic parameters such as pressure, rate of pressure increase, duration and/or velocity that can be adjusted to specified values, and with energy such that after traveling a distance between the tube end or the nozzle and the tissue in substantially free flight, the fluid penetrates into the tissue.

Abstract: Described is a high-frequency surgical instrument with automatic control of the intensity of the electric arcs between the active electrode and the tissue that is to be cut or coagulated, whereby for determination of the extent of the electric arcs, a therefrom dependent signal (K) is shunted off through a filter and conducted to a rectifier whose output signal is conducted to a variable-gain amplifier in which this output signal is compared either with the set-point signal (S) of a set-point device for the cutting process or with the set-point signal (K) of a set-point device for the coagulation process. The variable-gain amplifier generates a signal proportional to the difference of the signals E minus S or E minus K, respectively, which is conducted to an amplitude modulator which controls the amplitude of the output voltage of the power amplifier.

Abstract: It is particularly difficult to perform injections during endoscopic operations. The invention proposes that to expel a defined quantity of fluid from the end of a tube or a nozzle according to hydraulic parameters (settable in a defined way) such as pressure, speed of increase of pressure, duration and speed and with such energy that the fluid penetrates into the tissue after traversing in a substantially exposed manner a distance between the end of the tube or the nozzle and the tissue.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an artificial tissue comprising a formable composition comprising a hydrogel, an electrolyte, and combustible fibers, said composition being useful for modeling organs, parts of organs, or systems of organs. The artificial tissue exhibits properties allowing training of special surgical techniques, particularly those making use of surgical high-frequency effects.

Abstract: The invention concerns a surgical instrument preferably for high-frequency surgery, which is designed for simple operation. For this purpose, by means of an operating device consisting of a movable handle and a grip handle, the housing 8 of the instruments of the electrode 5 moves longitudinally, through the motion of the thumb, so that the electrode 6 can be brought into working position or an APC mode can be selected. Through spring force, for instance, upon activation of a catch button or by setting aside the instrument, the electrode can automatically be retracted into the housing 8 or the housing 8 can be brought to a position surrounding the electrode 5.

Abstract: In a dissecting instrument for surgical operations a working instrument such as a blade with cutting edge is fastened to a holding device such as a handle. Coagulation devices are provided, with a gas-supply apparatus to supply an ionizable (noble) gas and current-conducting means to supply an HF coagulation current. It is proposed to mount electrode devices that form part of the current-conducting means in such a way that they are separate from the working instrument but nevertheless close to it, and to make the working instrument electrically insulating so that the coagulation current can be guided to the tissue without being conducted through the working instrument even while the latter is in contact with the tissue.

Abstract: During the treatment of biological tissues by high-frequency surgery, contaminants, in particular smoke, are produced. In the present invention a suction device for removal of the contaminants is controlled in such a way that it becomes active only when a voltage sufficient to ignite an arc exists at an applicator of the HF-surgery device, and/or an arc is burning between the applicator and the treatment region, and/or the treatment region reaches a temperature at which smoke can be produced.