Abstract: A trocar system with a trocar which has a trocar mandrel, a trocar sleeve and a valve block, characterized by a tubular working sleeve having an axially continuous inner channel, in which the trocar can be inserted in such a way that the trocar sleeve is sealed with the outer perimeter thereof in the inner channel, so that the distal tip of the trocar mandrel projects distally out of the working sleeve and that the valve block is located proximally outside the inner channel, and having at least one working channel which is formed on the working sleeve and extends from a proximal inlet opening to a distal outlet opening.

Abstract: A method for surgically removing a tumor from a woman's breast is provided. The method can include inserting an optical trocar having a working channel and a transparent tip through a skin incision, guiding the transparent tip of the trocar through breast tissue with visualization such that the transparent tip of the trocar is placed adjacent to the tumor, insufflating gas via the working channel of the trocar to create a cavity in an operative field next to the tumor, dissecting the tumor free with a surgical instrument inserted through the working channel and removing the tumor through the trocar.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An instrument system for minimally invasive surgery in the tissue of a patient, with an instrument shaft, having a distal end that can be inserted in the body of the patient and a proximal end that remains outside the body, with an inner channel extending axially and continuously in the instrument shaft, with at least one working channel extending axially and continuously in the instrument shaft, and with an obturator which can accommodate an optical system coaxially and can be inserted into the inner channel in such a manner that its transparent distal tip projects out from the beveled distal front end of the instrument shaft. The system can include a valve block at the proximal end of the instrument shaft, closing the inner channel and enabling sealed passage of the obturator or an optical system.

Abstract: A trocar system with a trocar which has a trocar mandrel, a trocar sleeve and a valve block, characterized by a tubular working sleeve having an axially continuous inner channel, in which the trocar can be inserted in such a way that the trocar sleeve is sealed with the outer perimeter thereof in the inner channel, so that the distal tip of the trocar mandrel projects distally out of the working sleeve and that the valve block is located proximally outside the inner channel, and having at least one working channel which is formed on the working sleeve and extends from a proximal inlet opening to a distal outlet opening.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A trocar system, having a trocar, a trocar sleeve, an optical channel extending coaxially in the trocar for receiving an optical unit, and a hollow transparent distal tip of the trocar, which can be observed from the interior by means of the optical unit, wherein a working channel extends continuously from the proximal end to the distal end in the trocar and opens into an outlet opening in the region of the distal end, and wherein the inner wall of the working channel is formed at least in an axially continuous sub-region of the circumference thereof by the trocar sleeve.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An instrument system for minimally invasive surgery in single port technology, having a trocar and at least one instrument channel which runs at the trocar from proximal to distal and a proximal end remaining extra-corporally when the trocar is inserted into the body of a patient, and a distal end located intra-corporally, wherein a semi-flexible instrument can be inserted through the instrument channel in such a manner that the operating handle thereof remains extra-corporal and the distal working element thereof emerges distally from the instrument channel. The instrument channel is flexibly pliant, stable in the longitudinal direction thereof and arranged outside on the trocar. The distal end of the instrument channel is fixed to the trocar.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A trocar system, comprising a trocar having an optical channel extending coaxially in the trocar for receiving an optical unit, and a hollow transparent distal tip of the trocar, which can be observed from the interior. The distal working end of an instrument having two working parts movable relative to one another is formed on the distal tip, wherein a first working part is an integral component of the tip and the second working part is mounted movably on the tip, wherein an actuating channel is constructed in the wall of the trocar surrounding the optical channel, which channel extends axially parallel from the proximal end of the trocar into the distal tip thereof, and wherein an actuating element is received in the actuating channel such as to be axially displaceable.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for surgically removing a tumor from a woman's breast is provided. The method can include inserting an optical trocar having a working channel and a transparent tip through a skin incision, guiding the transparent tip of the trocar through breast tissue with visualization such that the transparent tip of the trocar is placed adjacent to the tumor, insufflating gas via the working channel of the trocar to create a cavity in an operative field next to the tumor, dissecting the tumor free with a surgical instrument inserted through the working channel and removing the tumor through the trocar.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An instrument system for minimally invasive surgery in single port technology, having a trocar and at least one instrument channel which runs at the trocar from proximal to distal and a proximal end remaining extra-corporally when the trocar is inserted into the body of a patient, and a distal end located intra-corporally, wherein a semi-flexible instrument can be inserted through the instrument channel in such a manner that the operating handle thereof remains extra-corporal and the distal working element thereof emerges distally from the instrument channel. The instrument channel is flexibly pliant, stable in the longitudinal direction thereof and arranged outside on the trocar. The distal end of the instrument channel is fixed to the trocar.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.