Abstract: A method for rinsing a field of inspection or operation during an endoscopic procedure includes filling a proximal portion of a conduit with a fluid quantity defining a slug of liquid and accelerating the slug of liquid using gas which is fed into the conduit upstream of the fluid quantity, so as to have the slug of liquid discharged from the conduit at a high speed.

Abstract: In a surgical suturing needle having opposite pointed tips and a mid-section provided with an eye for receiving and retaining a surgical thread and being bent corresponding to a path of movement of the needle when transferred between the jaws of a suturing instrument, the pointed needle tips have a cone angle of between 25 and 35.degree. for non-traumatic piercing of the tissue to be sutured and, adjacent both of its opposite pointed tips, the needle has recessed surface areas to be engaged by pressure pins disposed in the jaws of the suturing instrument for firmly retaining and engaging the needle with the jaws in a predetermined position.

Abstract: In a device for inserting a surgical suture needle into an endoscopic suture apparatus wherein the device includes two legs which are movable relative to each other, one of the legs has a front end with means for receiving a jaw of an endoscopic suturing apparatus and the other leg has needle engagement means for holding a surgical needle in a predetermined position such that one needle tip enters a needle support of the surgical suturing apparatus jaw when the other leg holding the needle is moved toward the one leg while the one leg is disposed on the surgical suturing apparatus jaw.

Abstract: A multi-ligator device that provides a signal to an operator indicating the release of a ligation ring from the ligator head. Thus, greatly simplifying the use of mechanically decoupled ligator-devices and relieving an operator from having to sense via transmitted vibrations when a ligation ring is detached from a ligator head. The multi-ligator device is constructed using a control unit to operate a ligator head that is connected to the control unit via a flexible shaft. The ligator head supports a plurality of ligation rings that are released by operating the control unit. When a ligation ring is released a signal is generated. The signal can be any one, or a combination, of a mechanical, acoustical, and a visual signal. Additionally, a kit for mounting a ligation ring on a ligator head uses a shaft having a cone-shaped portion to stretch the ligation ring. A lubricant is applied to both the ligation ring and shaft to facilitate the manipulation of the ligation ring.

Abstract: In a surgical suturing device especially for endoscopic surgery, an operating mechanism is provided which includes a drive and a locking mechanism operated by a handle from which an operating rod extends to an operating mechanism which carries at its free end a suturing head comprising two jaws between which a needle with opposite needle tips and a central eye can be exchanged while being alternately locked with the two jaws, the whole procedure being controllable by a single handle.

Abstract: A self-cutting trocar pin is provided near its distal end with active cutting tools, operated manually or motor driven. Therefore, the force which is normally needed to insert the trocar into a body is greatly reduced, and the insertion can be done under control to avoid the risk of injury during penetration of the abdominal wall. A gas flow sensor indicates opto acoustically, in connection with an opening near the distal end of the trocar pin, the penetration of the abdominal wall. The cutting tool of the trocar pin maybe, for example, a disc shaped blade, a chain knife, or manually operated straight blades.

Abstract: The invention relates to anvil shears for surgical purposes, particularly for laparoscopic operations. The shears have an anvil (10) and a blade (40) pivotably fitted thereto, which is closed against the anvil by means of an operating rod (30) displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the shears. For improving the cutting action, according to the invention the blade (40) is displaceably mounted on the anvil in its longitudinal direction (41) and is subject to the action of a force forcing the blade into the distal advanced position. The force exerted for closing the blade (40) with the operating rod (30) is opposed by the pretensioning force (54), so that on encountering a material to be cut a cutting movement is performed in the longitudinal direction (41) of the blade.

Abstract: Endoscopic sewing instrument with a helical-needle which has one or more windings and is Positioned between at least two rolls which drive the needle and the thread in a rotary manner.

Abstract: A video endoscope has in its distal end region an objective lens, a semi-conductor imager assigned to it and further electronic components provided for wiring it. In order to further reduce the required diameter of the endoscope shaft compared to the known designs, the electronic components are arranged on an integral ceramic substrate, on which the conductors for joining and for connecting these parts are directly placed.

Abstract: Apparatus for dissolving concretions within a bodily cavity, for example in the gall bladder, under the action of a solvent fluid applied within the bodily cavity, comprises an ultrasonic transducer arranged to be coupled to the exterior of the patient's body and to be focussed on selected parts of the bodily cavity. The transducer emits ultrasonic waves within a frequency range of between 20 and 40 kHz and with just enough power to generate cavitations in bodily cavity fluid within the body cavity, or in the solvent fluid, or in both of these fluids to cause dispersion therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for shock wave treatment includes a shock wave transducer with a cup-shaped body and with an X-ray location finding device for finding the location of a bodily concretion or tissue to be treated. The X-ray device includes an extensible X-ray tube with telescoping tube sections which are sealed against an acoustic coupling medium filling the delay path of the transducer by a balloon arranged within the X-ray tube. The balloon is secured to the upper section of the tube and to the lower section thereof. Overpressure or underpressure is applied to the interior of the X-ray tube to adjust its length in order to optimise X-ray location finding on the one hand, and shock wave treatment on the other hand.

Abstract: A lithotripsy ultrasound locating device comprises at least one locating transducer having a plurality of focal ranges and which is associated with a therapy transducer and is axially adjustable in relation to its focus; a position indicator which generates a signal representing the distance between the sound head of the locating transducer and the focus of the therapy transducer; a computer; a monitor on which a target mark representing the focus of the therapy transducer is displayed; and an electronic transmitter/receiver arrangement controlled by the computer in order to produce an image of a concretion to be destroyed which image is constantly optimal. The computer, controls, as a function of the signal emitted by the position indicator and by way of the transmitter/receiver arrangement, the focal range of the locating transducer which, at the given distance at that moment between the sound head and the focus of the therapy transducer always lies in the range thereof.

Abstract: The focus of a lithotriptor comprising a transducer for generating focused ultrasonic shock waves is adapted for alignment on a concretion or tissue to be destroyed. The transducer is connected to an image-forming diagnostic X-ray system for locating the concretion or tissue, and comprising an X-ray emitter and an image intensifier disposed on a pivotable frame. The transducer is connected to the X-ray emitter, and the X-ray emitter is disposed at the center of the transducer, so that the emission axes of the transducer and the X-ray emitter coincide.

Abstract: Apparatus for shock wave therapy comprises an electroacoustic therapeutic transducer for generating ultrasonic shock waves, which are transmitted by way of a coupling medium shock wave transmission section of the transducer, bounded by a membrane, to the body of a patient reclining on a therapy table. In the interest of hygiene the membrane is releasably attached by its marginal area to the therapy table, being thereby exchangeable so that a new membrane can be provided for each patient. The extraction of gas from the coupling medium following exchange of the membrane is provided for.

Abstract: There is disclosed, a piezoelectric transducer for generating focussed ultrasonic shock waves for use in lithotripsy. The ultrasonic shock waves are emitted in pulsed form and can be transmitted by way of a coupling medium to the body of a patient to be treated. The transducer comprises a substantial member of individual piezoelectric transducer elements of ceramic or like material which are connected to the poles of a pulse generator and are fixed to a support in mosaic form and with their sides electrically insulated from one another. The acoustic termination of the transducer elements is essentially free from reflection. An intermediate medium of at least one layer, the acoustic impedance of which lies between that of the ceramic of the transducer element and that of the coupling medium, is provided between the transducer elements and the coupling medium. The thickness d of the layer is chosen in accordance with the relationship d>.tau..sub.k .multidot.c.sub.LA, where .tau..sub.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for locating objects within the body, and particularly concretions situated in body cavities, in three dimensions and for destroying them. The point of departure for this is an electro-acoustic treatment transducer for generating shock waves to be emitted to focus on the object concerned and a B-scanner connected to the treatment transducer to act as a locating transducer for locating the object, the locating transducer being adjustable relative to the treatment transducer co-focally therewith. The design proposed envisages the locating transducer being integrated into the treatment transducer so that the sound fields of both transducers travel the same distances through the same media and it is thus the correct position of the focus relative to the concretion seen in the image which is in fact shown.

Abstract: A device for locating and disintegrating concretions and stones in bodily cavities by means of a shock wave generator comprises a reclining surface for the patient, with an opening therein below which the generator, including a flexible precursor section, is so arranged that the fluid sealed off from the outside is in contact via the opening with the body section to be treated, either directly or indirectly via a diaphragm sealing off the precursor section. To this end, the reclining surface and the shock wave generator are displaceable with respect to each other.

Abstract: A lithotripter comprises a transducer for generating focussed ultrasonic shock waves, and having an axis, a focus on said axis, the focus being positionable on a concretion or tissue which is to be destroyed, at least one diagnostic X-ray imaging system for locating the concretion of tissue including an X-ray emitter having an axis and an image intensifier, and at least one ultrasonic locating transducer having an axis, the X-ray emitter and the ultrasonic locating transducer being connected to the shock wave transducer in such a way that the axes of the locating systems intersect at said focus, with the axes of the locating systems preferably being offset from the axis of the shock wave transducer.

Abstract: In a lithotriptor a shock wave transducer is provided with a focussing cup and with a forward section containing a coupling medium shut off by means of a diaphragm for application to a patient's body. In the wall of the cup there is mounted a locating system comprising an x-ray emitter the outlet of which is located in the coupling medium. The outlet is closed by means of a balloon which can be filled with gas and which can be evacuated. When the balloon is filled with gas, it expands in the direction of radiation of the x-rays up to or almost up to the diaphragm of the forward section.

Abstract: Apparatus for dissolving concretions within a bodily cavity, for example in the gall bladder, under the action of a solvent fluid applied within the bodily cavity, comprises an ultrasonic transducer arranged to be coupled to the exterior of the patient's body and to be focussed on selected parts of the bodily cavity. The transducer emits ultrasonic waves within a frequency range of between 20 and 40 kHz and with just enough power to generate cavitations in bodily cavity fluid within the body cavity, or in the solvent fluid, or in both of these fluids to cause dispersion therebetween.