Patents by Inventor Horst Dittrich

Horst Dittrich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7056304
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument with a hollow instrument canal that is configured inside a housing and can be closed by means of at least one valve body and rotated into open position by means of an instrument inserted into the instrument canal. The at least one valve body is configured as a flap consisting of an essentially non-bendable material mounted on the housing so that it can be rotated by means of an elastic, bendable connecting element configured as a wire spring in such a way that the valve body is pre-tensioned in the closed direction. A medical instrument with a valve body of simple construction, which insulates reliably, is distinguished according to the invention in that the connecting element on the one hand is secured on the housing and on the other hand carries the valve body, so that the connecting element can be secured in a ring groove configured in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Bacher, Horst Dittrich, Martin Oberlaender
  • Patent number: 6991621
    Abstract: A medical instrument for irrigation and/or suction has an instrument body in which at least one flow channel is present for the passage of a fluid, at least one shut-off member for alternately shutting off the at least one flow channel, and an actuating member for actuating the shut-off member. The at least one shut-off member is a ball which, in a closure position, lies sealingly on a sealing edge of the flow channel so that it closes off the internal cross section of the flow channel, the ball being movable, between the closure position for closing the flow channel and a release position for freeing the flow channel, substantially in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the flow channel, and the actuating member for moving the ball between the closure position and the release position being movable in a direction transverse to the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Bacher, Horst Dittrich
  • Patent number: 6945983
    Abstract: A trocar sleeve comprises at its proximal side a housing, from the distal side of which a shaft projects. Further, a sealing of elastic material is provided in order to seal an instrument inserted into the trocar sleeve gas-tight into the proximal direction. The sealing comprises a central opening, the diameter of which is variable. A spreading device is provided which is insertable into the sealing, extending same in doing so, whereby the diameter of the central opening is enlargeable. It is suggested to configure the spreading device as an axially movable sleeve, the ring-shaped front area of which is insertable into the sealing, spreading same in doing so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Dittrich, Michael Sauer, Martin Oberlaender
  • Patent number: 6699185
    Abstract: An endoscopic instrument is provided comprising a shaft having an endoscope optical system arranged therein, which has a distal front face. The instrument also comprises a working element arranged in the shaft. The shaft provides for the supply of an irrigation fluid. Flow-influencing means are provided, such that the irrigation fluid reaches in front of the front face of the endoscope optical system and can eliminate contaminations, which obstruct the view through the endoscope optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Gminder, Horst Dittrich, Frank Doll
  • Publication number: 20040010230
    Abstract: A trocar sleeve comprises at its proximal side a housing, from the distal side of which a shaft projects. Further, a sealing of elastic material is provided in order to seal an instrument inserted into the trocar sleeve gas-tight into the proximal direction. The sealing comprises a central opening, the diameter of which is variable. A spreading device is provided which is insertable into the sealing, extending same in doing so, whereby the diameter of the central opening is enlargeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Horst Dittrich, Michael Sauer, Martin Oberlaender
  • Publication number: 20030167040
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument with a hollow instrument canal (4) that is configured inside a housing (1a) and can be closed by means of at least one valve body (6) and rotated into open position by means of an instrument inserted into the instrument canal. The at least one valve body (6) is configured as a flap consisting of an essentially non-bendable material mounted on the housing (1a) so that it can be rotated by means of an elastic, bendable connecting element (7) configured as a wire spring in such a way that the valve body is pre-tensioned in the closed direction. A medical instrument with a valve body (6) of simple construction, which insulates reliably, is distinguished according to the invention in that the connecting element (7) on the one hand is secured on the housing (1a) and on the other hand carries the valve body (6), so that the connecting element (7) can be secured in a ring groove (1b) configured in the housing (1a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Uwe Bacher, Horst Dittrich, Martin Oberlaender
  • Publication number: 20030139708
    Abstract: A medical instrument for irrigation and/or suction has an instrument body in which at least one flow channel is present for the passage of a fluid, at least one shut-off member for alternately shutting off the at least one flow channel, and an actuating member for actuating the shut-off member. The at least one shut-off member is a ball which, in a closure position, lies sealingly on a sealing edge of the flow channel so that it closes off the internal cross section of the flow channel, the ball being movable, between the closure position for closing the flow channel and a release position for freeing the flow channel, substantially in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the flow channel, and the actuating member for moving the ball between the closure position and the release position being movable in a direction transverse to the flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Uwe Bacher, Horst Dittrich
  • Patent number: 6527770
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument for removing tissue comprising a tool at its distal end which can be supplied with high frequency power. The instrument includes an HF power terminal and an HF power supply line extending frown a proximal end region of the instrument to its distal end. In the present instrument, the HF power supply is configured as a drive shaft for rotary drive of the tool. Furthermore, contact means are provided electrically connected to the HF power terminal, which electrically contact the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Dittrich, Frank Doll, Frank Gminder
  • Patent number: 6447502
    Abstract: A protective cap for a medical high-frequency instrument is configured such that it covers the high-frequency instrument in insulating fashion at least in the vicinity of an electrical connector for a high-frequency cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Dittrich, Uwe Bacher
  • Patent number: 6379298
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spatula dissector (10) presenting a body (12) and a flat distal end (14) comprised of two jaw elements (28, 30) capable of spreading relative to the surface of the spatula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hervé Raspaldo, Klaus M. Irion, Horst Dittrich
  • Patent number: 6340365
    Abstract: A medical instrument has several components and being disassemblable into said several components, one of said components being rotatable with respect to another of said several components by means of a rotary element arranged on said another of said several components. A coupling for a detachable rotationally engaged connection of said one component or to said rotary element is provided, said coupling having two coupling halves engaging into one another along a coupling axis. On each of said coupling halves at least one tooth is arranged, each tooth is disposed at a radial spacing from said coupling axis. Adjacent to each tooth in a circumferential direction at least one gap is provided, into which gap of one coupling half a tooth of the other coupling half enters and fits, and each tooth is equipped in the circumferential direction with a bevel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Dittrich, Uwe Bacher, Jürgen Rudischhauser, Klaus M. Irion
  • Publication number: 20020007109
    Abstract: An endoscopic instrument is provided comprising a shaft having an endoscope optical system arranged therein, which has a distal front face. The instrument also comprises a working element arranged in the shaft. The shaft provides for the supply of an irrigation fluid. Flow-influencing means are provided, such that the irrigation fluid reaches in front of the front face of the endoscope optical system and can eliminate contaminations, which obstruct the view through the endoscope optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Frank Gminder, Horst Dittrich, Frank Doll
  • Publication number: 20010041911
    Abstract: A medical instrument has several components and being disassemblable into said several components, one of said components being rotatable with respect to another of said several components by means of a rotary element arranged on said another of said several components. A coupling for a detachable rotationally engaged connection of said one component or to said rotary element is provided, said coupling having two coupling halves engaging into one another along a coupling axis. On each of said coupling halves at least one tooth is arranged, each tooth is disposed at a radial spacing from said coupling axis. Adjacent to each tooth in a circumferential direction at least one gap is provided, into which gap of one coupling half a tooth of the other coupling half enters and fits, and each tooth is equipped in the circumferential direction with a bevel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Todd M. Oberdick
    Inventors: HORST DITTRICH, UWE BACHER, JURGEN RUDISCHHAUSER, KLAUS M. IRION
  • Patent number: 6299220
    Abstract: A coupling serves for leakproof connection of two shaft-like medical instruments (10, 90) along their shaft axis (53, 97), in particular for connection of an arthroscope shaft to an optical system. A coupling element (80) is provided, arranged on a first instrument (10) and having a contact surface (66), against whose contact surface (66) a contact surface (106) of a coupling element (92) of the second instrument (90) can be applied. Also provided is an interlock system for releasable interlocking of the two coupling elements (80, 92), the contact surfaces (64, 106) resting against one another in leakproof fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Dittrich, Uwe Bacher
  • Publication number: 20010018555
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spatula dissector (10) presenting a body (12) and a flat distal end (14) comprised of two jaw elements (28, 30) capable of spreading relative to the surface of the spatula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Herve Raspaldo, Klaus M. Irion, Horst Dittrich
  • Publication number: 20010016740
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument for removing tissue comprising a tool at its distal end which can be supplied with high frequency power. The instrument includes an HF power terminal and an HF power supply line extending from a proximal end region of the instrument to its distal end. In the present instrument, the HF power supply is configured as a drive shaft for rotary drive of the tool. Furthermore, contact means are provided electrically connected to the HF power terminal, which electrically contact the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Horst Dittrich, Frank Doll, Frank Gminder
  • Patent number: 6254620
    Abstract: A surgical thread cutter (10) has a blade (18) movable via an actuation mechanism (30) relative to an anvil (20) toward and away from the latter, and a spring by way of which the blade (18) can be acted upon by spring force in one movement direction. In the interest of better and safer handling, it is proposed that the spring act upon the blade (18) in the cutting direction, that a retention system be provided by means of which the blade (18) can be locked in a position remote from the anvil (20); and that the force of the spring be set in such a way that after the retention system is released, the blade (18) can be moved onto the anvil (20) in the manner of a guillotine (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Charles Koh, Horst Dittrich, Simon Solingen
  • Patent number: 6245011
    Abstract: An endoscopic instrument with cutting tool has a shaft for introduction into duct-like body passages such as a rectum, trachea, or esophagus, and has an endoscopic optical system. Arranged in said shaft is a cutting tool, for introducing an incision in the circumferential direction of said body passage, that by way of a displacement mechanism can be extended out of said shaft beyond the periphery of said shaft and retracted back thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Dudda, Thomas Weller, Horst Dittrich
  • Patent number: D615197
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Charles H. Koh, Horst Dittrich, Simon Solingen
  • Patent number: D434148
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Sauer, Horst Dittrich