Abstract: Methods and systems for supporting evaluation of video-assisted medical interventional procedure are disclosed and include receiving medical video image data (S1) representing video images of an examined or treated anatomy recorded by a video camera at a specific frame rate during a medical intervention; receiving further data (S2) comprising at least one of treatment or examination, device, diagnostic and measurement data associated with the medical intervention, the further data including measured dynamic data that varies during a frame period; identifying target areas in the video images for embedding the further data (S3); and modifying the video image data (S4) by embedding the further data into the video image data synchronously in time by replacing video image data in the identified target area or areas of a frame with the further data associated with the respective frame.

Abstract: The electrosurgical instrument (11) according to the invention comprises at least one electrode (15, 16) for electrically acting on biological tissue. The electrode is coupled with a radio frequency generator (20) that is arranged in direct proximity of electrode (15) and/or (16). The radio frequency generator oscillates in a self-controlled manner with a frequency between 100 kHz and 10 MHz and is preferably supplied by a constant or timely varying direct voltage. The instrument (11) is thus connected via a line supplying a low frequency voltage or direct voltage with a supplying source, e.g. an apparatus (19).

Abstract: The instrument comprises a jaw arrangement with two jaws that have, on their side facing the counter-electrode arrangement, rounded or flat electrode surfaces. The counter-electrode arrangement comprises at least one counter-electrode surface that may be rounded or flat. One of the electrode surfaces has a band edge preferably bordered by an insulator on one side, said band edge being adjacent to the adjacent electrode surface of the jaw arrangement. The counter-electrode surface has a band edge adjacent to the insulator facing the band edge of the one electrode surface. The band edges of the electrode surfaces acting as the coagulation surfaces are close enough such that they form cutting edges that develop a cutting effect with low voltages that are otherwise suitable only for coagulation. Accordingly, it is possible to provide fusion instruments that are extremely delicate, display lower thermal inertia and an excellent fusion and cutting effect.

Abstract: In surgery using monopolar HF, there is a constant risk of patients suffering burns at the neutral electrode. Said problem stems from the fact that numerous methods have been devised by which relatively high HF currents are applied for extended periods of time. The present invention solves said problem by providing a neutral electrode, device that is to be used for applying an HF current to a biological tissue. Said improved neutral electrode device comprises at least one latent heat accumulator for absorbing heat. Thus heat peaks can be at least temporarily accumulated until the accumulated thermal energy can be safely released.

Abstract: The instrument comprises a jaw arrangement with two jaws that have, on their side facing the counter-electrode arrangement, rounded or flat electrode surfaces. The counter-electrode arrangement comprises at least one counter-electrode surface that may be rounded or flat. One of the electrode surfaces has a band edge preferably bordered by an insulator on one side, said band edge being adjacent to the adjacent electrode surface of the jaw arrangement. The counter-electrode surface has a band edge adjacent to the insulator facing the band edge of the one electrode surface. The band edges of the electrode surfaces acting as the coagulation surfaces are close enough such that they form cutting edges that develop a cutting effect with low voltages that are otherwise suitable only for coagulation. Accordingly, it is possible to provide fusion instruments that are extremely delicate, display lower thermal inertia and an excellent fusion and cutting effect.

Abstract: A multifunctional instrument for HF surgical treatment of tissue, in particular for optional cutting, injecting and coagulating tissue is proposed. The multifunctional instrument has the following elements: at least one fluid chamber for receiving a fluid; a temperature control device communicating with said at least one fluid chamber for warming, heating or evaporating a fluid present in said fluid chamber; a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the fluid present in the said fluid chamber, and at least one fluid outlet port arranged at a distal end of the multifunctional instrument and communicating with the said at least one fluid chamber.

Abstract: The method disclosed herein permits the operator of an electrosurgical device to move a safety switch-off threshold for a contact resistance at a neutral electrode from a first value to a second and slightly higher value. This way, for patients with a relatively high resistance yielding a somewhat elevated contact resistance despite correct attachment of the neutral electrode, uninterrupted operation of the device is achievable.

Abstract: To provide the user of an RF-surgical instrument with a non-hazardous short test operation, for example so as to test the ignitability of an argon plasma probe, provision is made for an instrument test arrangement, which is installed into a feeding medical device or into a neutral conductor connecting cable or which is provided as plug adapter, which is to be plugged between the device and the neutral conductor connecting cable. The instrument test arrangement comprises at least one or, better yet, two ignition test electrodes, which are connected to conductors of the device or of the neutral conductor cable, preferably via impedance components. The ignition test electrodes can be accessed insofar as a spark can be created simultaneously to both ignition test electrodes by means of an operational probe or an instrument.

Abstract: An instrument test arrangement is specified, which is preferably equipped for medical instruments for argon plasma coagulation. The instrument test arrangement comprises an electrode arrangement, comprising at least one test electrode. In a preferred embodiment, a test electrode is thereby connected to two neutral conductors of a neutral conductor cable or device, wherein the neutral conductors are insulated from one another, and wherein the first coupling impedance between the test electrode and the first neutral conductor and the second coupling impedance between the test electrode and the second neutral conductor are equal or at most slightly different, so that a split circuit, which is assigned to a neutral electrode arrangement, does not trigger due to the strike of a test spark or arc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for contactless communication between a surgical apparatus and at least one surgical instrument. The surgical apparatus comprises a control and evaluation device to which is assigned a writing or reading device which is connected to an antenna for the apparatus. The instrument is assigned at least one writable and readable memory device, embodied as an RFID transponder, which is connected to an antenna for the instrument, so that data can be exchanged between the writing or reading device of the surgical apparatus and the memory device of the instrument by means of wireless communication.

Abstract: A load cell (1) has a deformable body with upper and lower contact surfaces (3, 4), through which a force is introduced. Support points (5) of the contact surfaces define a line of action (6) of the force. At least one column-shaped portion (7) of the deformable body has a central longitudinal axis (8) and a circumferential surface whose generating line runs parallel to the central longitudinal axis (8). A first determining means (9) installed on the column-shaped portion converts a mechanical deformation into an electronic signal, and a second determining means (10) installed on the column-shaped portion converts a deviation of the central longitudinal axis (8) from the line of action (6) into a representative signal. Each determining means has at least one strain gauge.

Abstract: In an electro-surgical high-frequency generator, the signal frequency or the modulation frequency or a clock frequency or any combination thereof are modulated using a low-frequency modulation signal in such a way that the spectra thereof are widened. This results in a reduction of interference on peripheral devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a neutral electrode device for use in the application of an RF current to a biological tissue, comprising: a supporting structure (40) having a first and a second side; at least one electrode (34, 34?), which is arranged on the first side of the supporting structure (40); a phase change material (PCM) for absorbing heat, which is arranged on the second side of the supporting structure (40), wherein the phase change material is formed at least in part as blocks (37, 37?) and the blocks (37, 37?) are arranged on the second side of the supporting structure (40) at least partially distanced from one another in order to form spacing gaps (38, 38?).

Abstract: A method for determining a temperature and/or a temperature change at a neutral electrode having a contacting agent layer. The method comprises determining at least one impedance value of the contacting agent layer and calculating a temperature change and/or a temperature at the neutral electrode, at least on the basis of the impedance value. The contacting agent layers may be made from hydrogel and the method uses a correlation that exists between the temperature change and the impedance change.

Abstract: An HF surgical device comprising an HF surgical generator, at least one surgical instrument having an active electrode and a neutral electrode, which are connectable to the HF generator. The surgical instrument is connectable to the HF generator via a first wire and the neutral electrode is connectable to the HF generator via second wire. The first and/or second wire is/are equipped with a shield and a decoupling capacitor is disposed at a distal end of each shielded wire.

Abstract: A load cell (1) has a deformable body with upper and lower contact surfaces (3, 4), through which a force is introduced. Support points (5) of the contact surfaces define a line of action (6) of the force. At least one column-shaped portion (7) of the deformable body has a central longitudinal axis (8) and a circumferential surface whose generating line runs parallel to the central longitudinal axis (8). A first determining means (9) installed on the column-shaped portion converts a mechanical deformation into an electronic signal, and a second determining means (10) installed on the column-shaped portion converts a deviation of the central longitudinal axis (8) from the line of action (6) into a representative signal. Each determining means has at least one strain gauge.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that comprises at least one microcontroller arranged in the handle of the instrument and that communicates with the surgical apparatus—without the interposition of a radio link via the cable that already exists between the surgical apparatus and the surgical instrument. Safe data transmission is ensured not only in the high-interference environment of an active RF surgical apparatus, but also in, for example, water jet, argon plasma and cryosurgical apparatuses, endoscopes. A differential transmission technique is selected, wherein one or more conductor pairs (insulated conductors) are utilized, one of the conductors of said conductor pairs transmitting the signal and the other transmitting the inverted signal. By subtracting the two signals, the actual data signal is yielded on the receiver side. If feedback interferences from the environment act on the data transmission link, the subtractions performed on the respective receivers cancels out the interferences.

Abstract: To provide the user of an RF-surgical instrument with a non-hazardous short test operation, for example so as to test the ignitability of an argon plasma probe, provision is made for an instrument test arrangement, which is installed into a feeding medical device or into a neutral conductor connecting cable or which is provided as plug adapter, which is to be plugged between the device and the neutral conductor connecting cable. The instrument test arrangement comprises at least one or, better yet, two ignition test electrodes, which are connected to conductors of the device or of the neutral conductor cable, preferably via impedance components. The ignition test electrodes can be accessed insofar as a spark can be created simultaneously to both ignition test electrodes by means of an operational probe or an instrument.

Abstract: An instrument test arrangement is specified, which is preferably equipped for medical instruments for argon plasma coagulation. The instrument test arrangement comprises an electrode arrangement, comprising at least one test electrode. In a preferred embodiment, a test electrode is thereby connected to two neutral conductors of a neutral conductor cable or device, wherein the neutral conductors are insulated from one another, and wherein the first coupling impedance between the test electrode and the first neutral conductor and the second coupling impedance between the test electrode and the second neutral conductor are equal or at most slightly different, so that a split circuit, which is assigned to a neutral electrode arrangement, does not trigger due to the strike of a test spark or arc.

Abstract: A multifunctional instrument for HF surgical treatment of tissue, in particular for optional cutting, injecting and coagulating tissue is proposed. The multifunctional instrument has the following elements: at least one fluid chamber for receiving a fluid; a temperature control device communicating with said at least one fluid chamber for warming, heating or evaporating a fluid present in said fluid chamber; a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the fluid present in the said fluid chamber, and at least one fluid outlet port arranged at a distal end of the multifunctional instrument and communicating with the said at least one fluid chamber.