Abstract: A medical tubular-shaft instrument has an elongated tubular shaft, at least one movable tool at the distal end, furthermore at least one movable grip element at the proximal end, and lastly an elongated force transmitting element. A distal end of the force transmitting element is operatively connected to the at least one tool and a proximal end of the force transmitting element to the at least one movable grip element. The force transmitting element extends through the tubular shaft. The force transmitting element, at least in its region extending through the tubular shaft and at least locally, reaches radially at at least three circumferential points as far as an inner wall of the tubular shaft and between the three circumferential points has a clearance from the inner wall, and in its remaining segments extending through the tubular shaft has a clearance from the inner wall at least over part of its circumference.

Abstract: The invention relates to an instrument for cutting biological and notably human tissue, especially during endoscopic surgery, with an outer tube (2) and a hollow, cylindrical cutting tube (3) which is positioned within the outer tube (2) and can be rotated about its longitudinal axis (7) and at whose distal end at least one blade (5) is positioned. The instrument also comprises a manipulator (4) which is mounted at the proximal end of the tubes (2, 3). The outer tube (2) can be displaced in the axial direction of the cutting tube (3), which is immovably fixed to the manipulator (4), against the force of a pressure spring (16) between an initial position in which the outer tube (2) projects beyond the cutting tube (3) on the distal side and a working position in which the blade (5) protrudes from the distal end of the outer tube (2).

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.

Abstract: A shaft is provided for a flexible endoscope. The shaft has a tubular mantle whose outer surface contacts a body tissue of a patient during use of said endoscope. The outer surface of said shaft is microscopically roughened, for example by sand blasting.

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.

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.

Abstract: A handle for a medical instrument which has two jaw parts movable independently of one another has a handle body on which two handle elements, movable independently of one another, for selectable actuation of the jaw parts are arranged. Arranged at the proximal end of the handle body is a thumb handle element which has a thumb ring. The movable handle elements are arranged in a manner spaced distally away from the thumb handle element on the handle body, and protrude laterally therefrom. The thumb handle element is rotatable about a longitudinal handle axis relative to the movable handle elements, so that the one and the other movable handle element are movable alternately into a position forming in each case with the thumb handle element a handle arrangement operable in scissor fashion.

Abstract: A handle for a medical instrument comprises a first connecting means for connecting a shaft of said instrument of said handle, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis of said instrument. The handle further comprises a second connecting means for connecting a force transmission element of said instrument to said handle, said second connecting means being movable relative to said first connecting means for moving said force transmission element relative to said shaft for moving at least one tool disposed at the distal end of said shaft. The handle further comprises a first grip element and a second grip element, said first grip element and said second grip element being movable relative to each other, at least one of said first grip element and said second grip element being operatively connected with said second connecting means.

Abstract: A handle is provided for a medical instrument having a tubular shaft. The handle comprises at least one movable grip element as well as a coupling portion through which the tubular shaft is connected or can be connected to the handle. The movable grip element is or can be connected to a force transmission element axially movable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft. Motion of the at least one movable is translated into an axial motion of the force transmission element. The coupling portion is pivotal and lockable relative to a handle axis about a pivot axis running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft. A control element formed as a dual-arm lever is provided whose one lever arm is connected to the movable grip element and whose other lever arm is connected to the force transmission element, such that motion of the movable grip element causes rotation of the control element, which is translated into an axial movement of the force transmission element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for lifting the abdominal wall for laparoscopy, whereby the device can be inserted into the abdominal cavity through an opening in the abdominal wall, having an instrument shaft, which is provided at its distal end region with at least one, preferably two limbs disposed parallel to the axis of the instrument shaft and the can be folded open laterally to the shaft axis. The invention is distinguished by the limbs being joined to the instrument shaft via a folding mechanism, which rotates the limbs at an angle ranging up to 180°.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument has an external tube and a hollow cylinder coaxially extending along a longitudinal axis and actuatable to move axially in opposite directions to rotate a distal end of the instrument provided with an engaging element between angular positions. The distal end actuated by the outer tube is rotatable about a pin having an axis of rotation which is spaced radially from the longitudinal axis as another pin formed on and extending radially from the cylinder is guided along an arcuate groove provided on the distal end of the instrument.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for connecting a handle to an instrument extending along a longitudinal axis has a coupler, which releasably receives the handle and has an outer sleeve and a snap-in sleeve formed with a snap-in element. The handle has a recess receiving the snap-in element which is guided along a conical recess formed in the outer sleeve to move to a locking position wherein the handle and the coupler are displaceably fixed relative each other. The outer sleeve is rotatable about the longitudinal axis and its recess has a periphery formed with an inner surface enabling the snap-in element to move radially from the locking position during rotation so as the handle can be axially withdrawn from the coupler.

Abstract: A tubular shaft instrument, in particular a trocar, has an instrument channel which can be closed off by a flap valve. An actuation element serves to open the flap valve against the force of a closing spring. It is proposed that the actuation element be configured as an element which at least partly surrounds the instrument channel and can rotate about the instrument channel axis, and which is equipped with a circumferential cam bevel, rising in the direction of the instrument channel axis, on which a control section of the flap valve rests, so that a rotation of the rotatable element effects opening or closing of the flap valve.