Abstract: A positioning device for a medical catheter to be positioned in a bodily orifice or cavity, the device containing an elongated tubular or sleeve-type catheter receiving member, one end of which receives the catheter to be positioned, elongated catheter release member which is held inside or outside the catheter receiving member and which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the member and a motion mechanism comprising a motion conversion device, by means of which the catheter receiving member and the catheter release member can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the device, thus releasing the catheter from the catheter receiving member; the motion conversion device has an actuating member, by means of which motion that is carried out transversely to the longitudinal direction of the device or pivoting motion can be converted into longitudinal motion running in the longitudinal direction of the device.

Abstract: Several gastrointestinal surgery procedures are effective as treatments for metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Minimally invasive procedures including intra-luminal gastrointestinal implants have been proposed to mimic the anatomical, physiological and metabolic changes achieved by these procedures. Many of these designs include long sleeve like elements that prevent contact of food with the walls of the small intestine. It is desirable to have simple delivery systems that can place these implants under endoscopic guidance. However, in order to anchor these sleeve elements safely and reliably, the inventors have previously disclosed anchoring means that anchor the sleeves at the junctions of the stomach and the intestine or the stomach and esophagus.

Abstract: For the purpose of firmly clamping a medical guide wire which can be rotated and displaced in a longitudinal opening of an accommodating body, a clamping mechanism is present either just at one end of the longitudinal opening or at each end of the longitudinal opening, the clamping mechanism having a widened opening region, which runs transversely to the longitudinal opening, and a clamping-member arrangement, which is connected to the accommodating body in an elastically flexible manner and has an edge part, which is located in the opening region and against which the guide wire, once pivoted out of the longitudinal opening, can be brought into abutment at the relevant end of the accommodating body and at the clamping-member arrangement, with the capability of the guide wire to be displaced and/or rotated being blocked in the process.

Abstract: A retrieval device comprising a hook assembly and a capsule assembly. The hook assembly has an attachment feature at a first end. The capsule assembly includes a capsule, a capsule shaft, and a handle connected in series and defining an inner bore. The capsule has a first end defining an opening. The inner bore of the capsule assembly is configured to slidably receive the hook assembly. The handle has a central portion, a first extension portion attached to the capsule shaft, and a second extension portion with a hook assembly lock at a second end. The hook assembly lock is configured to lock the hook assembly to the second extension portion. The second extension portion is configured to pull the hook assembly relative to the capsule shaft, and the first extension portion is configured to push the capsule shaft relative to the hook assembly along the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Controlling a metallurgical plant, the plant has at least one plant part (1) operated with first and second operating parameters (BP 1, BP2) at a particular time, and an operating result (BE) is established on the basis of the operation of the plant part (1) according to the first and second operating parameters (BP1, BP2). The operating result (BE) is recorded. At least the operating result (BE) is transmitted from a control device (5) of the first plant part (1) to a computing unit (9). The computing unit (9) varies the second operating parameters (BP2), but not the first operating parameters (BP1), and thereby determines varied second operating parameters (BP2?) associated with the first operating parameters (BP 1). The computing unit (9) transmits the varied second operating parameters (BP2?) back to the control device (5) of the first plant part (1).

Abstract: A gastrointestinal device for implanting within a patient's gastrointestinal tract, the device having a central axis and a first expandable portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and having a first cylinder extending parallel to the central axis, the first cylinder having a length and a first face; a neck portion extending from the first face of the first expandable portion parallel to the central axis, the neck portion having a first end, a second end, a wall extending between the first end and second end, and a diameter sized to fit within a pylorus; and a second expandable portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and having a second cylinder extending parallel to the central axis, the second cylinder having a second face located at the proximal end of the second cylinder and oriented transverse to the central axis.

Abstract: A medical device for inserting into a bodily orifice or cavity of an individual, which includes a first longitudinal hollow body and a second longitudinal hollow body that receives the first hollow body. Between the one end thereof and the first hollow body, there is a stepped transition which extends in the radial direction and can pass into an at least substantially step-free transition by virtue of the fact that the first hollow body, in the region of the stepped transition, expands in the radial direction towards the second hollow body and/or that the second hollow body, in the region of the stepped transition, contracts in the radial direction towards the first hollow body.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal device for implanting within a patient's gastrointestinal tract, the device having a central axis and a first expandable portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and having a first cylinder extending parallel to the central axis, the first cylinder having a length and a first face; a neck portion extending from the first face of the first expandable portion parallel to the central axis, the neck portion having a first end, a second end, a wall extending between the first end and second end, and a diameter sized to fit within a pylorus; and a second expandable portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and having a second cylinder extending parallel to the central axis, the second cylinder having a second face located at the proximal end of the second cylinder and oriented transverse to the central axis.

Abstract: A positioning device for a medical catheter to be positioned in a bodily orifice or cavity, the device containing an elongated tubular or sleeve-type catheter receiving member, one end of which receives the catheter to be positioned, elongated catheter release member which is held inside or outside the catheter receiving member and which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the member and a motion mechanism comprising a motion conversion device, by means of which the catheter receiving member and the catheter release member can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the device, thus releasing the catheter from the catheter receiving member; the motion conversion device has an actuating member, by means of which motion that is carried out transversely to the longitudinal direction of the device or pivoting motion can be converted into longitudinal motion running in the longitudinal direction of the device.

Abstract: Several gastrointestinal surgery procedures are effective as treatments for metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Minimally invasive procedures including intra-luminal gastrointestinal implants have been proposed to mimic the anatomical, physiological and metabolic changes achieved by these procedures. Many of these designs include long sleeve like elements that prevent contact of food with the walls of the small intestine. It is desirable to have simple delivery systems that can place these implants under endoscopic guidance. However, in order to anchor these sleeve elements safely and reliably, the inventors have previously disclosed anchoring means that anchor the sleeves at the junctions of the stomach and the intestine or the stomach and esophagus.

Abstract: A change-out handle system is provided for releasably coupling two elongated, axially relatively displaceable functional parts to a medical instrument unit. The change-out handle system includes a first and a second handle part disposed axially relatively displaceably, a first coupler for releasably axially rigidly immovably coupling a first of the two functional parts to the first handle part and a second coupler for releasably, axially rigidly immovably coupling the second of the two functional parts to the second handle part. The second handle part has a pass-through opening for passing at least the first of the two functional parts. The change-out handle system can be used, for example, for medical solids trapping instruments.

Abstract: Several gastrointestinal surgery procedures are effective as treatments for metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Minimally invasive procedures including intra-luminal gastrointestinal implants have been proposed to mimic the anatomical, physiological and metabolic changes achieved by these procedures. Many of these designs include long sleeve like elements that prevent contact of food with the walls of the small intestine. It is desirable to have simple delivery systems that can place these implants under endoscopic guidance. However, in order to anchor these sleeve elements safely and reliably, the inventors have previously disclosed anchoring means that anchor the sleeves at the junctions of the stomach and the intestine or the stomach and esophagus.

Abstract: A medical device for inserting into a bodily orifice or cavity of an individual, which includes a first longitudinal hollow body and a second longitudinal hollow body that receives the first hollow body. Between the one end thereof and the first hollow body, there is a stepped transition which extends in the radial direction and can pass into an at least substantially step-free transition by virtue of the fact that the first hollow body, in the region of the stepped transition, expands in the radial direction towards the second hollow body and/or that the second hollow body, in the region of the stepped transition, contracts in the radial direction towards the first hollow body.

Abstract: A connector adapted for use in an illumination system comprising at least one optical element, such as an optical fiber. is disclosed. The connector comprises a housing dimensioned so that internally it retains at least one end portion of at least one optical element, and externally substantially follows the shape of the end portion(s) of the optical element(s). This forms a join between the ends of the optical element(s). A light source is also contained within the housing and positioned so as to illuminate the end portions of at least one optical element. Electrical connection means adapted to connect the light source to an external power supply are provided. The electrical connection means being moveable relative to the housing. The electrical connection means may be carried by a flexible substrate, or may be formed by slideable contacts within a light guide rail.

Abstract: Components may be used separately or in combination to create anchoring systems for intra-luminal implants for the treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Various systems include an external component adapted for deployment around a portion of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., the duodenum) and an internal component adapted for implantation within the gastrointestinal tract. Various systems use anchoring means that are based on mechanical interference, elasticity, spring force, shape memory transformation, magnetic attraction, repulsion and/or levitation. Various embodiments rely on longitudinal anchoring of the implants with minimal force against tissue.

Abstract: A connector adapted for use in an illumination system comprising at least one optical element, such as an optical fibre. is disclosed. The connector comprises a housing dimensioned so that internally it retains at least one end portion of at least one optical element, and externally substantially follows the shape of the end portion(s) of the optical element(s). This forms a join between the ends of the optical element(s). A light source is also contained within the housing and positioned so as to illuminate the end portions of at least one optical element. Electrical connection means adapted to connect the light source to an external power supply are provided. The electrical connection means being moveable relative to the housing. The electrical connection means may be carried by a flexible substrate, or may be formed by slideable contacts within a light guide rail.

Abstract: A change-out handle system is provided for releasably coupling two elongated, axially relatively displaceable functional parts to a medical instrument unit. The change-out handle system includes a first and a second handle part disposed axially relatively displaceably, a first coupler for releasably axially rigidly immovably coupling a first of the two functional parts to the first handle part and a second coupler for releasably, axially rigidly immovably coupling the second of the two functional parts to the second handle part. The second handle part has a pass-through opening for passing at least the first of the two functional parts. The change-out handle system can be used, for example, for medical solids trapping instruments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle door (1) and to a method for the production thereof. The vehicle door comprises a supporting frame (11) with an opening (2). The supporting frame is joined to a body structure of the vehicle in a manner that permits it to move. The opening (2) is closed in an essentially moisture-proof manner by molding it with a curable compound while forming a supporting plate (10) for accommodating elements such as window lifters, loudspeakers (3) or the like. At least one guide rail for guiding a window pane (9), which can be displaced relative to the supporting frame, is provided for accommodating a lateral edge of the window pane in the supporting plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical device for guiding at least two sewing threads through the marginal area of a tissue opening which is present especially in an artery of an individual, the opening optionally having been produced by cutting. The device comprises a bar-shaped needle and thread guiding device having a needle transfer area at the proximal end of the device, a needle receiving area at the distal end of the device, and arranged thereinbetween an intermediate area for receiving the marginal area of the tissue opening. The needle transfer area, the intermediate area and the needle receiving area are rigidly interlinked. The bar-shaped needle and thread guiding device can be closed by an elongate outer member which positively surrounds the intermediate area. The outer member can be displaced in relation to the bar-shaped needle and thread guiding device in the longitudinal direction thereof, thereby releasing the intermediate area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle door (1) and to a method for the production thereof. The vehicle door comprises a supporting frame (11) with an opening (2). The supporting frame is joined to a body structure of the vehicle in a manner that permits it to move. The opening (2) is closed in an essentially moisture-proof manner by molding it with a curable compound while forming a supporting plate (10) for accommodating elements such as window lifters, loudspeakers (3) or the like. At least one guide rail for guiding a window pane (9), which can be displaced relative to the supporting frame, is provided for accommodating a lateral edge of the window pane in the supporting plate.