Aesculap AG

The present invention relates to a combination, in particular for the adhesive bonding and/or fixing of biological and/or synthetic tissues, wherein the combination comprises the components a) a nitrogen-functionalized polysaccharide and b) a terminally functionalized oligolactone.

A surgical sealing element, for example, for a trocar and/or for sealing shafts of elongated surgical instruments during insertion into a human or animal body, is provided. The surgical sealing element comprises a flexible wall closed annularly, the wall comprising a first edge and a second edge, and an opening for a shaft of a surgical instrument, the opening being variable in diameter and limited by the first edge. In a sealing position, the wall is folded with fold lines extending in a direction towards the first edge in such a manner that the first edge defines a wave line.

In order to improve the computation of the position of the tangential plane in a method for determining the position of a tangential plane which rests tangentially on three non-collinear extreme points of structures of a body, in which one determines the position of the three extreme points approximately by using three starting points disposed in the locality of the structures and computes the tangential plane as being a plane passing through these three starting points, it is proposed that one investigates the structure of the body in the vicinity of the three extreme points using a navigated ultrasonic head which emits ultrasonic radiation in an investigation plane and displays the ultrasonic image of each investigated structure on a display screen, in that one overlays a line of intersection of the investigation plane and the tangential plane on the ultrasonic image in the display screen, in that, for each structure, one selects as an improved extreme point that point of the structure which is located in the investigation plane at the greatest or the least spacing from the line of intersection, and in that one computes an improved tangential plane as being a plane which passes through these three improved extreme points. A device for carrying out this method is disclosed in the patent.

In order, in an application instrument for an aneurysm clip comprising two clamping jaws, which are movable relative to one another and between them accommodate the aneurysm clip, as well as actuating elements for moving the clamping jaws towards and away from one another and thereby for opening and closing the aneurysm clip, to assist the surgeon with the controlled closing movement of the aneurysm clip, it is proposed that the application instrument comprises a damping element, which during closing of the aneurysm clip imposes a retarded mutual movement of the clamping jaws.

In order to simplify the switching of medical or surgical equipment in an operating theatre, there is proposed a switching device for medical or surgical equipment which is characterized by a planar floor mat having sensors distributed over the surface area thereof, said sensors producing an electrical signal corresponding to the position of a foot of an operator on the floor mat when the foot is located near the respective sensor, and by a data processing system which is connected to the floor mat and is programmed in such a manner that it stores the instantaneous position of the foot on the floor mat as a starting position when activated by an activating signal, selects at least one switching area of the floor mat which has a predetermined location relative to the starting position, and produces a switching signal when the foot is located near a sensor in the switching area.

A surgical fixing device for the fixing of adjacent bone parts is provided. A first engaging element is provided for engaging the underside of the two bone parts and a second engaging element is provided for engaging the upper side of the bone parts. A tensioning device connects the two engaging elements to each other through an interspace between the bone parts and permanently fixes the two engaging elements with respect to each other in a tensioned manner when they engage the underside and the upper side of the bone parts. To make it easier to apply the fixing device, at least one elastic tensioning element is provided which displaces a supporting surface applied to the upper side of the bone parts toward the first engaging element, so that the supporting surface and the first engaging element can be moved away from each other against the force of the elastic tensioning element.

An implant for reconstructing meniscus defects or partial meniscus defects includes an elevated molding with a femoral condylar contact area, a tibial condylar contact area and an articular capsule contact area, in the manner of an artificial meniscus or artificial partial meniscus with a contour of an outer area that is substantially the same as a natural meniscus or partial meniscus, wherein at least one additional elevation is formed on the outer area of the elevated molding.

To facilitate the insertion of bone screws into a bone plate, a magazine for receiving at least one bone screw is proposed, which comprises a device for releasably securing the magazine to a bone plate, a receiving chamber extending continuously from the upper side to the underside of the magazine, a bone screw being arranged in the receiving chamber in such a way that when the magazine is secured to the bone plate, the distal tip of the bone screw is directed at a screw-in opening in the bone plate, and the proximal end of the bone screw is accessible to a screwing-in tool from the upper side of the magazine, and a fixing device for releasably fixing the bone screw in the receiving chamber. The invention also relates to a bone plate having at least one such magazine releasably secured thereto.