Abstract: Implementations relate to a counterbalance mechanism including a force transformation mechanism that provides a drive ratio. In some implementations, a counterbalance apparatus includes a spring, a first tension element, a second tension element, a force transformation mechanism coupled to the spring by the first tension element and coupled to the second tension element, and a plurality of counterbalance pulleys coupled to the second tension element. At least one of the counterbalance pulleys is coupled to a load that is moveable with reference to a mechanical ground, and a force provided by the spring is modified in magnitude by the force transformation mechanism and is applied to the load via the second tension element. The force transformation mechanism includes a plurality of elements and the modification of the force is based on a drive ratio of the elements of the force transformation mechanism.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a roll mechanism that rotates an instrument shaft. The roll mechanism may include a first gear coupled to the instrument shaft and meshed with a second gear. One of gears may be a spur gear while the other gear may be a beveloid gear. Further, the spur gear and the beveloid gear may be in a gear train containing a compressible gear, e.g., a gear with an inner center piece, an outer ring, and a flexible interconnecting structure between the inner center piece and the outer ring. With a compressible gear, an interference fit of in the gear train may be within manufacturing variations of the gear train, and the compressible gear may deflect radially away from the interference fit.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a backend and a pair of release elements. The backend includes a docking feature shaped to engage a docking structure such as a docking port of a surgical robot or a sterile adaptor for a surgical robot. Each release element is coupled to the backend and may include an activation feature on one side of the backend and a push tab extending from either an opposite side or the same side of the backend. Movement of the activation features moves the push tabs from being aligned with the docking feature to pushing on the docking structure, permitting the medical instrument to be disengaged from the docking structure. Optionally, a coupling of the release elements limits a movement of the activation features.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling an end effector includes a drive unit having a first actuator and a second actuator, a moveable platform drivably coupled to the first actuator, first and second engagement members drivably coupled to the second actuator; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to actuate the first actuator to drive the platform, detect engagement of the first engagement member with a third engagement member of an instrument, detect engagement of the second engagement member with a fourth engagement member of the instrument, and actuate the second actuator to drive the first and second engagement members. Movement of the third and engagement member causes movement of a degree of freedom of an end effector of the instrument in a first direction. Movement of the fourth engagement member causes movement of the degree of freedom in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A force sensing device is provided for use with a surgical instrument shaft having a two degree-of-freedom wrist mounted end effector portion having a working surface; a housing defines an annular collar sized to snugly fit about the two degree-of-freedom wrist and defines a cap sized to snugly fit about the end effector portion; an optical fiber including a segment is embedded within the annular collar and including a segment embedded within the cap; a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) formed in the segment of the optical fiber embedded within the cap.

Abstract: A method comprises measuring, with a sensor, a shape of a section of an elongated flexible instrument and comparing the measured shape of the section of the elongated flexible instrument to an expected shape. The method also comprises determining whether the measured shape of the section of the elongated flexible instrument differs from the expected shape by a predefined threshold.

Abstract: The technology described herein can be embodied in a method that includes receiving data representing information captured using a first sensor and a second sensor of a multi-sensor camera. The sensors are configured to capture a surgical scene illuminated by a light source configured to emit wavelengths in the visible spectrum corresponding to sensing capabilities of the first and second sensors, respectively. The method also includes receiving data representing information captured using a third sensor of the multi-sensor camera, the third sensor configured to capture the surgical scene as illuminated by a near-infrared light source, and generating a first visual representation of the surgical scene based on the data representing the information captured using the first and second sensors. The first visual representation is combined with the information captured using the third sensor to generate a second visual representation, and the second visual representation is presented on a display device.

Abstract: A cable-driven device, such as a joint or instrument of a computer-assisted manipulator system, may comprise a capstan mechanism to wind/unwind cables. The capstan mechanism comprises a capstan that has a groove in an outer surface of the capstan to guide the cables, which are routed from a take-up pulley, to spool onto the capstan as the capstan rotates. A guide element is engaged with the groove. The guide element is held translationally stationary relative to the take-up pulley, while there is relative translation between the capstan and both the guide element and the take-up pulley. Thus, as the capstan rotates, the guide element engages with the groove and forces the capstan and the take-up pulley to translate relative to one another. This relative translation of the capstan and the take-up pulley may prevent deviation of a take-up angle of the cable as the cable spools onto the capstan.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a chassis, an outer tube having a proximal end operably coupled to the chassis, and an inner tube extending within the outer tube. The inner tube has a proximal end operably coupled to the chassis to allow slidable movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube in response to a force imparted to a distal end of the inner tube, and such that frictional force imparted to an outer surface of the outer tube is not imparted to the inner member.

Abstract: A computer-assisted teleoperated surgical system includes one or more manipulator devices and other components. A manipulator device includes a first link, a second link coupled to a distal end of the first link, a third link coupled to the second link, and an instrument actuator coupled to the third link. A joint that couples the second link to the first link defines a yaw axis. A joint that couples the third link to the second link defines a pitch axis. The instrument actuator defines an insertion axis. The yaw, pitch, and insertion axes are fixed in relation to each other and intersect at a remote center of motion. The instrument actuator may insert a surgical instrument along the insertion axis roll and may roll the surgical instrument around the insertion axis. The proximal end of the first link may be coupled to a repositionable setup structure, which may optionally be mechanically grounded to an operating room table.

Abstract: A medical robotic system includes a viewer for displaying an image of a work site, a gaze tracker for tracking a gaze point of a user on the viewer, and a processor. The processor is configured to: draw an area or volume defining shape, overlaid on the image of the work site, in a position determined by the gaze tracker; assign a fixed virtual constraint to the shape and constrain movement of a robotic tool according to the fixed virtual constraint; receive a user selected action command selecting an image of patient anatomy; and superimpose the selected image of the patient anatomy over the image of the work site within the shape. The selected image of the patient anatomy is registered to the image of the work site.

Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes robotic manipulators, a user input system operable to generate signals to control the manipulators, and a controller configured to execute instructions to perform operations. A portion of the user input system is movable relative to the plurality of manipulators. The operations include, in a pairing mode, associating a first manipulator of the plurality of manipulators with the portion of the user input system based on movement of the portion of the user input system relative to the first manipulator, and, in a following mode, controlling motion of the first manipulator in accordance with an indication generated by the user input system in response to operation of the portion of the user input system by a user.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a kinematic structure by manual motion of a link coupled to the kinematic structure include a system having a kinematic structure configured to support an instrument and a processor. The processor is configured to place the system in a clutching mode; transition the system from the clutching mode to a set-up mode in response to detecting a joint operation of the kinematic structure; while in the set-up mode, determine an input displacement of a link from an initial positional relationship relative to a portion of the kinematic structure to a displaced positional relationship relative to the portion of the kinematic structure; and while in the set-up mode and in response to the determined input displacement, drive the kinematic structure so that the link returns toward the initial positional relationship relative to the portion of the kinematic structure.

Abstract: Stapler cartridges and surgical apparatus that include a stapler cartridge can include a knife that retracts into the stapler cartridge after cutting stapled tissue to prevent an operator being cut by the knife during replacement of the used stapler cartridge with a new stapler cartridge. A stapler cartridge includes a staple pushing shuttle, a knife member slidably coupled with the staple pushing shuttle, and a cartridge body. The staple pushing shuttle is slidably coupled to the cartridge body. The cartridge body includes a guide track engaged by the knife member and configured so that a cutting blade of the knife member protrudes from the cartridge body during a first portion of a distal movement of the staple pushing shuttle and the cutting blade is retracted into the cartridge body during a second portion of the distal movement of the staple pushing shuttle.

Abstract: A medical system includes a mobile cart configured to support one or more medical instruments; an illumination source mounted on the mobile cart, the illumination source configured to direct light in a direction of a path of the mobile cart during movement relative to a ground surface; and a control system operably coupled to the illumination source and the mobile cart. The control system is configured to in response to the illuminating, storing a threshold height in a memory; and automatically control the movement of the cart based on the threshold height.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a staple cartridge for a surgical instrument having a staple and a staple pusher. The staple pusher has a recess forming a pocket in its top surface for receiving at least the backspan of the staple. The pocket is at least partially surrounded by a circumferential supporting element in the staple pusher body to support the backspan. The pocket provides additional vertical space and support for the staple such that a smaller staple cartridge may provide a substantially similar performance as conventional staple cartridges, allowing for a more compact and maneuverable surgical instrument. In addition, the pocket in the staple pusher allows for a staple having a larger bend radius than conventional staples, thereby providing additional support for the staple and minimizing malformation of the staple during use.

Abstract: Implementations relate to detecting user touch on a controller handle. In some implementations, a non-controlling mode of a control system is activated, and in the non-controlling mode, one or more actuators are controlled to cause a vibration to be provided on a handle of a controller. The vibration is sensed with one or more sensors, and a difference in the vibration is determined to have occurred relative to a reference vibration using the one or more sensors, where the difference satisfies one or more predetermined thresholds. A controlling mode of the system is activated in response to determining the difference in the vibration, and the vibration is modified on the handle in response to detecting the change in the vibration.

Abstract: Techniques for multi-mode imaging device control include determining, by a controller, if an orientational mode command or a translational mode command is entered; in response to determining that the orientational mode command is entered, constraining, by the controller, movement of an imaging device so that a focal point of the imaging device moves along a concave virtual surface in response to translational movement of one or more input devices; and in response to determining that the translational mode command is entered, causing, by the controller, translational movement of the imaging device in a three-dimensional space in response to the translational movement of the one or more input devices.

Abstract: A medical instrument system comprises an instrument manipulator configured to control a position of a medical instrument with respect to a base. The instrument manipulator comprises an instrument carriage comprising a medical instrument connector configured to engage the medical instrument. The instrument carriage is configured to translate along a linear axis to advance or retract the medical instrument with respect to the base. The medical instrument system also comprises an insertion stage slideably engaged with the instrument carriage along the linear axis. The insertion stage has a drive assembly comprising a drive belt and a drive motor configured to drive the drive belt. The base is fixedly coupled to the drive belt. The medical instrument system also comprises a connecting element having a distal end fixedly coupled to the drive belt and a proximal end fixed to the instrument carriage.

Abstract: A teleoperated surgical system is provided that includes a surgical instrument that includes an end effector mounted for rotation about a slave pivot axis; a master control input includes a mount member, first and second master grip rotatably secured at the mount member for rotation about a master pivot axis; sensor to produce a sensor signal indicative of a slave grip counter-force about the slave pivot axis; one or more motors to impart a shear force to the mount member, perpendicular to the master pivot axis; one or more processors to convert the sensor signal to motor control signals to cause the motors to impart the feedback shear force to the first and second master grip members.