Abstract: Implementations relate to anatomical models and surgical training. In some implementations, an anatomical training model includes a base portion and a top portion that form a hollow space between the base portion and top portion. A plurality of holes are positioned in the top portion. The model includes a plurality of cannula supports, where each cannula support is aligned with one or more corresponding holes in the top portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for safe operation of a device include a control system having a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to determine, using one or more sensors, whether an operator is in contact with an input control of a console coupled to the system. The processor is further configured to affect commanded motion of the device using the input control in response to the determination of operator contact with the input control. In some embodiments, affecting the commanded motion includes limiting commanded motion of the device using the input control in response to determining the operator is not in contact with the input control. In some embodiments, the limited commanded motion is an insertion motion of the elongate device, a retraction motion of the elongate device, or a steering motion of a distal end of the elongate device.

Abstract: A multi-core fiber includes multiple optical cores, and for each different core of a set of different cores of the multiple optical cores, a total change in optical length is detected. The total change in optical length represents an accumulation of all changes in optical length for multiple segments of that different core up to a point on the multi-core fiber. A difference is determined between the total changes in optical length for cores of the set of different cores. A twist parameter and/or a bend angle associated with the multi-core fiber at the point on the multi-core fiber is/are determined based on the difference.

Abstract: A tissue visualization system comprises a flexible elongate shaft through which a lumen extends. The system also comprises a pliable visualization device coupled to a distal portion of the flexible elongate shaft. The pliable visualization device includes a chamber configured to receive a fluid. The system also comprises a piercing instrument configured to extend through the lumen and to penetrate a surface of the pliable visualization device.

Abstract: A method for displaying guidance information during an image-guided medical procedure includes receiving, by one or more hardware processors, data from a tracking system associated with an elongate device comprising a flexible body, calculating a bend radius along a length of the flexible body, determining supplemental guidance information that includes an indication of whether the bend radius is less than a minimum allowable bend radius, augmenting images with the supplemental guidance information to produce augmented images by applying a scheme in which a portion of a graphical representation of the flexible body having a radius less than the minimum is augmented with a visual property, displaying the augmented images on a display device at a console, determining a direction to steer the flexible body to increase the bend radius, and displaying actuation information on the display device. The actuation information includes a directional indicator to display the direction.

Abstract: A teleoperational medical system comprises a teleoperational assembly including an operator control system, a first teleoperational manipulator, a first medical instrument, and a processing unit including one or more processors. The first teleoperational manipulators is configured for operation by an operator control device of the operator control system. The first teleoperational manipulator is configured to control the operation of the first medical instrument in a surgical environment. The processing unit is configured to display an image of a field of view of the surgical environment and display a menu proximate to an image of the first medical instrument in the image of the field of view. The menu includes at least one state indicator representing a state of a component of the first medical instrument.

Abstract: A medical device includes a mechanical structure and a force sensor unit. The force sensor unit comprises a mounting bracket, a first rod, a second rod, a first magnet, a second magnet, a first coil coupled to the mounting bracket, and a second coil coupled to the mounting bracket. The first rod and the second rod each have a center axis defined between a proximal and distal portion of the respective first and second rods. The center axis of the second rod is noncoaxial with the center axis of the first rod. The first magnet is coupled to the first rod and translates within the first coil along the center axis of the first rod. Similarly, the second magnet is coupled to the second rod and translates within the second coil along the center axis of the second rod.

Abstract: A cannula mount for a surgical system includes a body configured to receive a portion of a cannula in a mounted state at the cannula mount; a pair of clamping components coupled to the body and configured to clamp the portion of the cannula in the mounted state of the cannula; and a latch assembly pivotably coupled to the body and slidably coupled to a clamping component of the pair of clamping components. At least one of the pair of clamping components is pivotable relative to the body to move the pair of clamping components between a first state to unclamp a cannula mounted at the cannula mount and a second state to clamp a cannula mounted at the cannula mount. Pivoting motion of the latch assembly relative to the body causes a portion of the latch assembly to slide along the clamping component and change a state of the pair of clamping components from an unlocked state to a locked state in the second state of the pair of clamping components.

Abstract: A force sensor includes an annular diaphragm that includes an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter; the diaphragm has an outer annular portion having a tapered thickness that increases with decreasing radial distance from the outer perimeter; the diaphragm has an inner annular portion having a tapered thickness that increases with decreasing radial distance from the inner perimeter; a first strain gauge at the outer annular portion; and a second strain gauge at the inner annular portion.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a demosaic module receiving a frame of raw pixels having values in a first color space, generating vertical and horizontal color difference signals using information from the frame of raw pixels, generating reconstructed color pixel values for raw pixels that are missing captured color pixel values of a first color component of the first color space, transforming the captured and reconstructed color pixel values of the first color component to brightness pixel values in a second color space, and transforming the vertical and horizontal color difference signals into chrominance pixel values in the second color space.

Abstract: A cart for supporting one or more instruments during a computer-assisted remote procedure can comprise a base; a steering interface having a portion configured to be grasped by a user; a sensor mechanism configured to detect a force applied to the steering interface by a user; and a switch operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The cart may further include a drive system comprising a control module operably coupled to receive an input from the sensor mechanism in response to the force applied to the steering interface and, on the condition that the switch is in the engaged position, to output a movement command based on the received input from the sensor mechanism. A driven wheel mounted to the base of the cart may be configured to impart motion to the cart in response to the movement command.

Abstract: Described are optical fibers, e.g., for use in stress-sensing or shape-sensing applications, that use overlapping grating configurations with chirped gratings to facilitate strain delay registration. In accordance with various embodiments, a fiber core may, for instance, have two overlapping sets of chirped gratings that differ in the direction of the chirp between the first and second sets, or a set of chirped gratings overlapping with a single-frequency grating. Also described are strain sensing systems and associated computational methods employing optical fibers with overlapping gratings.

Abstract: A system may access an image that is captured by an imaging device and that depicts an operational scene illuminated by close-range light. The system may also access a depth map of the operational scene that includes depth data corresponding to each pixel in the image. Based on the depth map, the system may determine a far-range lighting coefficient for each pixel in the image based on a relationship between the corresponding depth data included in the depth map for that respective pixel and a target distance to a virtual light source that is to be simulated to be illuminating the operational scene. Based on the image and these far-range lighting coefficients, the system may generate a processed image depicting the operational scene as being illuminated by the virtual light source and may provide the processed image for presentation on a display screen. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for processing video comprises storing, at a video data buffer, an input video frame data received from a source, causing the stored video frame data to be output from the video data buffer at an output video frame rate, and varying the output video frame rate based on a comparison of an amount of video frame data stored at the video data buffer to a threshold amount of frame data. The threshold amount of frame data may be based on a target total latency between capture of the input video frame data at the source and display of the stored video frame data output from the video data buffer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cutting element indication include an end effector having a jaw for clamping a material and a cutting element within the end effector and a processor. The cutting element is moveable relative to the end effector. The cutting element is driven by a drive element and a mechanism coupling the drive element to the cutting element. The processor is configured to determine a position of the cutting element relative to the end effector via a displacement of the drive element and a displacement of the mechanism and display, on a user interface, an indicator of the position of the cutting element relative to the end effector.

Abstract: Surgical systems configured to determine whether a surgical cartridge is present and unfired. A surgical system includes a surgical instrument, a drive source, a sensor and a controller. The surgical instrument is configured to receive and support a surgical cartridge. The drive source is drivingly coupled with an actuation output. The sensor is configured to generate a sensor output indicative of movement of the actuation output. The controller controls the drive source to attempt to actuate the actuation output opposite to the firing direction by a predetermined amount. The controller determines that the surgical cartridge is present and unfired when the resulting actuation amount of the actuation output is less than a threshold actuation amount.

Abstract: An end effector drive mechanism has first and second pulleys and first and second jaws configured as a torque-amplifying tool assemblies. Each pulley jaw pair is configured as kinematic assembly having a compact footprint that can amplify outputs to increase the grip force applied by the jaws. The end effector drive mechanism is within a pulley envelope defined by the first and second pulleys. In certain configurations, the tool assemblies are configured to produce a grip force independent from a push-pull force that is exerted on (or by) the jaws. In certain configurations, the tool assemblies are configured to prevent undesirable reverse rotations and limit the range of travel of the jaws (or pulleys).

Abstract: An actuation mechanism for a medical instrument includes a pinion and a face gear that move a push-pull element. The pinion has a mounting that permits rotation of the pinion by an external control system such as a robot. The face gear meshes with the pinion. The push-pull element may have a proximal end coupled to the face gear and a distal end coupled to a tool at a distal end of an instrument shaft. A manipulator coupled for manual rotation of the actuation mechanism may include a slip clutch to prevent manual application of excessive force to the actuation mechanism.

Abstract: An instrument includes a movable end effector component coupled to a shaft; a force transmission mechanism; and an actuation mechanism coupled to the force transmission mechanism and the end effector, the actuation mechanism comprising a first actuation member segment and a second actuation member segment. The force transmission mechanism comprises: a first pulley coupled to a rotatable drive input and having a first axis of rotation, and a second pulley having a second axis of rotation non-parallel to the first axis of rotation of the first pulley. The first actuation member segment is routed over the first pulley. In response to rotation of the rotatable drive input, at least a portion of the first actuation member segment is wound onto the first pulley and unwound from the second pulley, and the second actuation member segment is translated along the shaft to actuate the movable end effector component.

Abstract: A system may comprise an image capture device to capture an image of a work site. The system may also comprise a processor to determine whether a tool disposed at the work site is energized and determine a first area of the captured image of the work site, including or adjacent to an image of a portion of the tool in the captured image. The processor may also determine a second area of the captured image including a remainder of the captured image that does not include the first area. Conditioned upon determining that the tool is energized, at least one of the first area and the second area of the captured image of the work site may be processed to indicate that the tool in the first area is being energized. The image of the work site with the first area and the second area may be displayed.