Abstract: An instrument device manipulator (IDM) is attached to a surgical arm of a robotic system and comprises a surgical tool holder and an outer housing. The surgical tool holder includes an attachment interface that can secure a surgical tool in a front-mount configuration (where the attachment interface is on a face opposite of a proximal extension of the surgical tool) or a back-mount configuration (where the attachment interface is on the same face as the proximal extension of the surgical tool). The surgical tool holder may rotate continuously within the outer housing. In a back-mount configuration, the surgical tool holder may have a passage that receives the proximal extension of the tool and allows free rotation of the proximal extension about the rotational axis. A surgical drape separates the IDM and robotic arm from a tool, while allowing electrical and/or optical signals to pass therebetween.

Abstract: An object sizing system sizes an object positioned within a patient. The object sizing system identifies a presence of the object. The object sizing system navigates an elongate body of an instrument to a position proximal to the object within the patient. An imaging sensor coupled to the elongate body captures one or more sequential images of the object. The instrument may be further moved around within the patient to capture additional images at different positions/orientations relative to the object. The object sizing system also acquires robot data and/or EM data associated with the positions and orientations of the elongate body. The object sizing system analyzes the captured images based on the acquired robot data to estimate a size of the object.

Abstract: An electromagnetic (EM) system for tracking a surgical tool is provided. The system may comprise a plurality of subsets of field generator coils disposed along edge portions of a surgical bed. Each subset of field generator coils may be configured to generate a magnetic field within a control volume. The system may further comprise a position sensor disposed on a portion of the surgical tool. The position sensor may be configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field when the position sensor is located inside the control volume. Additionally, the system may comprise an EM system controller configured to selectively activate one or more of the subsets of field generator coils based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a memory device and a processor coupled to a display device, an image capture device, and the memory device. The processor is configured to: cause images captured by the image capture device to be displayed in a viewing area on the display device; determine a position of a tool in a reference frame of the image capture device; determine a position to display a non-depictive symbol for the tool in a boundary area circumscribing the viewing area to indicate a direction of the determined position of the tool relative to a field of view of the image capture device, by determining a trajectory of the tool; and cause the non-depictive symbol to be displayed at the determined position in the boundary area while images that were captured by the image capture device are restricted to being displayed in the viewing area.

Abstract: An endolumenal robotic system provides the surgeon with the ability to drive a robotically-driven endoscopic device to a desired anatomical position in a patient without the need for awkward motions and positions, while also enjoying improved image quality from a digital camera mounted on the endoscopic device.

Abstract: A teleoperated system includes a robotic arm configured to support an instrument, a grip configured to be manipulated by an operator to command motion of the instrument, and a control system communicatively coupled to the robotic arm and the grip. To align the grip with the instrument by the grip, the control system is configured to determine grip rotation values describing an orientation of the grip, determine instrument rotation values describing an orientation of the instrument, determine an orientation error between the orientation of the grip and the orientation of the instrument based on the grip rotation values and the instrument rotation values, produce a motion command by selectively imposing, based on the orientation error, an artificial joint limit on a commanded movement of the instrument, and command the robotic arm to move in accordance with the motion command.

Abstract: An instrument device manipulator (IDM) is attached to a surgical arm of a robotic system and comprises a surgical tool holder and an outer housing. The surgical tool holder includes an attachment interface that can secure a surgical tool in a front-mount configuration (where the attachment interface is on a face opposite of a proximal extension of the surgical tool) or a back-mount configuration (where the attachment interface is on the same face as the proximal extension of the surgical tool). The surgical tool holder may rotate continuously within the outer housing. In a back-mount configuration, the surgical tool holder may have a passage that receives the proximal extension of the tool and allows free rotation of the proximal extension about the rotational axis. A surgical drape separates the IDM and robotic arm from a tool, while allowing electrical and/or optical signals to pass therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical manipulator assembly comprises a manipulator movably supporting a tool holder and an indicator section operably coupled to the manipulator for indicating state or identity information. The indicator section includes a multiple-color light emitting diode (LED) and a first fastener for operably coupling a second fastener of a sterile drape used to substantially cover the surgical manipulator assembly.

Abstract: A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

Abstract: A teleoperated system includes a master grip and a ratcheting system coupled to the master grip. The ratcheting system is configured to align the master grip with a slave instrument commanded by the master grip by determining grip rotation values describing an orientation of the master grip, determining instrument rotation values describing an orientation of the instrument, determining an orientation error between an orientation of the master grip and the orientation of the instrument based on the grip rotation values and the instrument rotation values, and reducing the orientation error by low pass filtering the grip rotation values or the instrument rotation values.

Abstract: A robotic system includes control circuitry configured to cause actuation of one or more actuators of each of a first robotic arm and a second robotic arm. The control circuitry is configured to determine a position of a first end effector of the first robotic arm and a position of a second end effector of the second robotic arm, the positions of the first end effector and the second end effector forming a virtual rail, receive manual positioning input for the first robotic arm based at least in part on sensor signals from one or more sensors of the first robotic arm, and in response to the manual positioning input, generate a first movement command to move the first robotic arm in accordance with the manual positioning input and generate a second movement command to move the second robotic arm in a manner as to maintain at least one of a position or orientation of the second end effector relative to a point on the virtual rail.

Abstract: A system comprises an instrument having a bendable portion with first and control elements extending in the bendable portion and a control system operably coupled to an actuator and a sensor. The control system operates to, while the bendable portion is in a neutral position, command the actuator to move the first control element a first amount until slack is removed from the first control element and command the actuator to move the second control element a second amount until slack is removed from the second control element. The control system also receives a first control element calibration position after moving the first control element the first amount and receives a second control element calibration position after moving the second control element the second amount. The control system also commands the actuator to bend the bendable portion from the neutral position and determine a resulting shape of the bendable portion.

Abstract: A surgical instrument may comprise a housing and a shaft a shaft extending within the housing. The shaft may include first and second ends. The shaft may be configured for rotation in response to either a robotic actuation of the shaft or a manual actuation of the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a receiving member coupled to the first end of the shaft. The receiving member may be configured to releasably couple to a driver of a robotic manipulator to receive the robotic actuation from the driver to rotate the shaft and articulate an instrument component coupled to the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a manual actuation component coupled to the second end of the shaft and extending from the housing. The manual actuation component may be configured to receive the manual actuation to rotate the shaft and articulate the instrument component coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide improved navigation through tubular networks such as lung airways by providing improved estimation of location and orientation information of a medical instrument (e.g., an endoscope) within the tubular network. Various input data such as image data, EM data, and robot data are used by different algorithms to estimate the state of the medical instrument, and the state information is used to locate a specific site within a tubular network and/or to determine navigation information for what positions/orientations the medical instrument should travel through to arrive at the specific site. Probability distributions together with confidence values are generated corresponding to different algorithms are used to determine the medical instrument's estimated state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for moving or manipulating robotic arms are provided. A group of robotic arms are configured to form a virtual rail or line between the end effectors of the robotic arms. The robotic arms are responsive to outside force such as from a user. When a user moves a single one of the robotic arms, the other robotic arms will automatically move to maintain the virtual rail alignments. The virtual rail of the robotic arm end effectors may be translated in one or more of three dimensions. The virtual rail may be rotated about a point on the virtual rail line. The robotic arms can detect the nature of the contact from the user and move accordingly. Holding, shaking, tapping, pushing, pulling, and rotating different parts of the robotic arm elicits different movement responses from different parts of the robotic arm.

Abstract: A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a housing and a valve mounted in the housing. The valve is configured to control a flow of a fluid into or out of a surgical site in response to either a robotic actuation of the valve or a manual actuation of the valve. The valve comprises a valve shaft, a receiving member structurally coupled to the valve shaft, and a manual actuation component structurally coupled to the valve shaft and extending from the housing. The receiving member is configured to releasably couple to a driver of a robotic manipulator to receive the robotic actuation from the driver remotely controlled by a surgeon to adjust a state of the valve. The manual actuation component is configured to receive the manual actuation to adjust the state of the valve.

Abstract: An object sizing system sizes an object positioned within a patient. The object sizing system identifies a presence of the object. The object sizing system navigates an elongate body of an instrument to a position proximal to the object within the patient. An imaging sensor coupled to the elongate body captures one or more sequential images of the object. The instrument may be further moved around within the patient to capture additional images at different positions/orientations relative to the object. The object sizing system also acquires robot data and/or EM data associated with the positions and orientations of the elongate body. The object sizing system analyzes the captured images based on the acquired robot data to estimate a size of the object.

Abstract: Floating electromagnetic field generator systems and methods are provided. The system comprises a surgical bed portion. The system also comprises a brace component disposed within the surgical bed portion. Additionally, the system comprises a first arm that is attached to the brace component. The first arm is positioned adjacent to the surgical bed portion. Additionally, the first arm has at least one field generator coil embedded therein. The system also comprises a second arm that is attached to the brace component. The second arm is positioned adjacent to the surgical bed portion. Additionally, the second arm has at least one field generator coil embedded therein. The second arm is positioned parallel to the first arm.

Abstract: Medical and/or robotic devices, systems and methods can provide an indicator associated with each manipulator assembly of a multi-arm telerobotic or telesurgical system. The exemplary indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) mounted to a manipulator moving an associated surgical instrument, allowing the indicator to display any of a wide variety of signals. The invention may provide an additional user interface to facilitate communications between the telesurgical system and/or members of a telesurgical team.