Abstract: A slave manipulator manipulates a medical device in response to operator manipulation of an input device through joint control systems. The stiffness and strength of the slave manipulator are adjustable according to criteria such as the mode of operation of the slave manipulator, the functional type of the medical device currently being held by the slave manipulator, and the current phase of a medical procedure being performed using the slave manipulator by changing corresponding parameters of the control system. For safety purposes, such changes are not made until it is determined that it can be done in a smooth manner without causing jerking of the medical device. Further, an excessive force warning may be provided to surgery staff when excessive forces are being commanded on the slave manipulator for more than a specified period of time.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide a guidable intubation stylet comprises a handle having a handle body. The handle body defines a cavity. An opening is disposed at a proximal end of the handle body, and a chamber is disposed at a distal end of the handle body. A joystick has a steering grip extending proximally from a joystick body. The joystick body is disposed in the cavity with the steering grip extending through the opening. A stylet shaft is connected to the handle body at the distal end, and a controllable tip is disposed distal to the stylet shaft. One or more wires are connected to the joystick body and extend distally through the chamber. A rotation of the joystick body using the steering grip causes a displacement of the one or more wires, and the displacement of the one or more wires moves the controllable tip.

Abstract: A multi-user medical robotic system for collaboration or training in minimally invasive surgical procedures includes first and second master input devices, a first slave robotic mechanism, and at least one processor configured to generate a first slave command for the first slave robotic mechanism by switchably using one or both of a first command indicative of manipulation of the first master input device by a first user and a second command indicative of manipulation of the second master input device by a second user. To facilitate the collaboration or training, both first and second users communicate with each other through an audio system and see the minimally invasive surgery site on first and second displays respectively viewable by the first and second users.

Abstract: A slave manipulator manipulates a medical device in response to operator manipulation of an input device through joint control systems. The stiffness and strength of the slave manipulator are adjustable according to criteria such as the mode of operation of the slave manipulator, the functional type of the medical device currently being held by the slave manipulator, and the current phase of a medical procedure being performed using the slave manipulator by changing corresponding parameters of the control system. For safety purposes, such changes are not made until it is determined that it can be done in a smooth manner without causing jerking of the medical device. Further, an excessive force warning may be provided to surgery staff when excessive forces are being commanded on the slave manipulator for more than a specified period of time.

Abstract: A medical robotic system provides 3D telestration over a 3D view of an anatomical structure by receiving a 2D telestration graphic input associated with one of a pair of stereoscopic images of the anatomical structure from a mentor surgeon, determining a corresponding 2D telestration graphic input in the other of the pair of stereoscopic images using a disparity map, blending the telestration graphic inputs into respective ones of the pair of stereoscopic images, and providing the blended results to a 3D display so that a 3D view of the telestration graphic input may be displayed as an overlay to a 3D view of the anatomical structure to an operating surgeon.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical system includes a master control console having a stereo viewer to view stereo images; a surgical manipulator having a stereo endoscopic camera coupled to a robotic arm to generate the stereo images of a surgical site; a stereo telestration device coupled between the stereo endoscopic camera and the stereo viewer to mix telestration graphics and the stereo images of the surgical site together for viewing by the stereo viewer; and a telestration generator coupled to the stereo telestration device to generate the telestration graphics for overlay on the stereo images of the surgical site.

Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and/or surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods employ surgical robotic linkages that may have more degrees of freedom than an associated surgical end effector n space. A processor can calculate a tool motion that includes pivoting of the tool about an aperture site. Linkages movable along a range of configurations for a given end effector position may be driven toward configurations which inhibit collisions. Refined robotic linkages and method for their use are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides robotic surgical systems which allow selectable independent repositioning of an input handle of a master controller and/or a surgical end effector without corresponding movement of the other. In some embodiments, independent repositioning is limited to translational degrees of freedom. In other embodiments, the system provides an input device adjacent a manipulator supporting the surgical instrument so that an assistant can reposition the instrument at the patient's side.

Abstract: A multi-user medical robotic system for collaboration or training in minimally invasive surgical procedures includes first and second master input devices, a first slave robotic mechanism, and at least one processor configured to generate a first slave command for the first slave robotic mechanism by switchably using one or both of a first command indicative of manipulation of the first master input device by a first user and a second command indicative of manipulation of the second master input device by a second user. To facilitate the collaboration or training, both first and second users communicate with each other through an audio system and see the minimally invasive surgery site on first and second displays respectively viewable by the first and second users.

Abstract: Enhanced telepresence and telesurgery systems automatically update coordinate transformations so as to retain alignment between movement of an input device and movement of an end effector as displayed adjacent the input device. A processor maps a controller workspace with an end effector workspace, and effects movement of the end effector in response to the movement of the input device. This allows the use of kinematically dissimilar master and slave linkages. Gripping an input member near a gimbal point and appropriate input member to end effector mapping points enhance the operator's control. Dexterity is enhanced by accurately tracking orientational and/or angles of movement, even if linear movement distances of the end effector do not correspond to those of the input device.

Abstract: Surgical robots and other telepresence systems have enhanced grip actuation for manipulating tissues and objects with small sizes. A master/slave system is used in which an error signal or gain is artificially altered when grip members are near a closed configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing a surgical procedure on a beating heart of a patient. Methods are provided which include positioning an end effector in close proximity to a surgical site on the heart, the end effector being mounted on a robotically controlled arm. The motion of the surgical site is monitored and end effector tracking command signals computed in response to the monitored motion of the surgical site. The tracking command signals are forwarded to actuators operatively associated with the robotically controlled arm to cause the arm to move the end effector generally to track motion of the surgical site. The method further includes inputting an end effector movement command signal, and forwarding the end effector movement command signal to the actuators to cause the end effector to move relative to the surgical site so as to perform at least part of the surgical procedure.