Abstract: For position sensors, e.g., a fiber-based system, that build a shape of an elongated member, such as a catheter, using a sequence of small orientation measurements, a small error in orientation at the proximal end of the sensor will cause large error in position at distal points on the fiber. Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed, which may provide full or partial registration along the length of the sensor to reduce the influence of the measurement error. Additional examples are directed to applying selective filtering at a proximal end of the elongated member to provide a more stable base for distal measurements and thereby reducing the influence of measurement errors.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for preparing a robotic system for surgery. In one aspect, the method includes a robotic arm, a sensor configured to generate information indicative of a location of the robotic arm, a processor, and at least one computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions. The instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive the information from the sensor, determine that the robotic arm is located at a first position in which a first axis associated with the robotic arm is not in alignment with a second axis associated with a port installed in a patient, and provide a command to move the robotic arm to a second position in which the first axis associated with the robotic arm is in alignment with the second axis.

Abstract: A robotic system is configured to evaluate an identified phase of a medical procedure. The robotic system includes a video capture device; a robotic manipulator; one or more sensors; an input device; a data store; and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to: determine a first status of the robotic manipulator based on sensor data from the one or more sensors; identify a first input from the input device for initiating a first action of the robotic manipulator; perform a first analysis of a video of a patient site captured by the video capture device; identify a first phase of the medical procedure based at least in part on the first status of the robotic manipulator, the first input, and the first analysis of the video; and generate an evaluation of the first phase of the medical procedure based on one or more metrics associated with the first phase.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for surgical robotic arm setup. In one aspect, there is provided a system including a first robotic arm configured to manipulate a medical instrument, a processor, and a memory. The processor may be configured to: determine a minimum stroke length of the first robotic arm that allows advancing of the medical instrument by the first robotic arm to reach a target region from an access point via a path, determine a boundary for an initial pose of the first robotic arm based on the minimum stroke length and a mapping stored in the memory, and during an arm setup phase prior to performing a procedure, provide an indication of the boundary during movement of the first robotic arm.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to medical instruments including wrists with hybrid redirect surfaces. Such medical instruments can include, for example, a shaft with a wrist positioned at a distal end. The wrist can include a proximal clevis connected to the shaft and a distal clevis pivotally connected to the proximal clevis. The wrist can also include a static redirect surface, such as a face of a clevis, and a dynamic redirect surface, such as a pulley. The instrument can include an end effector connected to the distal clevis. A plurality of pull wires can extend through the shaft and the wrist and engage with and actuate the wrist and the end effector. A first pull wire segment of the plurality of pull wires can engage the static redirect surface, and a second pull wire segment of the plurality of pull wires can engage the dynamic redirect surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for tracking, localization or controlling an elongate instrument or other medical instrument in an image or patient.

Abstract: A surgical system may include an elongated arm support and a robotic arm supported on the elongated arm support. The robotic arm may translate along the elongated arm support. A partially enclosed cavity may be defined in the elongated arm support for receiving an electrical cable electrically coupled to the robotic arm so that the first electrical cable is within the cavity and includes a rolling loop that moves in conjunction with movement of the robotic arm.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a surgical effector having a wrist configured to manipulate objects at a surgical site, one or more robotically operable input controllers configured to open and close the wrist of the surgical effector, and a manual actuator configured to open and close the wrist of the surgical effector.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to manually and robotically controllable medical instruments. A manually and robotically controllable medical instrument can include an elongated shaft articulable by pull wires. The elongated shaft can be connected to an instrument handle that attaches to an instrument drive mechanism. The instrument handle can include a pulley assembly on which the pull wires can be mounted. Rotation of the pulley assembly can actuate the pull wires to cause articulation of the elongated shaft. The medical instrument also includes a manual drive input connected to the pulley assembly such that manual actuation of the manual drive input causes rotation of the first pulley assembly and a robotic drive input configured to engage with a robotic drive output of the instrument drive mechanism such that rotation of the first robotic drive output causes rotation of the pulley assembly.

Abstract: A robotic instrument driver for elongate members includes a first elongate member, and at least one manipulator mechanism configured to manipulate the first elongate member, and at least one articulating drive configured to articulate the first elongate member, positionable on a bed and beside a patient access site. The manipulator and articulating drive are positioned relative to each other a distance less than the insertable length of the first elongate member, stationary in position.

Abstract: A method of detecting a stuck basket condition involves retracting an endoscope within an anatomical cavity of a patient, the endoscope having a basket device disposed at least partially within a working channel thereof, determining that a force reading associated with at least one of the basket device and the endoscope exceeds a predetermined threshold, and determining that the basket device is in a stuck condition based at least in part on the determination that the force reading exceeds the predetermined threshold.

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: A robotic surgical system with an input device has two operational modes by which both steerable and non-steerable elongate instruments can be effectively controlled, such as steerable catheters which can move in at least three orthogonal axes and non-steerable guidewires which can move via axial insertion/retraction or axial rotation. The robotic surgical system may include mapping schemes and haptic feedback to enhance the functionality, operation and ease of use of the input device when controlling non-steerable elongate instruments such as guidewires.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing a global coordinate system to facilitate robotic assisted surgery. The coordinate system may be established using a combination of the robotic data, i.e., kinematics, and optical coherence tomographic images generated by an overhead optical assembly and a tool-based sensor. Using these components, the system may generate a computer-registered three-dimensional model of the patient's eye. In some embodiments, the system may also generate a virtual boundary within the coordinate system to prevent inadvertent injury to the patient.

Abstract: The systems and devices disclosed herein can include a force transfer mechanism that permits force transfer between an instrument device manipulator and a tool coupled to the instrument device manipulator. The force transfer mechanism can include a first alignment member and a second alignment member. The first alignment member can have a disengaged position in which the first alignment member is out of engagement with the second alignment member, thereby reducing or preventing engagement between an instrument device manipulator base driveshaft and a tool driveshaft and permitting rotation of the base driveshaft relative to the tool driveshaft. When in an engaged position, the second alignment member can permit engagement between the base driveshaft to the tool driveshaft and transfer of rotary motion from the base driveshaft to the tool driveshaft. Additionally, the present disclosure also relates to methods of preparing and using a medical robotic system.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes an endoscope, a robotic arm including a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism coupled to the endoscope. The surgical robotic system further includes a controller configured to receive a command to move the endoscope using the robotic arm, access a set of calibration parameters associated with the endoscope, generate an adjusted command based on the command and the set of calibration parameters, and provide the adjusted command to the robotic arm to move the endoscope.

Abstract: A robotic system comprises a robotic arm and a medical instrument. The robotic arm comprises a series of linkages connected by a series of joints and one or more instrument drivers coupled to a distal end of the series of linkages. The medical instrument comprises an elongated shaft extending between a distal portion and a proximal portion, an instrument base connected to the proximal portion of the elongated shaft, the instrument base including an attachment interface configured to facilitate attachment to the robotic arm, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a compression compensation parameter, and a pull wire connected to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, the pull wire extending along the elongated shaft between the distal portion and a drive input positioned at the instrument base, the drive input configured to actuate the pull wire to cause movement of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for endoscopically-assisted percutaneous medical procedures. A method can include inserting a first medical instrument having an elongated shaft and a first position sensor into a treatment region of a patient through a natural orifice of the patient. A first position of the first medical instrument within the treatment region can be determined with the first position sensor. A target location can be defined within the treatment region that is distanced from the determined first position. A second medical instrument can be percutaneously guided toward the target location. The method can be performed on a robotically-enabled medical system.

Abstract: A surgical tool having an electromagnetic (EM) sensor component is provided. The surgical tool has a flexible shaft portion. Additionally, the surgical tool has a rigid portion attached to the flexible shaft portion. The rigid portion comprises at least one EM sensor within the rigid portion. The at least one EM sensor comprises an extended core portion surrounded by a coil. Additionally, the at least one EM sensor generates a change in voltage when exposed to an electromagnetic field.