Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for an articulating monopolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a wrist comprising a proximal clevis and a distal clevis; an end effector coupled to the distal clevis via a distal axle; at least one proximal pulley in the proximal clevis; at least one distal pulley in the distal clevis and coupled to the distal axle; a first cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley and the at least one distal pulley; and a second cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley without engaging the at least one distal pulley.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to robotic medical instrument systems. Such a system can include first and second medical instruments. The first medical instrument can include an instrument base and an elongate shaft extending from the instrument base, and a robotic drive input. The first medical instrument may include an instrument inlet. The second medical instrument may include an instrument base and an elongate shaft that extends through the instrument inlet. The second medical instrument can include a robotic drive input that is coupled to a rotating element in the second medical instrument. The robotic medical instrument system can include a robotic arm that has first and second robotic drive outputs. The first robotic drive output can drive the robotic drive input of the first medical instrument, and the second robotic drive output can drive the robotic drive input of the second medical instrument.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a clamp arm driver. The shaft assembly includes a shaft portion extending along a first longitudinal axis, an articulation assembly, a distal shaft portion, and an ultrasonic waveguide extending through the proximal shaft portion, the articulation assembly, and the distal shaft portion. The articulation section is configured to deflect the end effector toward and away from the first longitudinal axis between a straight and articulated configuration. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade defining a second longitudinal axis and a clamp arm configured to move between an open and closed configuration in order to grasp tissue. The clamp arm drive is configured to rotate the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade about the second longitudinal axis and actuate the clamp arm between the open and closed configuration while the end effector is in the articulated configuration.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a guide instrument interface including a plurality of guide instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate guide instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The guide instrument includes a plurality of guide instrument control elements operatively coupled to respective guide drive elements and secured to the distal end of the guide instrument. The guide instrument control elements are axially moveable relative to the guide instrument such that movement of the guide instrument distal end may be controlled by the master input device.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for articulating medical instruments. In one aspect, the instrument includes a wrist having at least one degree of freedom of movement, and an end effector coupled to the wrist. The end effector can include a cartridge for delivering a plurality of clips to tissue. The wrist may include one or more cables capable of moving an actuator with one degree of freedom of movement within the end effector to advance one or more clips through the end effector.

Abstract: Provided are systems and techniques for a medical procedure. For example, the system may include one or more robotic arms, an imaging device, a master controller, a viewer configured to render one or more digital images based on image data from the imaging device, at least one computer-readable memory having stored thereon executable instructions, and one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to execute the instructions to cause the system to: in a first mode of operation, cause movement of at least one of the robotic arms; and in a second mode of operation, cause the viewer to display an interactive menu and a graphical overlay on the one or more digital images.

Abstract: Provided is a robotic system that includes a surgical instrument with a wrist including an elongate shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end, a wrist extending from the distal end of the elongate shaft, and an end effector extending from the wrist. The end effector may include a first jaw and a second jaw, the first and second jaw being moveable between an open position in which ends of the jaws are separated from each other, and a closed position in which the ends of the jaws are closer to each other as compared to the open position. The surgical instrument may also include a tube extending through the elongate shaft and the wrist, the tube having an outlet in fluid communication with a passage formed by an interior of the first and second jaws when the jaws are in the closed position.

Abstract: The present application is related to devices, systems, and methods for controlling active drive systems. In one embodiment, the drive system may include a first surface and a second surface for engaging an elongate member. The first and second surfaces may be attached to a drive mechanism to move the elongate member. The first surface may be slidable relative to the drive mechanism and may have a clearance between the drive mechanism and an end of the first surface during movement of the elongate member in a non-slip condition. A sensor may be associated with the first surface and may be configured to detect movement of the first surface in a slip condition.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for manually and robotically driving a medical instrument. For example, a system can include a handle configured to receive an elongated shaft of a medical instrument. The handle can include a gripping mechanism for selectively engaging the elongated shaft, and an articulation input and configured for receiving user inputs of commanded articulation of the elongated shaft. The system can include an instrument drive mechanism configured to engage a base of the medical instrument. The instrument drive mechanism can include at least one robotic drive output configured to engage a robotic drive input of the base to cause articulation of the elongated shaft based on the user inputs received at the articulation input, and a first connector configured to removably couple the instrument drive mechanism to an instrument positioning device.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for path-based navigation of tubular networks. In one aspect, the method includes receiving location data from at least one of a set of location sensors and a set of robot command inputs, the location data being indicative of a location of an instrument configured to be driven through a luminal network. The method also includes determining a first estimate of the location of the instrument at a first time based on the location data, determining a second estimate of the location of the instrument at the first time based on the path, and determining the location of the instrument at the first time based on the first estimate and the second estimate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electromagnetic (EM) distortion detection and compensation are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes an instrument, the system configured to: determine a reference position of the distal end of the instrument at a first time based on EM location data, determine that the distal end of the instrument at a second time is static, and determine that the EM location data at the second time is indicative of a position of the distal end of the instrument having changed from the reference position by greater than a threshold distance. The system is further configured to: determine a current offset based on the distance between the position at the second time and the reference position at the first time, and determine a compensated position of the distal end of the instrument based on the EM location data and the current offset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that improve control of a shapeable or steerable instrument using shape data. Additional methods include preparing a robotic medical system for use with a shapeable instrument and controlling advancement of a shapeable medical device within an anatomic path. Also described herein are methods for altering a data model of an anatomical region.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems, devices, and techniques for clot manipulation and removal. At least some of the devices for clot manipulation and removal can be robotically controlled. These devices can include one or more elongate members that can be robotically driven through a patient's vasculature. One such device can include a first elongate member that can serve as an access sheath, a second elongate member that can serve as a clot removal catheter, a third elongate member that can serve as a clot disruptor, and a fourth elongate member that can serve as a guidewire.

Abstract: Systems and methods for driving a flexible medical instrument to a target in an anatomical space with robotic assistance are described herein. The flexible instrument may have a tracking sensor embedded therein. An associated robotic control system may be provided, which is configured to register the flexible instrument to an anatomical image using data from the tracking sensor and identify one or more movements suitable for navigating the instrument towards an identified target. In some embodiments, the robotic control system drives or assists in driving the flexible instrument to the target.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for a bipolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a first end effector, a first set of one or more distal pulleys coupled to the first end effector, and a wrist configured to house the first set of distal pulleys. The medical instrument also includes a plurality of cables extending through the wrist and a first insulating member formed between the first end effector and the first set of one or more distal pulleys.

Abstract: Navigation of an instrument within a luminal network can include image-based branch detection and mapping. Image-based branch detection can include identifying within an image one or more openings associated with one or more branches of a luminal network. Image-based branch mapping can include mapping the detected one or more openings to corresponding branches of the luminal network. Mapping may include comparing features of the openings to features of a set of expected openings. A position state estimate for the instrument can be determined from the mapped openings, which can facilitate navigation of the luminal network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting contact between a link and an external object are provided. In one aspect, there is provided a robotic system, including a manipulatable link, a rigid shell configured to overlay the manipulatable link, and one or more sensors positioned between the rigid shell and the manipulatable link. The one or more sensors are configured to detect contact between the rigid shell and an external object.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided in which an instrument can translate along an insertion axis. Rather than relying primarily on a robotic arm for instrument insertion, the instruments described herein have novel instrument based insertion architectures that allow portions of the instruments themselves to translate along an insertion axis. For example, an instrument can comprise a shaft, an end effector on a distal end of the shaft, and a handle coupled to the shaft. The architecture of the instrument allows the shaft to translate relative to the handle along an axis of insertion. The translation of the shaft does not interfere with other functions of the instrument, such as end effector actuation.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for medical robotic systems that leverage a versatile, open kinematic chain together with a set of medical-procedure-specific software-controlled actuation constraints in order to perform a variety of medical procedures. The robotic system can be operated in a first mode by identifying a remote center and constraining the actuation of motorized joints to maintain intersection of at least an insertion axis with the remote center. The robotic system can be operated in a second mode by identifying a virtual rail position and constraining the actuation of motorized joints to maintain alignment of the insertion axis along the virtual rail.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electromagnetic field generator alignment are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes an electromagnetic (EM) sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of the EM field, one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient. The system may also include a processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine a position of the EM sensor with respect to the field generator based on the one or more EM sensor signals, encode a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field, and provide the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render encoded data.