Abstract: Certain aspects relate to a medical system that includes a robotically controllable field generator and an instrument guide. The instrument guide may guide a percutaneously insertable instrument along an insertion axis. The instrument guide may also be positioned on an electromagnetic (EM) field generator, where the EM field generator can generate an EM field. A first robotic arm may be coupled to the EM field generator and it may move the EM field generator and the instrument guide. The system then determines: an EM target positioned within a patient, and a registration that maps positions within an EM coordinate frame associated with the EM field to positions within a robotic coordinate frame. The system may also determine, based on the registration, a position of the EM target within the robotic coordinate frame. Based on the position of the EM target within the robotic coordinate frame, move the first robotic arm may move to align the insertion axis of the instrument guide with the EM target.

Abstract: A robotic system can include a high force instrument that amplifies input forces such that output forces are greater than input forces. The high force instrument can include an end effector. The high force instrument can further include a first pulley configured to rotate about a pulley axis and a first jaw member connected to the first pulley by a first drive pin. The high force instrument can also include a second pulley configured to rotate about the pulley axis and a second jaw member connected to the second pulley by a second drive pink. A link can provide a first pivot point about which the first jaw member can pivot and a second pivot point about which the second jaw member can pivot.

Abstract: An endoscopic system includes an elongate shaft, a pull wire that runs a length of the elongate shaft, a handle coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate shaft, the handle housing a proximal portion of the pull wire, the handle being couplable to a robotic driver configured to tension the pull wire to cause articulation of the elongate shaft, and one or more conductors that run the length of the elongate shaft, the one or more conductors being electrically coupled to the pull wire at a distal portion of the elongate shaft and configured to form part of a closed electrical circuit with the pull wire.

Abstract: A robotic medical system can include a patient platform. The patient platform includes a tilt mechanism. The tilt mechanism can include a lateral tilt mechanism and a longitudinal tilt mechanism. The lateral tilt mechanism can include a tilt plate and a pivot housing. A linear actuator mounted on the tilt plate can apply a linear force to the pivot housing. The lateral tilt mechanism can also include a first linear guide that extends along a first axis, and the pivot housing can translate along the first linear guide. Application of the linear force to the pivot housing tilts the tilt plate by causing the pivot housing to translate along the first linear guide.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems, methods, and techniques for correcting for uncommanded instrument roll. A method for adjusting a controller-feedback system in a medical instrument may comprise receiving data from a sensor at or near a distal end of the instrument, determining a tip frame of reference based on the data from the sensor, the tip frame of reference representing a current orientation of the distal end of the instrument, obtaining a desired frame of reference, determining an adjustment to a visual frame of reference or a control frame of reference based on the tip frame of reference and the desired frame of reference, and transforming the visual frame of reference or the control frame of reference.

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: Provided are systems and methods for location sensor-based branch prediction. In one aspect, the method includes determining a first orientation of an instrument based on first location data generated by a set of one or more location sensors for the instrument and determining a second orientation of the instrument at a second time based on second location data. A distal end of the instrument is located within a first segment of a model at the first time and the second time and the first segment branches into two or more child segments. The method also includes determining data indicative of a difference between the first orientation and the second orientation and determining a prediction that the instrument will advance into a first one of the child segments based on the data indicative of the difference.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for detection of undesirable forces on one or more surgical robotic arms. In one aspect, there is provided a system including a robotic arm, including: two linkages, a joint, a torque sensor, and an instrument device manipulator (IDM). The system may further include a processor configured to measure a first torque value at the joint based on an output of the torque sensor and determine a second torque value at the joint based on a position of the robotic arm. The second torque value may be indicative of a gravitational component of the torque between the two linkages. The processor may be further configured to determine a force at the IDM based a difference between the first and second torque values and determine whether the robotic arm has collided with an object or misaligned based on the force at the IDM.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to a medical system that includes a robotically controllable field generator and an instrument guide. The instrument guide may guide a percutaneously insertable instrument along an insertion axis. The instrument guide may also be positioned on an electromagnetic (EM) field generator, where the EM field generator can generate an EM field. A first robotic arm may be coupled to the EM field generator and it may move the EM field generator and the instrument guide. The system then determines: an EM target positioned within a patient, and a registration that maps positions within an EM coordinate frame associated with the EM field to positions within a robotic coordinate frame. The system may also determine, based on the registration, a position of the EM target within the robotic coordinate frame. Based on the position of the EM target within the robotic coordinate frame, move the first robotic arm may move to align the insertion axis of the instrument guide with the EM target.

Abstract: Articulating medical instruments and corresponding techniques can be utilized using a robotically enabled medical system. In a surgical method, a clinician can insert a distal end of a medical instrument into a treatment area of a patient. Once inserted, a first bending section of the medical instrument can be articulated by driving one or more motors of an articulation handle that is positioned at a proximal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An instrument driver comprises a base and a jaw assembly coupled to the base. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw having a gripping surface and a second jaw having a gripping surface. The instrument driver further comprises a driver assembly operably coupled to the jaw assembly to advance an elongated member relative to the base by translating the first and second jaws toward each other, thereby closing the jaw assembly and gripping the member between the respective gripping surfaces of the first and second jaws, translating the jaw assembly in a first axial direction when the jaw assembly is closed, translating the first and second jaws away from each other, thereby opening the jaw assembly and releasing the member from between the respective gripping surfaces of the first and second jaws, and translating the jaw assembly in a second axial direction when the jaw assembly is opened.

Abstract: Provided are robotic systems and methods for navigation of luminal network that can improve strain-based shape sensing. In one aspect, the system can compare strain-based shape data to shape data determined based on robotic data (e.g., kinematic model data, torque measurements, mechanical model data, command data, etc.) and adjust the strain-based shape data as necessary. Any portion of the strain-based shape data can be adjusted, weighted differently, or discarded based on the comparison. For example, data from trustworthy sources may indicate that the shape of an instrument exhibits or should exhibit one or more characteristics. If the system determines that any portion of the strain-based shape data is not in agreement with such characteristics, the system may adjust the portion of the strain-based shape data such that the adjusted strain-based shape data is in agreement with the characteristics of the instrument.

Abstract: A robotic system is described for determining whether a flexible instrument has buckled. The robotic system comprises a medical instrument comprising an elongate body, and further comprises a first sensor placed in a first portion of the elongate body, and a controller. A command is directed to the elongate body. The first sensor generates sensor data providing information regarding a first measured status of the portion of the elongate body. The controller receives sensor data generated from the first sensor, and compare the first measured status with a first expected status expected to be caused by the command; and responsive to the first measured status deviating from the first expected status one of more or less than a first associated threshold, determine that the elongate body has buckled.

Abstract: Robotic medical systems can be capable of kinematic optimization using shared robotic degrees-of-freedom. A robotic medical system can include a patient platform, an adjustable arm support coupled to the patient platform, and at least one robotic arm coupled to the adjustable arm support. The at least one robotic arm can be coupled to a medical tool. The robotic medical system includes a first link and a second link. Each of the first link and the second link includes a first end coupled to the adjustable arm support and a second end coupled to a base of the patient platform, for rotating the adjustable arm support relative to the patient platform. The robotic medical system can also include a processor configured to adjust a position of the adjustable arm support and the at least one robotic arm while maintaining a remote center of movement of the medical tool.

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 embodiment of the present invention provides for an elongated medical device with a hypotube backbone running through the device, and a spiral lumen spiraled around the backbone along the length of the backbone. The backbone may be formed from a nitinol alloy for increased bendability without compromising axial stiffness. The device may also incorporate a jacket around the hypotube and spiral lumen formed using either melting, molding, bonding, or casting. The spiral lumen may be configured to accommodate a variety of uses, including actuation members (e.g., pull wires), tools, and means for aspiration, irrigation, image capture, and illumination. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for constructing an elongated medical device with a hypotube backbone running through the device, and a spiral lumen spiraled around the backbone along the length of the backbone.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for navigation-assisted medical devices. Some aspects relate to correlating features of depth information generated based on captured images of an anatomical luminal network with virtual features of depth information generated based on virtual images of a virtual representation of the anatomical luminal network in order to automatically determine aspects of a roll of a medical device within the luminal network.

Abstract: Navigation of an instrument within a luminal network can include image-based airway analysis and mapping. Image-based airway analysis can include detecting one or more airways in an image captured within a luminal network and determining branching information indicative of how the current airway in which the image is captured branches into the detected “child” airways. Image-based airway mapping can include mapping the one or more detected airways to corresponding expected airways of the luminal network in the preoperative model.