Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”), an electrical component attached to a surface of the PCB, and a conformal barrier disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the PCB and on an outer surface of the electrical component. The conformal barrier includes a first barrier layer including an atomic layer deposited film and a second barrier layer including Parylene.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC voltage regulator circuit comprising: an output node; a pull-up switch and a pull-down switch with an output node coupled between them; a reactive circuit element coupled to the output node; a pull-up setting voltage circuit coupled to provide a pull-up setting voltage that is a function of a voltage at the output node; a pull-down setting voltage circuit coupled to provide a pull-down setting voltage that is a function of the voltage at the output node; a first comparator coupled to cause the pull-up switch to transition between open switch state and its closed switch state based upon a comparison of the pull-up setting voltage and a control voltage; and a second comparator coupled to cause the pull-down switch to transition between its open switch state and its closed switch state.

Abstract: A surgical system is provided comprising: an input device; and a controller for receiving control inputs from the input device and for providing haptic feedback at the input device, the controller configured to apply a staged transition from a first haptic feedback profile at the input device to a second haptic feedback profile at the input device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to detect electrical contact between anatomical tissue and a shield conductor: a transformer; an alternating current (AC) reference frequency signal generator to inject a reference frequency signal to a primary winding of the transformer; a reactive impedance coupled in parallel with a secondary winding of the transformer between a first node and a second node; and a phase match detector circuit to detect a phase match between the reference frequency signal and a reflected reference frequency signal that is reflected from the secondary winding to the primary winding.

Abstract: Systems and methods of assisting operator engagement with input devices include an input device configured to be operated by a hand of an operator, a repositionable structure coupled to the input device, a hand detection system, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to detect a position and an orientation of the hand using the hand detection system, determine, based on the position of the hand, a target position for the input device, wherein moving the input device from a current position of the input device to the target position moves the input device closer to a grasping position for the hand, and in response to determining that an orientation difference between the orientation of the hand and a current orientation of the input device is not greater than a threshold orientation difference, cause one or more actuators to move the input device toward the target position.

Abstract: A system includes an image sensor, an imaging pipeline, and a display device. The image sensor is configured to capture a first frame of pixel data. The imaging pipeline is coupled to the image sensor to receive the first frame of pixel data. The imaging pipeline includes an adaptive noise filter. The adaptive noise filter is configured to filter a pixel based on noise in the pixel. The imaging pipeline is configured to output a second frame of pixel data. The second frame of pixel data includes pixels filtered by the adaptive noise filter. The display device is coupled to the imaging pipeline to receive the second frame of pixel data. The display device is configured to display the second frame of pixel data.

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring control points of a computer-assisted device include a first articulated arm associated with a first control point and a control unit coupled to the first articulated arm. The control unit is configured to determine a first expected path representative of expected positions of the first control point over time when a movement of the first control point is caused by a movement of a table that moves the first articulated arm, the table being separate from the computer-assisted device; determine a first actual path representative of actual positions of the first control point over time when the movement of the first control point is caused by the movement of the table; determine whether to perform a first remedial action based on the first actual path and the first expected path; and in response to a determination to perform the first remedial action, perform the first remedial action.

Abstract: Methods and systems for damping vibrations in a surgical system are disclosed herein. The damping of these vibrations can increase the precision of surgery performed using the surgical system. The surgical system can include one or several moveable set-up linkages. A damper can be connected with one or several of the set-up linkages. The damper can be a passive damper and can mitigate a vibration arising in one or more of the set-up linkages. The damper can additionally prevent a vibration arising in one of the linkages from affecting another of the set-up linkages. In some embodiments the damper is a squeeze film damper. In some embodiments, the squeeze film damper includes an insert having a plurality of first protrusions, a cup configured to receive the insert, and the cup having a having a plurality of second protrusions interdigitated with the plurality of first protrusions.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument that is sensitive to backlash that would adversely affect the transmission of controlled torque and position to the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument is coupled to motors in a surgical instrument manipulator assembly via a mechanical interface. The combination of the mechanical interface and surgical instrument manipulator assembly have low backlash, e.g., less than 0.7 degrees. The backlash is controlled in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly. From the drive output disk in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly to the driven disk of the surgical instrument, the mechanical interface has zero backlash for torque levels used in surgical procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to deliver electrical energy to energize an end effector coupled via a clevis to a shaft of a medical instrument comprises an electrical transmission conduit configured to extend along the shaft from a proximal portion to a distal portion and configured to deliver electrical energy to energize the end effector, and a connector assembly configured to couple to the end effector. The connector assembly comprises an electrically conductive contact portion configured to electrically couple the electrical transmission conduit to the end effector, the electrically conductive contact portion defining a pivot surface about which the end effector is rotatable in a coupled state of the connector assembly to the end effector; and an electrically insulating member configured to electrically insulate the end effector from the clevis in a coupled state of the connector assembly to the end effector.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for positioning an end effector or remote center of a manipulator arm by floating a first set of joints within a null-perpendicular joint velocity sub-space and providing a desired state or movement of a proximal portion of a manipulator arm concurrent with end effector positioning by driving a second set of joints within a null-space orthogonal to the null-perpendicular space. Methods include floating a first set of joints within a null-perpendicular space to allow manual positioning of one or both of a remote center or end effector position within a work space and driving a second set of joints according to an auxiliary movement calculated within a null-space according to a desired state or movement of the manipulator arm during the floating of the joints. Various configurations for devices and systems utilizing such methods are provided herein.

Abstract: Inter-operative switching of tools in a robotic system includes a system with a plurality of manipulators and a controller. The controller is configured to detect mounting of a first imaging device to a first manipulator of the plurality of manipulators, the first imaging device having a first reference frame; in response to detecting the mounting of the first imaging device, control a tool relative to the first reference frame using a second manipulator of the plurality of manipulators, the tool being mounted to the second manipulator; detect mounting of a second imaging device to a third manipulator of the plurality of manipulators, the second imaging device having a second reference frame; and in response to detecting the mounting of the second imaging device, control the tool relative to the second reference frame using the second manipulator.

Abstract: A tool includes a transmission mechanism, a shaft rotatable relative to the transmission mechanism, and a stop mechanism associated with the shaft, the stop mechanism being transitionable between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the shaft is free to rotate in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In the second state, the shaft is constrained from rotating in one of the first direction or the second direction by a defined first endpoint of a range of rotational motion of the shaft. Devices and methods relate to rotation stop mechanisms.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting image-guided procedures include a device having an instrument usable to collect location data for one or more passageways and one or more processors coupled to the instrument. The one or more processors are configured to organize a plurality of points within the location data based on a corresponding insertion depth of the instrument when each of the plurality of points is collected, create a passageway tree based on the points, identify at least three non-collinear landmark locations within the passageway tree, create a seed transformation between one or more of the at least three non-collinear landmark locations and corresponding model locations in model data, and register, using the seed transformation, the plurality of points to the model data for the one or more passageways. In some embodiments, the at least three non-collinear landmark locations are based on a main branch point in the passageway tree.

Abstract: An exemplary medical system includes a first electrical circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured to generate data, a second electrical circuit on the PCB and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit, and a radio frequency (RF) communication interface assembly on the PCB. The RF communication interface assembly includes an RF transmitter electrically coupled to the first electrical circuit and electrically isolated from the second electrical circuit, an RF receiver out of direct RF signal path alignment with the RF transmitter, electrically coupled to the second electrical circuit, and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit, and a waveguide between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver and configured to guide an RF signal representative of the data between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver.

Abstract: An exemplary medical system includes a first electrical circuit (204-1) on a PCB (206), a second electrical circuit (204-2) on the PCB and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit, and a free space optics interface assembly (302) on the PCB. The free space optics assembly includes a housing (402) defining a free space chamber (404) in the housing, an optical transmitter (416) having an input (426) that is electrically coupled to the first electrical circuit, and an optical receiver (418) in optical communication with the optical transmitter via the free space chamber and having an output (432) that is electrically coupled to the second electrical circuit. The optical transmitter and the optical receiver are hermetically sealed within the housing.

Abstract: A publishing node comprises one or more processors and a first synchronization database. The first synchronization database comprises a subscriber list of a plurality of subscribers, a plurality of first attributes and a plurality of first flags. The publishing node publishes, to a first subscriber from the plurality of subscribers, one or more of the first attributes having a respective one of the first flags set. The respective one of the first flags associates a respective one of the first attributes with the first subscriber. The publishing node also receives an error message from the first subscriber. In response to receiving the error message, the publishing node sets each of the first flags associated with the first subscriber and republishes each of the first attributes associated with each of the first flags associated with the first subscriber.

Abstract: A cannula and instrument guide assembly includes a cannula with a proximal portion and a tube. An instrument guide is removably inserted into the proximal portion of the cannula and extends through the cannula to a distal end of the tube. The proximal portion of the cannula has an insufflation port. The instrument guide provides at least one interior passageway to support a shaft of a surgical instrument that passes through the instrument guide. One or more channels on an outer surface of the instrument guide provide a passage for insufflation gas received from the insufflation port to the distal end of the tube. The one or more channels have a first cross-sectional area at a proximal end and a second, larger cross-sectional area at a distal end. The one or more channels may have the first cross-sectional area along a majority of the length of the channels.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A medical device includes an input link movable through an input link range of motion, a jaw coupled with the input link, and a tissue manipulation member coupled to the input link and positioned to manipulate a tissue gripped by the jaw. The input link range of motion includes a first portion and a second portion. The input link within the first portion of the input link range of motion drives the jaw through a jaw range of motion. The input link within the second portion of the input link range of motion drives the tissue manipulation member through a tissue manipulation member range of motion.

Abstract: A stiffening assembly comprises an outer tube including a longitudinal axis, an inner tube extending along the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of laminar elements between the outer tube and the inner tube and separate from the outer tube and the inner tube. The stiffening assembly is adjustable between a flexible state in which each laminar element of the plurality of laminar elements is movable and a stiffened state in which an applied vacuum clamps the plurality of laminar elements between the outer and inner tubes such that a transfer of forces between the plurality of laminar elements stiffens the stiffening assembly. At least one laminar element of the plurality of laminar elements has a different thickness than at least another laminar element of the plurality of laminar elements.