Abstract: Systems and methods for instrument control include first and second actuators and a controller configured to command the first actuator to maintain a first degree of freedom (DOF) of an instrument at a first position; command the second actuator to maintain a second DOF of the instrument at a second position; detect, while the first actuator is maintaining the first DOF at the first position, a first manual actuation of the first actuator that exceeds a first threshold; detect, while the second actuator is maintaining the second DOF at the second position, a second manual actuation of the second actuator that does not exceed a second threshold; and in response to detecting that the first manual actuation exceeds the first threshold and the second manual actuation does not exceed the second threshold, terminate the command to the first actuator to maintain the first DOF at the first position.

Abstract: A stereo imaging system comprises a depth sensing system, a stereo viewer, and a processor configured to receive captured stereo worksite images, compare a depth value to a predetermined threshold value, and generate stereo images for display by adjusting or not adjusting native disparities based on the comparison of the depth value to the threshold value.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument, such as a tissue sealing instrument, having a staple cartridge with a staple pusher and a staple; and a drive member configured to translate distally through the instrument. The drive member includes a lateral projection configured to engage the staple pusher and drive the staple into tissue. The lateral projection of the drive member has a height substantially less than the height of the staple cartridge, thereby requiring less clearance as it translates through the staple cartridge. In addition, the lateral projection has a smaller footprint than conventional drive members resulting in a more compact distal tip on the staple cartridge, which allows for a more compact and maneuverable surgical instrument.

Abstract: End effector position set point correction includes an instrument having an end effector and a control unit. In some embodiments, the control unit actuates the end effector to a first position, determines an actuation level, determines an offset based on the actuation level, adjusts a position set point based on the offset, and actuates the end effector to the adjusted position set point. In some embodiments, the control unit actuates the end effector, determines an actuation level, and determines whether the actuation level is above a threshold. In response to determining that the actuation level is above the threshold, the control unit determines a position of the end effector, identifies a nominal position associated with the determined position, determines an offset based on the nominal position and the determined position, adjusts a position set point based on the offset, and actuates the end effector to the adjusted position set point.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for utilizing artificial intelligence to operate a surgical robot (e.g., to perform a laminectomy), including a surgical robot, an artificial intelligence guidance system, an image recognition system, an image recognition database, and a database of past procedures with sensor data, electronic medical records, and imaging data. The image recognition system may identify the tissue type present in the patient and if it is the desired tissue type, the AI guidance system may remove a layer of that tissue with the end effector on the surgical robot, and have the surgeon define the tissue type if the image recognition system identified the tissue as anything other than the desired tissue type.

Abstract: An imaging system and method includes a rolling shutter sensor that captures a plurality of images of a scene, a time-varying illumination source that illuminates the scene, and a processor that receives the plurality of images from the rolling shutter sensor and separates the plurality of images into a plurality of feeds. Each of the plurality of images is captured as a series of lines. The rolling shutter sensor and the time-varying illumination source are operated synchronously to cause a plurality of on-cadence lines of the rolling shutter sensor to receive more illumination from the time-varying illumination source than a plurality of off-cadence lines of the rolling shutter sensor. Each of the plurality of feeds has a different contribution of the time-varying illumination source to an overall illumination of the scene.

Abstract: A system includes a manipulator arm configured to support an instrument having an end effector, the manipulator arm including a distal portion, a proximal portion coupled to a base, and a multitude of joints between the distal portion and the base, the multitude of joints providing sufficient degrees of freedom to allow a range of differing joint states of the multitude of joints for a state of the distal portion. The system also includes a processor coupled to the manipulator arm. The processor is configured with a manipulation mode and a clutch mode, the clutch mode selected from the group consisting of: an arm-null-perpendicular-clutch mode, a port-null-perpendicular-clutch mode, and an arm-port-null-perpendicular-clutch mode. The processor is configured to operate the multitude of joints in accordance with at least one of the manipulation mode and the various clutch modes.

Abstract: A medical system may comprise a display and a processor configured to determine an optimal position for an image capturing instrument to view working ends of a plurality of medical instruments when the plurality of medical instruments and the image capturing instrument are each extending out of a distal end of an entry guide. The processor may also be configured to cause the optimal position to be displayed on the display along with an image captured by the image capturing instrument of the working ends of the plurality of medical instruments.

Abstract: An articulating mechanism capable of transmitting torque for remote manipulation of a surgical or diagnostic tool comprises at least two adjacent links. A first adjacent link of the adjacent links has a ball and a second adjacent link of the adjacent links has a socket for receiving the ball to form a ball and socket joint. The ball and socket joint includes at least one engaging pin and reciprocal slot that provides for torque transmission between the adjacent links while also allowing for pivoting movement of the first adjacent link relative to the second adjacent link. The articulating mechanism also comprises at least one set of cables connecting the first adjacent link and the second adjacent link to one another such that movement of the first adjacent link causes corresponding relative movement of the second adjacent link.

Abstract: A system comprises a first robotic arm adapted to support and move a tool and a second robotic arm adapted to support and move a camera. The system also comprises an input device, a display, and a processor. The processor is configured to, in a first mode, command the first robotic arm to move the camera in response to a first input received from the input device to capture an image of the tool and present the image as a displayed image on the display. The processor is configured to, in a second mode, display a synthetic image of the first robotic arm in a boundary area around the captured image on the display, and in response to a second input, change a size of the boundary area relative a size of the displayed image.

Abstract: A robotic system includes a processor that is programmed to determine and cause work site measurements for user specified points in the work site to be graphically displayed in order to provide geometrically appropriate tool selection assistance to the user. The processor is also programmed to determine an optimal one of a plurality of tools of varying geometries for use at the work site and to cause graphical representations of at least the optimal tool to be displayed along with the work site measurements.

Abstract: End effector position set point adjustment includes an instrument and a control unit. The instrument includes an end effector and a drive mechanism for actuating the end effector. The control unit is configured to actuate the end effector using the drive mechanism, determine an actual position of the end effector, identify an expected position associated with the determined actual position of the end effector, determine a position offset based on the expected position and the determined actual position of the end effector, adjust a position set point based on the position offset, and actuate the end effector to the adjusted position set point using the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A method of tracking a medical instrument comprises receiving a model of an anatomical passageway formation and receiving a set of ordered sensor records for the medical instrument. The set of ordered sensor records provide a path history of the medical instrument. The method further comprises registering the medical instrument with the model of the anatomical passageway formation based on the path history. The method further includes displaying a virtual visualization image in a display system, the virtual visualization image being based on the registering of the medical instrument with the model of the anatomical passageway and depicting a rendered view of the model of the anatomical passageway from a perspective of the medical instrument within the model of the anatomical passageway.

Abstract: An antenna system comprises a transmission member and an antenna at a distal end of the transmission member. The antenna includes a first conductive arm, an insulator extending around the first conductive arm, and a second conductive arm wound around at least a first portion of the insulator to form a second conductive arm coil. A property of the insulator varies along an insulator longitudinal axis of the insulator. The insulator includes a set of formed patterns along at least a portion of the insulator longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. In one embodiment, a minimally invasive surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft having a working end, a proximal end, and a shaft axis between the working end and the proximal end; and an end effector. A wrist member has a flexible tube including an axis extending through an interior surrounded by a wall. The wall of the flexible tube includes a plurality of lumens oriented generally parallel to the axis of the flexible tube. The wrist member has a proximal portion connected to the working end of the elongate shaft and a distal portion connected to the end effector.

Abstract: A medical device drive system may include a locking structure, a locking device sized and shaped to engage with the locking structure, the locking device coupled to a drive system component, and a lifter configured to actuate the locking device into and out of engagement with the locking structure, wherein the drive system component is selectively lockable by movement of the lifter.

Abstract: A medical system includes an instrument, a display system, and a processing unit. The instrument includes an instrument shape sensor. The processing unit includes one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to, receive an anatomic model of a patient anatomy, receive shape sensor data from the instrument shape sensor while the instrument is positioned within the patient anatomy and registered to the anatomic model, determine a preferred fluoroscopic image plane for display on the display system based on the received shape sensor data and the area of interest, and provide an indication on the display system to guide positioning of a fluoroscopy system to obtain a fluoroscopic image in the preferred fluoroscopic image plane. An area of interest is identified in the anatomic model.

Abstract: A catheter system comprises an elongate catheter body including a distal end, a cannulation lumen extending through the catheter body and terminating at the distal end of the catheter body, and a steering element extending through the catheter body for steering the distal end. The catheter system also comprises an imaging element secured to a distal end portion of the catheter body and configured to obtain optical images of an area located distally of the distal end of the catheter body. The catheter body includes a ridge extending axially along an outer surface of the distal end portion, wherein a width of the ridge measured about a circumference of the catheter body is less than a length of the ridge measured along the longitudinal axis, and the imaging element is radially aligned with the ridge with at least a portion of the imaging element disposed within the ridge.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surgical instrument mountable to a remotely controllable manipulator configured to operate the surgical instrument includes applying a first tension to a first tensioning element, applying a second tension to a second tensioning element, and maintaining the first and second tensions in the first and second tensioning elements while a first rotatable cylinder is locked to a second rotatable cylinder. The first tensioning element and the second tensioning element are each coupled to a distal end component of the surgical instrument and are coupled to one another such that a tension in one of the first tensioning element and the second tensioning element is transmitted at least in part to the other of the first tensioning element and the second tensioning element.

Abstract: Implementations relate to actuated grips for a controller. In some implementations, a controller includes a central member, a grip member coupled to the central member and moveable in a grip degree of freedom, a shaft coupled to the grip member, and an actuator coupled to the shaft and operative to output an actuator force on the shaft. The actuator force causes a grip force to be applied via the shaft to the grip member in the grip degree of freedom.