Abstract: A clutch mechanism for use with a carrier of a linear drive device includes a housing, a first gear, and a first clutch arrangement. The first gear coupled to the housing and has gear teeth to engage a threaded shaft of a linear drive device . Rotation of the shaft causes the housing to move along the shaft in a first mode of operation. The first clutch arrangement prevents substantial rotation of the first gear. The first gear permits rotation of the first gear with respect to the housing. The housing can be manually moved along a length of the shaft, in a second mode of operation, by exerting a force on the housing. The rotational force applied to the first gear through the interaction of the threaded shaft and the gear teeth exceeds the first threshold.

Abstract: A clamp adapted to be removably fixed to a further object. The clamp includes first and second clamp members, each being configured to apply a clamping force to the further object to which the clamp is removably fixed. One clamp actuator is adapted to drive movement of both the first and second clamp members with respect to each other along respective first and second axes. The first axis intersects the second axis.

Abstract: A method of determining the prospective location of two or more fiducial markers includes the steps of: with respect to the work piece, defining a path having a radius from an origin which varies in a non-repetitive manner with respect to the angular displacement of the path from the origin; and selecting two or more prospective locations of respective fiducial markers. The prospective locations are positioned relative to the work piece substantially at points along the defined path.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism for use with a carrier of a linear drive device includes a housing, a first gear, and a first clutch arrangement. The first gear coupled to the housing and has gear teeth to engage a threaded shaft of a linear drive device. Rotation of the shaft causes the housing to move along the shaft in a first mode of operation. The first clutch arrangement prevents substantial rotation of the first gear. The first gear permits rotation of the first gear with respect to the housing. The housing can be manually moved along a length of the shaft, in a second mode of operation, by exerting a force on the housing. The rotational force applied to the first gear through the interaction of the threaded shaft and the gear teeth exceeds the first threshold.

Abstract: The present invention is a telescopic drive device of a device for holding a surgical instrument. The telescopic drive device includes a support; a first telescopic stage carried by the support; a first telescopic stage carried by the support, the first telescopic stage being able to perform a first motion with respect to the support; a second telescopic stage, which is able to perform a second motion with respect to the first telescopic stage; and a drive system, which is operable to drive the first and second motions. The first telescopic element performs the first motion and the second telescopic element simultaneously performs the second motion. The telescopic drive is operable to support a further device and to move the further device such that the movement is centered around a point or wherein each of the telescopic elements is arcuate.

Abstract: A clamp adapted to be removably fixed to a further object. The clamp includes first and second clamp members, each being configured to apply a clamping force to the further object to which the clamp is removably fixed. One clamp actuator is adapted to drive movement of both the first and second clamp members with respect to each other along respective first and second axes. The first axis intersects the second axis.

Abstract: A control assembly for manipulating the movement of an endoscopic instrument includes an endoscopic instrument mounting arrangement adapted to receive an endoscopic instrument, three driving arrangements, and three independent control elements. The mounting arrangement offers only three independent degrees of freedom of movement of an endoscopic instrument received by the arrangement, each degree of freedom of movement being about or along a respective axis. Each of the three driving arrangements are configured to drive the endoscopic instrument in only one of the degrees of freedom of movement. The three independent control elements are configured to receive user input, such that the actuation of each of the three independent control elements regulates one of three corresponding control signals, each control being a respective one of the driving arrangements independent of the other two driving arrangements in accordance with the user input.

Abstract: A system for assisting in work carried out on a workpiece and having a frame of reference. The system includes a referencing arrangement to register the position of a first location in the frame of reference of the system; a tool holder for holding a tool to assist with the work; a data interface to receive image data relating to the workpiece; and a processing arrangement to register the image data within the frame of reference of the system. The position of the tool holder is known within the frame of reference of the system. The image data represents an image which is indexed by position relative to the first location. The processing arrangement utilizes the relative position of the image represented by the image data with respect to the first location and the position of the first location in the frame of reference of the system.

Abstract: There is a drive element to be driven by a motor. There is also a control element for controlling at least one motion of the medical device. A transmission arrangement transmits motion from the drive element to the control element, the transmission arrangement having first and second members which are frictionally engaged with one another so that motion may be transmitted from one to the other. There is a manual manipulation control, which may be grasped by a user to move the medical device manually while the first and second members remain in frictional engagement with one another.

Abstract: A robot has a controllable arm which carries an instrument or tool. The robot is provided with a camera to obtain an image of a work piece, including images of markers and an indicator present on the work piece. The robot processes the images to determine the position of the markers within a spatial frame of reference. The robot is controlled to effect predetermined movements of the instrument or tool relative to the work piece. The processor is further configured to determine the position of the indicator and to respond to movement of the indicator within the spatial frame of reference of the robot when the markers are concealed to determine a new position of the indicator and thus the new position of the work piece. Subsequently, the robot is controlled, relative to the new position of the work piece, to effect predetermined movements relative to the work piece.