Abstract: An electronic circuit for a surgical robotic system includes a central power node, a first voltage bus that electrically couples a first power source to the node, a second voltage bus that electrically couples a second power source to the node, and several robotic arms, each arm is electrically coupled to the node via an output circuit breaker and is arranged to draw power from the node. Each bus is arranged to provide power from a respective power source to the node and each bus has an input circuit breaker that is arranged to limit a first output current flow from the node and into the bus. Each breaker that is arranged to limit a second output current flow from the node and into a respective arm. A breaker is arranged to open in response to a fault occurring within the respective arm, while the other breakers remain closed.

Abstract: Surgical robotic systems including a user console for controlling a robotic arm or a surgical robotic tool are described. The user console includes components designed to automatically adapt to anthropometric characteristics of a user. A processor of the surgical robotic system is configured to receive anthropometric inputs corresponding to the anthropometric characteristics and to generate an initial console configuration of the user console based on the inputs using a machine learning model. Actuators automatically adjust a seat, a display, or one or more pedals of the user console to the initial console configuration. The initial console configuration establishes a comfortable relative position between the user and the console components. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Surgical systems including a user console for controlling a surgical robotic tool are described. A witness sensor and a reference sensor can be mounted on the user console to measure an electromagnetic field distortion near a location, and to measure deformation of the location, respectively. Distortion in the electromagnetic field can be detected based on the measurements from the witness sensor and the reference sensor. An alert can be generated, or teleoperation of the surgical tool can be adjusted or paused, when a user interface device used to control the surgical tool is within a range of the distortion. The distortion can be from a known source, such as from actuation of a haptic motor of the user interface device, and the user console can adjust the actuation to reduce the likelihood that the distortion will disrupt surgical tool control. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A user system for a robotic surgical system, the user system including a handheld groundless user interface device configured to control the robotic surgical system, and a user console. The user console includes a seat and a first adjustable, ergonomic arm support linkage coupled to the seat, in which the first arm support linkage is movable between a folded storage configuration and at least one unfolded use configuration corresponding to at least one of a user characteristic and a surgical task characteristic. The at least one unfolded use configuration may be pre-stored in a database.

Abstract: Graphical user guidance for a robotic surgical system is provided. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface for a robotic surgical system comprises a first region and a second region. The first region is used to display an endoscopic view of a surgical site inside a patient taken by an endoscopic camera of the robotic surgical system, and the second region is used to display user feedback information. The graphical user interface overlays a guidance message on top of the endoscopic view of the surgical site in the first region to provide user instructions for interacting with a user input device to engage a robotic arm of the robotic surgical system. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A user console for a surgical robotic system has a seat having an armrest and an electromagnetic (EM) transmitter coupled to the armrest to generate an EM field in an EM tracking space around the armrest. A user input device having a handheld housing is to be positioned within the EM tracking by an operator who is seated in the seat, during a surgical procedure. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a robotic arm cart for transporting, delivering, and securing robotic arms to a surgical table having a table top on which a patient can be disposed. The arm cart can include an arm container and a base. The arm container can be configured to receive and contain one or more robotic arms. The arm cart can include a first coupling member configured to engage with a second coupling member associated with a surgical table such that, when the first coupling member is engaged with the second coupling member, the one or more robotic arms can be releasably coupled with the surgical table. The arm cart can provide for movement of the one or more robotic arms in at least one of a lateral, longitudinal, or vertical direction relative to the table top prior to the securement of the one or more robotic arms to the surgical table.

Abstract: A first input coupling and a second input coupling are coupled to rotatably drive an output coupling at the same time. In one embodiment, the output coupling rotates a robotic surgery endoscope about a longitudinal axis of the output coupling. A first motor drives the first input coupling while being assisted by a second motor that is driving the second input coupling. A first compensator produces a first motor input based on a position error and in accordance with a position control law, and a second compensator produces a second motor input based on the position error and in accordance with an impedance control law. In another embodiment, the second compensator receives a measured torque of the first motor. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing a surgical table base with sufficient stiffness and adjustable support members with force feedback are described herein. In some embodiments, a base for a surgical table includes a base body to which other components of a surgical table can be coupled. A surgical table, and optionally a patient supportable by the surgical table, and any equipment to be carried by the surgical table, collectively representing a table load to be carried by the base body to support the surgical table on a surface. The base further includes a support assembly coupled to the base body to support the base body on the surface. The support assembly includes at least four support members. Each support member has a surface-engaging end and can transmit a portion of a total load represented by the weight of the base and the table load through the surface-engaging end to the surface. The surface-engaging ends of any three of the four support members define a plane.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide various examples of automatically processing surgical videos to detect surgical tools and tool-related events, and extract surgical-tool usage information. In one aspect, a process for automatically tracking usages of robotic surgery tools is disclosed. This process can begin by receiving a surgical video captured during a robotic surgery. The process then processes the surgical video to detect a surgical tool in the surgical video. Next, the process determines whether the detected surgical tool has been engaged in the robotic surgery. If so, the process further determines whether the detected surgical tool is engaged for a first time in the robotic surgery. If the detected surgical tool is engaged for the first time, the process subsequently increments a total-engagement count of the detected surgical tool. Otherwise, the process continues monitoring the detected surgical tool in the surgical video.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system and method are disclosed for transitioning control to a secondary robotic arm controller. In one embodiment, a robotic surgical system comprises a user console comprising a display device and a user input device; a robotic arm configured to be coupled to an operating table; a primary robotic arm controller configured to move the robotic arm in response to a signal received from the user input device at the user console; and a secondary robotic arm controller configured to move the robotic arm in response to a signal received from a user input device remote from the user console. Control over movement of the robotic arm is transitioned from the primary robotic arm controller to the secondary robotic arm controller in response to a failure in the primary robotic arm controller. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A hooked surgery camera for use in surgical robotic systems includes a hook coupled to a side or end of a camera body, for attaching the camera to tissue during a surgery. The camera also includes a lens on another end of the camera body, and electronic components inside the camera body. The electronic components include a battery, a digital camera module and a wireless data transmitter. The hooked surgery camera provides a supplementary view of the surgical site, that is from a different perspective than the view provided by an endoscope, during laparoscopic surgeries. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide various examples of a machine-learning-based visual-haptic system for constructing visual-haptic models for various interactions between surgical tools and tissues. In one aspect, a process for constructing a visual-haptic model is disclosed. This process can begin by receiving a set of training videos. The process then processes each training video in the set of training videos to extract one or more video segments that depict a target tool-tissue interaction from the training video, wherein the target tool-tissue interaction involves exerting a force by one or more surgical tools on a tissue. Next, for each video segment in the set of video segments, the process annotates each video image in the video segment with a set of force levels predefined for the target tool-tissue interaction. The process subsequently trains a machine-learning model using the annotated video images to obtain a trained machine-learning model for the target tool-tissue interaction.

Abstract: A virtual reality system providing a virtual robotic surgical environment, and methods for using the virtual reality system, are described herein. Within the virtual reality system, various user modes enable different kinds of interactions between a user and the virtual robotic surgical environment. For example, one variation of a method for facilitating navigation of a virtual robotic surgical environment includes displaying a first-person perspective view of the virtual robotic surgical environment from a first vantage point, displaying a first window view of the virtual robotic surgical environment from a second vantage point and displaying a second window view of the virtual robotic surgical environment from a third vantage point. Additionally, in response to a user input associating the first and second window views, a trajectory between the second and third vantage points can be generated sequentially linking the first and second window views.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing a robotic arm cart for transporting, delivering, and securing robotic arms to a surgical table having a tabletop on which a patient can be disposed are described herein. In some embodiments described herein an arm cart can contain multiple robotic arms. A robotic arm can be selected and moved from a storage position within the arm cart to a deployment position in which at least a portion of that robotic arm protrudes from the arm cart. A robotic arm in a deployment position can be coupled to a surgical table and decoupled from the arm cart.

Abstract: A method for disengagement detection of a surgical instrument of a surgical robotic system, the method comprising: determining whether a user's head is unstable prior to disengagement of a teleoperation mode; determining whether a pressure release has occurred relative to at least one of a first user input device or a second user input device for controlling a surgical instrument of the surgical robotic system during the teleoperation mode; and in response to determining the user's head is unstable or determining the pressure release has occurred, determining whether a distance change between the first user input device and the second user input device indicates the user is performing an unintended action prior to disengagement of the teleoperation mode.

Abstract: For control about a remote center of motion (RCM) of a surgical robotic system, possible configurations of a robotic manipulator are searched to find the configuration providing a greatest overlap of the workspace of the surgical instrument with the target anatomy. The force at the RCM may be measured, such as with one or more sensors on the cannula or in an adaptor connecting the robotic manipulator to the cannula. The measured force is used to determine a change in the RCM to minimize the force exerted on the patient at the RCM. Given this change, the configuration of the robotic manipulator may be dynamically updated. Various aspects of this RCM control may be used alone or in combination, such as to optimize the alignment of workspace to the target anatomy, to minimize force at the RCM, and/or to dynamically control the robotic manipulator configuration based on workspace alignment and force measurement.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a cart for a surgical robotic arm having a coupler releasably coupleable to a coupling site on a surgical table. The cart can include a base and a first engagement feature. The base can be freely movably on a support surface between a first location remote from the surgical table and a second location adjacent the surgical table. The first engagement feature can be configured for engagement with a second engagement feature associated with the surgical table such that, when the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature are engaged, the coupler of the robotic am is disposed in a position in which the coupler of the robotic arm can be engaged by the coupler of the surgical table.

Abstract: Robotic arms and surgical robotic systems incorporating such arms are described. A robotic arm includes a roll joint connected to a prismatic link by a pitch joint and a tool drive connected to the prismatic link by another pitch joint. The prismatic link includes several prismatic sublinks that are connected by a prismatic joint. A surgical tool supported by the tool drive can insert into a patient along an insertion axis through a remote center of motion of the robotic arm. Movement of the robotic arm can be controlled to telescopically move the prismatic sublinks relative to each other by the prismatic joint while maintaining the remote center of motion fixed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for a surgical tool or a surgical robotic system. An end effector of the surgical tool is coupled to a tool driver. An actuator is driven by a motor of the tool driver and configured to drive a degree of freedom of the end effector. One or more processors are configured to receive a position command describing a desired position for the end effector, translate the desired position to a command for a joint associated with the end effector, calculate a compensation term to compensate for a source of hysteresis for backlash and/or compliance, and send a motor command for the motor coupled with the actuator based on the compensation term and the command for the end effector.