Abstract: An example robot includes: a motor disposed at a joint configured to control motion of a member of the robot; a transmission including an input member coupled to and configured to rotate with the motor, an intermediate member, and an output member, where the intermediate member is fixed such that as the input member rotates, the output member rotates therewith at a different speed; a pad frictionally coupled to a side surface of the output member of the transmission and coupled to the member of the robot; and a spring configured to apply an axial preload on the pad, wherein the axial preload defines a torque limit that, when exceeded by a torque load on the member of the robot, the output member of the transmission slips relative to the pad.

Abstract: An example robot includes: a motor disposed within a housing at a joint configured to control motion of a member of a robot; a controller including one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed within the housing and including a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs) disposed on a surface of a PCB of the one or more PCBs facing the motor; a rotary position sensor mounted on the controller; a shaft coupled to a rotor of the motor and extending therefrom to the controller; and a magnet mounted within the shaft at an end of the shaft facing the controller.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a back portion that is mounted for rotational movement about a seat back axis between a first seat position and a second seat position. The seat assembly also includes an armrest mounted for rotational movement about an armrest axis relative to the back portion between a stowed position and a use position. The seat back axis is coaxial with the armrest axis.

Abstract: An example robot includes: a motor disposed at a joint configured to control motion of a member of the robot; a transmission including an input member coupled to and configured to rotate with the motor, an intermediate member, and an output member, where the intermediate member is fixed such that as the input member rotates, the output member rotates therewith at a different speed; a pad frictionally coupled to a side surface of the output member of the transmission and coupled to the member of the robot; and a spring configured to apply an axial preload on the pad, wherein the axial preload defines a torque limit that, when exceeded by a torque load on the member of the robot, the output member of the transmission slips relative to the pad.

Abstract: An example robot includes: a leg having an upper leg member and a lower leg member coupled to the upper leg member at a knee joint; a screw actuator disposed within the upper leg member, where the screw actuator has a screw shaft and a nut mounted coaxial to the screw shaft such that the screw shaft is rotatable within the nut; a motor mounted at an upper portion of the upper leg member and coupled to the screw shaft; a carrier coupled and mounted coaxial to the nut such that the nut is disposed at a proximal end of the carrier; and a linkage coupled to the carrier, where the linkage is coupled to the lower leg member at the knee joint.

Abstract: An example robot includes: a motor disposed within a housing at a joint configured to control motion of a member of a robot; a controller including one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed within the housing and including a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs) disposed on a surface of a PCB of the one or more PCBs facing the motor; a rotary position sensor mounted on the controller; a shaft coupled to a rotor of the motor and extending therefrom to the controller; and a magnet mounted within the shaft at an end of the shaft facing the controller.

Abstract: An example robot includes: a leg having an upper leg member and a lower leg member coupled to the upper leg member at a knee joint; a screw actuator disposed within the upper leg member, where the screw actuator has a screw shaft and a nut mounted coaxial to the screw shaft such that the screw shaft is rotatable within the nut; a motor mounted at an upper portion of the upper leg member and coupled to the screw shaft; a carrier coupled and mounted coaxial to the nut such that the nut is disposed at a proximal end of the carrier; and a linkage coupled to the carrier, where the linkage is coupled to the lower leg member at the knee joint.

Abstract: An interlocking system for a joystick in a catheter procedure system includes a joystick configured to generate a first voltage output signal based on a linear activation of the joystick and a second voltage output signal based on a rotational activation of the joystick. A joystick cover is disposed over the joystick and includes an upper portion having an electrode plating on an inner surface of the upper portion and a lower portion having an inner surface. A capacitive touch detection circuit is coupled to the electrode plating of the upper portion of the joystick cover and is mounted on the inner surface of the lower portion of the joystick cover. The capacitive touch detection circuit is configured to detect a proximal change in capacitance in the electrode plating of the upper portion of the joystick cover and to generate a touch output signal to indicate whether a change in capacitance has been detected.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a back portion that is mounted for rotational movement about a seat back axis between a first seat position and a second seat position. The seat assembly also includes an armrest mounted for rotational movement about an armrest axis relative to the back portion between a stowed position and a use position. The seat back axis is coaxial with the armrest axis.

Abstract: A surgical retractor including a retractor body, and a retractor arm, a control assembly configured to control movement of the retractor blade, the control assembly including a base member having an opening, a regulating member configured to control rotation of a first portion of the retractor arm and move through the opening of the base member, a connecting member cooperatively connected to the regulating member, and a barrel assembly in operative slidable engagement with the opening formed in the base member, wherein rotation of the regulating member in a selected direction moves a stem of the regulating member through the opening thereby forcing the barrel assembly to slide along the opening and the base member to pivot relative to a second portion of the retractor arm between a first position and second position.

Abstract: A system for controlling a hemostasis valve includes a hemostasis valve having a body portion having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The hemostasis value further includes at least one valve positioned in the proximal end of the body portion and an engagement member operatively coupled to the at least one valve. The system further includes a first drive member coupled to the engagement member and a controller coupled to the first drive member. The controller is configured to control the first drive member to impart movement to the engagement member to open and close the at least one valve.

Abstract: An example robot includes: a motor disposed within a housing at a joint configured to control motion of a member of a robot; a controller including one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed within the housing and including a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs) disposed on a surface of a PCB of the one or more PCBs facing the motor; a rotary position sensor mounted on the controller; a shaft coupled to a rotor of the motor and extending therefrom to the controller; and a magnet mounted within the shaft at an end of the shaft facing the controller.

Abstract: An example robot includes: a motor disposed at a joint configured to control motion of a member of the robot; a transmission including an input member coupled to and configured to rotate with the motor, an intermediate member, and an output member, where the intermediate member is fixed such that as the input member rotates, the output member rotates therewith at a different speed; a pad frictionally coupled to a side surface of the output member of the transmission and coupled to the member of the robot; and a spring configured to apply an axial preload on the pad, wherein the axial preload defines a torque limit that, when exceeded by a torque load on the member of the robot, the output member of the transmission slips relative to the pad.

Abstract: An example robot includes: a leg having an upper leg member and a lower leg member coupled to the upper leg member at a knee joint; a screw actuator disposed within the upper leg member, where the screw actuator has a screw shaft and a nut mounted coaxial to the screw shaft such that the screw shaft is rotatable within the nut; a motor mounted at an upper portion of the upper leg member and coupled to the screw shaft; a carrier coupled and mounted coaxial to the nut such that the nut is disposed at a proximal end of the carrier; and a linkage coupled to the carrier, where the linkage is coupled to the lower leg member at the knee joint.

Abstract: An interlocking system for a joystick in a catheter procedure system includes a joystick configured to generate a first voltage output signal based on a linear activation of the joystick and a second voltage output signal based on a rotational activation of the joystick. A joystick cover is disposed over the joystick and includes an upper portion having an electrode plating on an inner surface of the upper portion and a lower portion having an inner surface. A capacitive touch detection circuit is coupled to the electrode plating of the upper portion of the joystick cover and is mounted on the inner surface of the lower portion of the joystick cover. The capacitive touch detection circuit is configured to detect a proximal change in capacitance in the electrode plating of the upper portion of the joystick cover and to generate a touch output signal to indicate whether a change in capacitance has been detected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical retractor including a retractor body, and a retractor arm including a first portion configured to operatively connect to a retractor blade and a second portion configured to operatively connect to the retractor body, a control assembly configured to control movement of the retractor blade, the control assembly including a base member having an opening and movable between a first position and second position, a regulating member configured to control rotation of the first portion of the retractor arm and move through the opening of the base member, a connecting member cooperatively connected to the regulating member, and a barrel assembly in operative slidable engagement with the opening formed in the base member, wherein rotation of the regulating member in a selected direction moves a stem of the regulating member through the opening thereby forcing the barrel assembly to slide along the opening and the base member to pivot relative to the second portion of the retractor arm between a

Abstract: A rail system for a medical table includes a frame, a rail coupled to the frame and an apparatus for reacting a moment on the rail. The apparatus is operatively secured to a first position on the rail and is configured to apply a first moment on the rail to counteract a second moment applied to the rail.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system includes a base and a robotic mechanism having a longitudinal axis and being movable relative to the base along the longitudinal axis. A flexible track is releasably secured to the base and includes an outer surface having a longitudinal opening slit extending therethrough to an inner channel. A rigid guide has a non-linear portion fixed relative to the robotic mechanism. A portion of the flexible track moves along the non-linear portion of the rigid guide away from the longitudinal axis when the robotic mechanism moves along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An orientation tracking system for a moving platform includes a transmitter which generates an beam having a known polarization with respect to a predefined coordinate system. The moving platform includes an ellipsometric detector capable of detecting the polarized beam when within the line-of-sight of the transmitter, and measuring its polarization state. The polarization state indicates the rotational orientation of the moving platform with respect to the predefined coordinate system. The beam could also be used to convey guidance commands to the platform.

Abstract: A method comprises the following steps. Entity-generic user records are created for a plurality of users associated with a plurality of entities by analyzing entity-specific user records for the plurality of users, wherein the entity-generic user records comprise respective sets of entitlements for the plurality of users. Entity-generic asset records for assets associated with the plurality of entities are created by analyzing entity-specific asset records for the plurality of assets, wherein the entity-generic asset records comprise respective sets of permissions for accessing the plurality of assets. An entity-generic user record for a given user is utilized to determine whether the given user has access to a given asset by comparing the set of entitlements in the given entity-generic user record with the set of permissions in an entity-generic asset record for the given asset.