Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for medical procedures are provided. The apparatus includes a base, a member having first and second ends, and a support configured to support a plurality of robotic arms. Each robotic arm configured to support and position a robotic instrument according to multiple surgical degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for medical procedures are provided. The apparatus includes a base, a member having first and second ends, and a curved support configured to support a robotic arm. The method involves adjusting a member to position a curved support configured to support a robotic arm, positioning the robotic arm at a location on the curved support, and adjusting the robotic arm in accordance with a non-surgical adjustment such that the robotic instrument is within range of a target area.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly having a first working member and a second working member is provided. The apparatus includes a first set of at least one cable, a second set of at least one cable, a first pulley configured to guide the first set of at least one cable, a second pulley configured to guide the first set of at least one cable when the second pulley is in a first position, a third pulley configured to guide the second set of at least one cable, and a rotatable element rotatable about a first axis.

Abstract: A robotic system for use in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is provided that, in various aspects of this specification, comprises at least one elongated shaft known as the robotic arm. In certain aspects, the robotic arm is provided with an independent roll wrist mechanism, which can allow for imparting the roll motion to the end effectors while mitigating or potentially eliminating the need of rotating the entire robotic arm, thus ensuring independent movement of end effectors. The independent movement of the end effectors sweeps a considerably smaller conical volume, as compared to that swept by the entire robotic arm, thereby reducing the likelihood of collisions with neighboring tissues or organs.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly having a first working member and a second working member is provided. The apparatus includes a first set of at least one cable, a second set of at least one cable, a first pulley configured to guide the first set of at least one cable, a second pulley configured to guide the first set of at least one cable when the second pulley is in a first position, a third pulley configured to guide the second set of at least one cable, and a rotatable element rotatable about a first axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for medical procedures are provided. The apparatus includes a base, a member having first and second ends, and a curved support configured to support a robotic arm. The method involves adjusting a member to position a curved support configured to support a robotic arm, positioning the robotic arm at a location on the curved support, and adjusting the robotic arm in accordance with a non-surgical adjustment such that the robotic instrument is within range of a target area.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

Abstract: An apparatus for intra-operative MRI includes a patient table with a movable magnet and an RF coil having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is formed of a foam material flexible to different shapes with a pair of stiffeners formed of connected pivotal elements extending from a central back-bone embedded in the top sheet of the foam to hold the flexible material in the different shapes and is carried at one end of a flexible foam arm attached to a side rail of the table and stiffened by a longitudinal stiffener. A head clamp is attached to the table with a C-shaped holder for the skull clamp pins. The lower coil is movable by flexing about longitudinal lines to different curvatures and is held channel shaped by the C-shaped holder. It is attached at one longitudinal end to an adjustable mount connected to the head clamp.

Abstract: In MR imaging, the patient is placed on the table in a configuration convenient for a surgical procedure and while in the configuration the patient is moved into the field of view by moving the magnet longitudinally and the table is moved in the bore relative to the magnet so as to optimize the part to be imaged within the field of view of the magnet. After imaging the table is moved back to the preset position and removed from the magnet for the surgical procedure to commence or continue. The movement includes movement along the longitudinal axis; transverse movement side to side; rolling movement about a longitudinal axis; tilting movement about a transverse axis and bending movement of the table relative to at least one transverse hinge line in the table at a position spaced from the ends of the table.

Abstract: A patient table for a common imaging system including Magnetic Resonance and X-ray retains the patient stationary in position prior to, during and subsequent to the imaging and includes a base, a patient support portion cantilevered from the base and a mattress. The RF posterior coil portions for the head and for the chest can be inserted into and removed from an operating position underneath the head and chest of the patient while patient remains supported. The chest coil is inserted from one edge in a cavity in the mattress which is reinforced by a sleeve. The signal communication cable from the chest coil is routed in front of the mattress and over the mattress so as to not to be exposed at the sides. The head coil is carried on a base plate of the patient support alongside the head support which remains in place.

Abstract: Radiation therapy of a lesion in a part of a patient is carried out by maintaining the patient on a patient support table in fixed position using an immobilization device while the table is rotated between a magnetic resonance imaging system, a CT imaging system for generating a 360 degree scanned image of the patient at the location of the lesion and the radiation therapy system for generating a beam of radiation for treatment of the lesion and for scanning the beam 360 degrees around the lesion. The MR image locates the lesion and the CT system is used to calculate the treatment. Registration between the MR image, the CT image and the radiation treatment is provided by the fixed position of the part of the patient on the table which is held fixed using an immobilization system suitable for the part concerned which may include a molded head mask where the head is involved.

Abstract: A structural support component such as a head clamp for use in imaging of a part of a patient using Magnetic Resonance and X-ray imaging is formed of different materials each of which has an Aluminum equivalence factor of less than 10 mm and generally less than 6 mm and is arranged such that the presence of the structural support component in an imaging zone of a magnetic resonance imaging system when generating the image does not generate any visually determinable distortion in the image. The materials can be epoxy resin combined with a glass fiber substrate for easily machined parts, polyphenylene sulphide with random fiber reinforcement using glass fibers for high wear parts and polyurethane foam or Polymethacrylimide foam shaped to form a required member and covered on its outer surface with a layer formed from aramid fibers for elongate parts.

Abstract: An apparatus for intra-operative MRI includes a patient table with a movable magnet and an RF coil having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is formed of a foam material flexible to different shapes with a pair of stiffeners formed of connected pivotal elements extending from a central back-bone embedded in the top sheet of the foam to hold the flexible material in the different shapes and is carried at one end of a flexible foam arm attached to a side rail of the table and stiffened by a longitudinal stiffener. A head clamp is attached to the table with a C-shaped holder for the skull clamp pins. The lower coil is movable by flexing about longitudinal lines to different curvatures and is held channel shaped by the C-shaped holder. It is attached at one longitudinal end to an adjustable mount connected to the head clamp.

Abstract: Radiation therapy of a lesion in a part of a patient is carried out by maintaining the patient on a patient support table in fixed position using an immobilization device while the table is rotated between a magnetic resonance imaging system, a CT imaging system for generating a 360 degree scanned image of the patient at the location of the lesion and the radiation therapy system for generating a beam of radiation for treatment of the lesion and for scanning the beam 360 degrees around the lesion. The MR image locates the lesion and the CT system is used to calculate the treatment. Registration between the MR image, the CT image and the radiation treatment is provided by the fixed position of the part of the patient on the table which is held fixed using an immobilization system suitable for the part concerned which may include a molded head mask where the head is involved.

Abstract: In MR imaging, the patient is placed on the table in a configuration convenient for a surgical procedure and while in the configuration the patient is moved into the field of view by moving the magnet longitudinally and the table is moved in the bore relative to the magnet so as to optimize the part to be imaged within the field of view of the magnet. After imaging the table is moved back to the preset position and removed from the magnet for the surgical procedure to commence or continue. The movement includes movement along the longitudinal axis; transverse movement side to side; rolling movement about a longitudinal axis; tilting movement about a transverse axis and bending movement of the table relative to at least one transverse hinge line in the table at a position spaced from the ends of the table.