Abstract: A robotic system for remote operation of human-controllable equipment includes a remotely operable robotic subsystem configured to be at least one of mounted on or arranged adjacent to the human-controllable equipment to be controlled, and a remote controller that is configured to be operated by a human. The remote controller emulates a control representation of the human-controllable equipment such that a human can provide commands using the control representation. The remotely operable robotic subsystem is configured to receive commands from the remote controller to thereby operate the human-controllable equipment.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed. The system configured to capture and display camera images of a surgical site on at least one display device at a surgeon console; switch out of a following mode and into a masters-as-mice (MaM) mode; overlay a graphical user interface (GUI) including an interactive graphical object onto the camera images; and render a pointer within the camera images for user interactive control. In the following mode, the input devices of the surgeon console may couple motion into surgical instruments. In the MaM mode, the input devices interact with the GUI and interactive graphical objects. The pointer is manipulated in three dimensions by input devices having at least three degrees of freedom. Interactive graphical objects are related to physical objects in the surgical site or a function thereof and are manipulatable by the input devices.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed including a processor coupled to a stereoscopic endoscope and a stereoscopic video display device. The processor generates an operative image of an anatomic structure in the surgical site, overlays the operative image onto the captured stereo video images for display on the stereoscopic video display device, generates and overlays a pointer onto the operative image or the captured stereo video images to display the pointer on the stereoscopic video display device with a three dimensional appearance, and switches between a first mode for input devices of a surgeon console used to couple motion into surgical instruments and a second mode used to control an interactive graphical user interface to allow interactions with the pointer and the operative image in three dimensions using input devices having at least three degrees of freedom.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed. The system configured to capture and display camera images of a surgical site on at least one display device at a surgeon console; switch out of a following mode and into a masters-as-mice (MaM) mode; overlay a graphical user interface (GUI) including an interactive graphical object onto the camera images; and render a pointer within the camera images for user interactive control. In the following mode, the input devices of the surgeon console may couple motion into surgical instruments. In the MaM mode, the input devices interact with the GUI and interactive graphical objects. The pointer is manipulated in three dimensions by input devices having at least three degrees of freedom. Interactive graphical objects are related to physical objects in the surgical site or a function thereof and are manipulatable by the input devices.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present invention, a cooperatively controlled robot includes a robotic actuator assembly comprising a tool holder and a force sensor, a control system adapted to communicate with the robotic actuator assembly and the force sensor, and an output system in communication with the control system. The tool holder is configured to receive a tool to be manipulated by a user. The control system is configured to receive an instruction from a user to switch from a robot control mode into a user interface control mode. The force sensor is configured to measure at least one of a force and a torque applied to the tool, and the control system is configured to receive an indication of the at least one of a force and a torque applied to the tool and manipulate the output system based on the indication.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed. The method includes capturing and displaying camera images of a surgical site on at least one display device at a surgeon console; switching out of a following mode and into a masters-as-mice (MaM) mode; overlaying a graphical user interface (GUI) including an interactive graphical object onto the camera images; and rendering a pointer within the camera images for user interactive control. In the following mode, the input devices of the surgeon console may couple motion into surgical instruments. In the MaM mode, the input devices interact with the GUI and interactive graphical objects. The pointer is manipulated in three dimensions by input devices having at least three degrees of freedom. Interactive graphical objects are related to physical objects in the surgical site or a function thereof and are manipulatable by the input devices.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present invention, a cooperatively controlled robot includes a robotic actuator assembly comprising a tool holder and a force sensor, a control system adapted to communicate with the robotic actuator assembly and the force sensor, and an output system in communication with the control system. The tool holder is configured to receive a tool to be manipulated by a user. The control system is configured to receive an instruction from a user to switch from a robot control mode into a user interface control mode. The force sensor is configured to measure at least one of a force and a torque applied to the tool, and the control system is configured to receive an indication of the at least one of a force and a torque applied to the tool and manipulate the output system based on the indication.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed. The method includes capturing and displaying camera images of a surgical site on at least one display device at a surgeon console; switching out of a following mode and into a masters-as-mice (MaM) mode; overlaying a graphical user interface (GUI) including an interactive graphical object onto the camera images; and rendering a pointer within the camera images for user interactive control. In the following mode, the input devices of the surgeon console may couple motion into surgical instruments. In the MaM mode, the input devices interact with the GUI and interactive graphical objects. The pointer is manipulated in three dimensions by input devices having at least three degrees of freedom. Interactive graphical objects are related to physical objects in the surgical site or a function thereof and are manipulatable by the input devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed. The method includes capturing and displaying camera images of a surgical site on at least one display device at a surgeon console; switching out of a following mode and into a masters-as-mice (MaM) mode; overlaying a graphical user interface (GUI) including an interactive graphical object onto the camera images; and rendering a pointer within the camera images for user interactive control. In the following mode, the input devices of the surgeon console may couple motion into surgical instruments. In the MaM mode, the input devices interact with the GUI and interactive graphical objects. The pointer is manipulated in three dimensions by input devices having at least three degrees of freedom. Interactive graphical objects are related to physical objects in the surgical site or a function thereof and are manipulatable by the input devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed. The method includes capturing and displaying camera images of a surgical site on at least one display device at a surgeon console; switching out of a following mode and into a masters-as-mice (MaM) mode; overlaying a graphical user interface (GUI) including an interactive graphical object onto the camera images; and rendering a pointer within the camera images for user interactive control. In the following mode, the input devices of the surgeon console may couple motion into surgical instruments. In the MaM mode, the input devices interact with the GUI and interactive graphical objects. The pointer is manipulated in three dimensions by input devices having at least three degrees of freedom. Interactive graphical objects are related to physical objects in the surgical site or a function thereof and are manipulatable by the input devices.