Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising: a shaft; an articulation at a distal end of the shaft configured to articulate an end effector, the articulation driveable by a pair of driving elements; and an instrument interface at a proximal end of the shaft, the instrument interface comprising: an instrument interface element configured to drive the pair of driving elements, the instrument interface element displaceable over a displacement range, the pair of driving elements fast with the instrument interface element such that a displacement of the instrument interface element is transferred to the pair of driving elements; a tensioning mechanism configured to tension the pair of driving elements; and an alignment mechanism configured to set the displacement position of the instrument interface element to a predetermined alignment position when the end effector has a predetermined configuration, the alignment mechanism being independent of the tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: A locator of a surgical port of a surgical robot system, the surgical robot system comprising an instrument attached to a robot arm, the instrument having an instrument shaft able to pass through the surgical port to a surgical site, the locator comprising: an interface configured to couple to the surgical port; a mechanism configured to permit relative linear and/or rotational motion of the interface and the instrument shaft; and a controller comprising a processor operable to estimate the position of a part of the robot arm, the controller configured to control the mechanism in dependence on the estimated position of the part of the robot arm such that as the robot arm retracts the instrument from the patient, the locator moves the port away from the robot arm and provides a reaction force to keep the port in place.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising: a shaft; an end effector element; an articulation connecting the end effector element to the shaft, the articulation comprising: joints permitting the end effector element to adopt a range of orientations relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft; pairs of driving elements configured to drive the joints; a supporting body having a bevelled surface; and are directing pulley mounted on the bevelled surface such that the redirecting pulley rotates about a redirecting pulley axis transverse to the bevelled surface.

Abstract: An interface structure for detachably interfacing a surgical robot arm to a surgical instrument, the interface structure comprising a main body; and a drive transfer element comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being releasably engageable with a portion of the surgical robot arm and the second portion being releasably engageable with a portion of the surgical instrument; the drive transfer element being movable relative to the main body so as to enable transfer of drive between the surgical robot arm and the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A drive transfer element for transferring drive between a surgical robot arm and a surgical instrument, the drive transfer element comprising a drive transfer element recess being releasably engageable with an interface protrusion; and a drive transfer element protrusion being releasably engageable with an interface recess; the drive transfer element protrusion comprising a cavity in communication with the drive transfer element recess so as to enable the interface protrusion engageable with the drive transfer element recess to project into the cavity.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising: a shaft; an end effector comprising a first end effector element and a second end effector element; an articulation connecting the end effector to the shaft, the articulation comprising: a first joint driveable by a first pair of driving elements, the first joint permitting the end effector to rotate about a first axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft; a second joint driveable by a second pair of driving elements, the second joint permitting the first end effector element to rotate about a second axis transverse to the first axis; and a third joint driveable by a third pair of driving elements, the third joint permitting the second end effector element to rotate about the second axis; the robotic surgical instrument further comprising a pulley arrangement around which the second and third pairs of driving elements are constrained to move, the second and third pairs of driving elements having symmetrically opposing paths around the pulley arrangement.

Abstract: A surgical robot arm extending between a base and a terminal link, the terminal link connected to an adjacent link in the surgical robot arm by a joint which permits the terminal link to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the terminal link, the terminal link comprising: a drive assembly having a first drive assembly interface element for driving a first instrument interface element of a robotic surgical instrument when the surgical robot arm engages the robotic surgical instrument, the first drive assembly interface element engageable with the first instrument interface element on the longitudinal axis of the terminal link, and the first drive assembly interface element being linearly displaceable along the longitudinal axis of the terminal link so as to drive the first instrument interface element along the longitudinal axis of the terminal link.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising: a shaft; an articulation at a distal end of the shaft for articulating an end effector, the articulation driveable by a pair of driving elements; and an instrument interface at a proximal end of the shaft, the instrument interface comprising an instrument interface element for driving the pair of driving elements, the instrument interface element displaceable over a first displacement range, the instrument interface element comprising a body receivable in a drive assembly interface element of a robot arm when the robotic surgical instrument engages with the surgical robot arm, the drive assembly interface element displaceable over a second displacement range, the length of the body in the displaceable direction being greater than one of the maximum travel of the body over the first displacement range and the maximum travel of the drive assembly interface element over the second displacement range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular pusher system for facing products on a shelf. The system comprises a plurality of dividers each having a front end and a rear end, at least one pusher comprising a spring element for biasing the pusher towards a front edge of a shelf, a back rail having a mounting element for holding rear ends of the dividers and that is mountable on an upper side of a shelf in a position that is parallel to a front edge of the shelf and at a distance from the front edge of the shelf, and a plurality of front retainers for retaining products at the front edge of a shelf.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising a shaft and end effector element connected by an articulation. The articulation comprises a first joint driveable by a first pair of driving elements. The first joint permits the end effector element to rotate about a first axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the rotation of the end effector element about the first axis bounded by an extreme rotation angle relative to the longitudinal axis. A second joint is driveable by a second pair of driving elements. A pulley arrangement constrains the second pair of driving elements, and comprises a first set of pulleys rotatable about the first axis, and a second set of pulleys located relative to the first set of pulleys such that at the extreme rotation angle the second pair of driving elements is retained in contact with both the first and second sets of pulleys.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising: a shaft; an articulation at a distal end of the shaft configured to articulate an end effector, the articulation driveable by a pair of driving elements; and an instrument interface at a proximal end of the shaft, the instrument interface comprising: an instrument interface element configured to drive the pair of driving elements, the instrument interface element displaceable over a displacement range, the pair of driving elements fast with the instrument interface element such that a displacement of the instrument interface element is transferred to the pair of driving elements; a tensioning mechanism configured to tension the pair of driving elements; and an alignment mechanism configured to set the displacement position of the instrument interface element to a predetermined alignment position when the end effector has a predetermined configuration, the alignment mechanism being independent of the tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising an articulation connecting an end effector to a distal end of a shaft. The articulation comprises joints permitting the end effector to adopt a range of orientations relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. An instrument interface connects to a proximal end of the shaft. Pairs of driving elements drive the joints. The driving elements extend from the instrument interface to the joints. Each driving element comprises a spoke which terminates at a distal end in a distal flexible portion that engages the articulation and at a proximal end in a proximal flexible portion that engages the instrument interface. In a straight configuration of the robotic surgical instrument in which the end effector is aligned with the shaft, the distal ends of the spokes of adjacent driving elements are offset along a longitudinal direction of the shaft.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprises an articulation at its shaft's distal end and an instrument interface at its proximal end. The articulation is driveable by pairs of driving elements to articulate an end effector. The instrument interface comprises instrument interface elements configured to drive the driving elements. The instrument interface elements engage drive assembly interface elements of a drive assembly interface of a surgical robot arm when the robotic surgical instrument engages the surgical robot arm. A guide bar is located at an external face of the instrument interface, which, on engaging the instrument interface with the drive assembly interface, is received in the drive assembly interface prior to the instrument interface elements. Once received in the drive assembly interface, the guide bar constrains a relative orientation at which the instrument interface and the drive assembly interface are permitted to engage so as to align their longitudinal attitudes.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising: a shaft; an articulation at a distal end of the shaft for articulating an end effector, the articulation driveable by pairs of driving elements; and an instrument interface at a proximal end of the shaft, the instrument interface comprising an internal portion which is within the projected profile of the shaft and an external portion which is outside of the projected profile of the shaft, the instrument interface comprising instrument interface elements for driving pairs of driving elements, wherein a first instrument interface element engages a first pair of driving elements in the internal portion.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising a shaft and end effector element connected by an articulation. The articulation comprises first and second joints, driveable by first and second pairs of driving elements. The first joint permits the end effector element to rotate about a first axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. A pulley arrangement comprises a first set of pulleys rotatable about the first axis and a redirecting pulley between the first set of pulleys and the second joint, both of which constrain the second pair of driving elements. The redirecting pulley is rotatable about a redirecting pulley axis which is angled to the first axis so as to cause the redirecting pulley to redirect a first one of the second pair of driving elements from a take-off point of a first pulley of the first set of pulleys to a pick-up point of the second joint.

Abstract: A locator of a surgical port of a surgical robot system, the surgical robot system comprising an instrument attached to a robot arm, the instrument having an instrument shaft able to pass through the surgical port to a surgical site, the locator comprising: an interface configured to couple to the surgical port; a mechanism configured to permit relative linear and/or rotational motion of the interface and the instrument shaft; and a controller comprising a processor operable to estimate the position of a part of the robot arm, the controller configured to control the mechanism in dependence on the estimated position of the part of the robot arm such that as the robot arm retracts the instrument from the patient, the locator moves the port away from the robot arm and provides a reaction force to keep the port in place.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and computer-storage media are provided for ranking ads. A reserve price is included in a calculation of a score to rank one or more advertisements for display. The calculation may further rely on a bid submitted by an advertiser for an advertisement, a click probability associated with the advertisement, a relevance of the advertisement to a search query and/or user, and the like. Once the reserve price is used to establish a score for one or more advertisements, a price is calculated for each of the one or more advertisements. The one or more advertisements may be displayed in an order indicated by the scores of each of the advertisements.

Abstract: A process for adjusting a friction clutch located in a drive train of a vehicle and actuated by an actuator, the friction clutch comprising an adjustment device which, on moving an actuation element beyond a displacement range, effects a clutch adjustment compensating for friction lining wear, the process comprising the following steps: determining whether the drive train of the vehicle is in a state in which an adjustment of the clutch is possible; determining whether an adjustment of the clutch is necessary; moving the actuation element beyond the theoretical range so that the adjustment device carries out an adjustment; activating a slip-control process of the clutch; determining whether an adjustment has taken place; and, updating the engagement point of the clutch.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mirror array to form a projected image that includes pixels. The apparatus also includes a circuit to, for each pixel, control the mirror array to selectively combine reflected light from at least two mirrors of the array to regulate an intensity of the pixel.