Abstract: A virtual reality system providing a virtual robotic surgical environment, and methods for using the virtual reality system, are described herein. The virtual reality system may be used to expedite the R&D cycle during development of a robotic surgical system, such as by allowing simulation of potential design without the time and significant expense of physical prototypes. The virtual reality system may also be used to test a control algorithm or a control mode for a robotic surgical component.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

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: 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: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a surgical table and an adapter coupled thereto. The adapter includes an interface structure, a first link member coupled to a second link member, and a third link member coupled to a fourth link member. The first link member and the third link member are each pivotally coupled to the interface mechanism at a shared first pivot joint. The second link member and the fourth link member are each coupleable to a robotic arm. The first link member and the second link member collectively provide for movement of the first robotic arm in at least one of a lateral, longitudinal or vertical direction relative to the table top. The third link member and the fourth link member collectively provide for movement of the second robotic arm in at least one of a lateral, longitudinal or vertical direction relative to the table top.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a surgical table and an adapter coupled thereto. The adapter includes an interface structure, a first link member coupled to a second link member, and a third link member coupled to a fourth link member. The first link member and the third link member are each pivotally coupled to the interface mechanism at a shared first pivot joint. The second link member and the fourth link member are each coupleable to a robotic arm. The first link member and the second link member collectively provide for movement of the first robotic arm in at least one of a lateral, longitudinal or vertical direction relative to the table top. The third link member and the fourth link member collectively provide for movement of the second robotic arm in at least one of a lateral, longitudinal or vertical direction relative to the table top.

Abstract: A virtual reality system providing a virtual robotic surgical environment, and methods for using the virtual reality system, are described herein. The virtual reality system may be used to expedite the R&D cycle during development of a robotic surgical system, such as by allowing simulation of potential design without the time and significant expense of physical prototypes. The virtual reality system may also be used to test a control algorithm or a control mode for a robotic surgical component.

Abstract: A virtual reality system may generate a virtual robotic surgical environment using a client application, where the virtual robotic surgical environment includes at least one virtual robotic component. In response to a user input to move the at least one virtual robotic component in the virtual robotic surgical environment, the system may pass status information regarding the at least one virtual robotic component from the client application to a server application, generate an actuation command based on the user input and the status information using the server application, pass the actuation command from the server application to the client application, and move the at least one virtual robotic component based on the actuation command.

Abstract: A virtual reality system providing a virtual robotic surgical environment, and methods for using the virtual reality system, are described herein. The virtual reality system may be used to expedite the R&D cycle during development of a robotic surgical system, such as by allowing simulation of potential design without the time and significant expense of physical prototypes. The virtual reality system may also be used to test a control algorithm or a control mode for a robotic surgical component.

Abstract: A virtual reality system may generate a virtual robotic surgical environment using a client application, where the virtual robotic surgical environment includes at least one virtual robotic component. In response to a user input to move the at least one virtual robotic component in the virtual robotic surgical environment, the system may pass status information regarding the at least one virtual robotic component from the client application to a server application, generate an actuation command based on the user input and the status information using the server application, pass the actuation command from the server application to the client application, and move the at least one virtual robotic component based on the actuation command. The client application and the server application may be run on a shared processor device, or on separate processor devices.

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: A virtual reality system providing a virtual robotic surgical environment, and methods for using the virtual reality system, are described herein. The virtual reality system may simulate a robotic surgical environment in which a user may operate both a robotically-controlled surgical instrument using a handheld controller and a manual laparoscopic surgical instrument while adjacent a patient table.

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: 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: A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

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 arm is disposed in a position in which the coupler of the robotic arm can be engaged by the coupler of the surgical table.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

Abstract: A virtual reality system providing a virtual robotic surgical environment, and methods for using the virtual reality system, are described herein. The virtual reality system may simulate a robotic surgical environment in which a user may operate both a robotically-controlled surgical instrument using a handheld controller and a manual laparoscopic surgical instrument while adjacent a patient table.

Abstract: A virtual reality system providing a virtual robotic surgical environment, and methods for using the virtual reality system, are described herein. The virtual reality system may simulate a robotic surgical environment in which a user may operate both a robotically-controlled surgical instrument using a handheld controller and a manual laparoscopic surgical instrument while adjacent a patient table.