Abstract: Techniques for monitoring a computer-assisted device include a plurality of manipulators, each manipulator being configured to support an instrument, each manipulator having a control point; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to: determine a first spatial configuration of the plurality of control points, the first spatial configuration being prior to a movement of a table separate from the computer-assisted device, and the movement of the table causing motion of at least one control point; determine the movement of the table; determine, based on the movement of the table and the first spatial configuration, an expected spatial configuration of the plurality of control points; determine, based on a comparison of the expected spatial configuration with an actual spatial configuration of the plurality of control points, whether to perform a remedial action; and perform the remedial action in response to a determination to perform the remedial action.

Abstract: A system comprises a medical tool including a shaft having proximal and distal ends and an articulatable distal portion coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The system also comprises a processing unit including one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to determine a target in a medical environment. The articulatable distal portion is directed toward the target. The processing unit is also configured to determine a motion of at least a portion of the shaft, and in response to the determined motion, control a pose of the articulatable distal portion so that the articulatable distal portion remains directed toward the target.

Abstract: A computer-assisted device includes an articulating means configured to support an end effector and a processing means. When coupled to the articulating means and a patient supporting means, the processing means is configured to configure a first joint of the articulating means to a first mode to allow movement of the first joint in response to an external force on the articulating means, detect movement of the first joint, determine a movement of the patient supporting means, and drive a second joint of the articulating means based on the movement of the first joint and the movement of the patient supporting means.

Abstract: A computer-assisted surgical system is configured to activate a first mode of operation in which movement of a user control mechanism is translated to movement of a surgical instrument coupled to a manipulator arm; receive, during the first mode of operation, a first user input by way of a user input mechanism associated with the user control mechanism; activate, based on the first user input, a second mode of operation in which the user control mechanism is repositionable without causing the surgical instrument to move; receive, during the first mode of operation, a second user input by way of the user input mechanism, wherein the second user input is different from the first user input; and activate, based on the second user input, a function associated with a third mode of operation different from the first and second modes of operation.

Abstract: A system comprises: a robotic arm operatively coupleable to a tool comprising a working end; and an input device communicatively coupled to the robotic arm. The input device is manipulatable by an operator. The system further comprises a processor configured to cause an image of a work site, captured by an image capture device from a perspective of an image reference frame, to be displayed on a display. The image of the work site includes an image of the working end of the tool. The processor is further configured to determine a position of the working end of the tool in the image of the work site and render a tool information overlay at the position of the working end of the tool in the image of the work site. The tool information overlay visually indicates an identity of the input device.

Abstract: Techniques for ratcheting an alignment between an input means and an instrument include a teleoperated system comprising a robotic means configured to support an instrument, an input means configured to be manipulated by an operator to command motion of the instrument, and a ratcheting means. The ratcheting means is configured to determine first rotation values describing an orientation of the input means; determine second rotation values describing an orientation of the instrument; determine, based on the first rotation values and the second rotation values, an orientation error between the orientation of the input means and the orientation of the instrument; generate, based on the orientation error, a motion command for the instrument to reduce the orientation error by increasing an alignment between the input means and the instrument; and command the robotic means to move in accordance with the motion command.

Abstract: A method is provided to control actuation of a click event by a hand-actuated selector moveably mounted to a mount structure, comprising: in a first control state, imparting a maintaining force to the hand-actuated selector; in a second control state, imparting a haptic force to the hand-actuated selector that increases as a function of increasing displacement of the hand-actuated selector from the neutral displacement position; imparting a click event signal to cause an occurrence of the click event at a display system, in a third control state, imparting a haptic force to the hand-actuated selector that decreases in magnitude to a reduced magnitude.

Abstract: Techniques for maintaining instrument position and orientation include a computer-assisted device having an articulated structure and a control unit. The articulated structure includes a plurality of joints and is configured to support an instrument. The control unit is configured to determine a reference frame based on a type of a disturbance that causes a movement of a first joint of the plurality of joints; determine, in the reference frame, a first change to the instrument due to the disturbance; and rive at least a second joint of the plurality of joints to reduce the first change. The first change comprises: a change in a position of the instrument, or a change in an orientation of the instrument, or a change in both the position of the instrument and the orientation of the instrument.

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring control points of a computer-assisted device include one or more articulated arms having one or more control points and a control unit coupled to the one or more articulated arms. Each control point of the one or more control points is located based on a kinematic configuration of the one or more articulated arms. The control unit is configured to determine, during a movement of a table that causes a change in the kinematic configuration of the one or more articulated arms, an actual spatial configuration of the one or more control points; determine, based on a comparison of the actual spatial configuration with an expected spatial configuration of the one or more control points, whether to perform a remedial action; and perform the remedial action in response to a determination to perform the remedial action.

Abstract: A teleoperational system comprises a teleoperational assembly configured to support an instrument and an imaging device. The instrument has an instrument tip and a processing unit including one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to determine an instrument position of the instrument, determine an instrument position error relative to the imaging device, and determine, based on the instrument position and the instrument position error, that at least a portion of the instrument is outside a field of view of the imaging device. The processing unit is further configured to in response to determining that at least a portion of the instrument is outside the field of view of the imaging device and based on a mode of operation of the teleoperational system, cause an out-of-view indication for the instrument to be presented.

Abstract: A teleoperational system comprises a teleoperational control system and a teleoperational manipulator configured for operating an instrument in an environment. The teleoperational system also comprises an operator controller in communication with the teleoperational control system. The teleoperational control system includes a processing unit including one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to determine whether an operator of the operator controller has a head portion directed toward a display region of a display device and based on a determination that the operator's head portion is directed toward the display region, initiate an operator following mode in which movement of the operator controller provides a corresponding movement to the teleoperational manipulator. The teleoperational system may be a teleoperational medical system.

Abstract: A computer-assisted device includes an articulated arm configured to support an end effector and a control unit. When coupled to the articulated arm and a table, the control unit is configured to detect movement of the articulated arm caused by movement of the table, determine a movement of the table based on motion data received from the table, and drive one or more first joints of the articulated arm based on the movement of the articulated arm and the determined movement of the table.

Abstract: A system comprises a sensing means for sensing an arrangement of a manipulator assembly. The system further comprises a control means for: determining a motion limit of the manipulator assembly based on the sensed arrangement; and selecting a threshold limit from a plurality of pre-stored threshold limits based on which procedure type is to be performed with the manipulator assembly. The selected threshold limit is associated with a procedure type and defines a limit of a range to be potentially travelled by the manipulator assembly to perform a procedure. The control means are further for: comparing the motion limit to the selected threshold limit to determine whether the selected threshold limit is outside a range of motion bounded by the motion limit; and providing a notification indicative of whether the selected threshold limit is outside the range of motion bounded by the motion limit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for providing reminders with a computer-assisted robotic system. In one example, a robotic system comprises head and hand input devices, and a control system. The head input device comprises a sensor configured to sense head inputs provided by a head of an operator. The hand input device comprises a hand input sensor configured to sense hand inputs provided by a hand of the operator. The control system is configured to, in a teleoperation mode, command a change in a display of an image based on head input signals provided by the head input device, where the image is obtained by an imaging device, and command motion of a tool based on hand input signals provided by the hand input device. The control system is further configured to, in a clutch mode, provide a reminder for the operator to reposition the hand input device.

Abstract: A computer-assisted surgical system includes a function selection system configured to detect an actuation and a de-actuation of a user input mechanism associated with a user control mechanism for controlling a surgical instrument coupled to a manipulator arm of a computer-assisted surgical system, the user input mechanism configured to facilitate activation and deactivation of a clutch mode of operation in which the user control mechanism is decoupled from controlling the surgical instrument. Based on the detecting of the actuation and the de-actuation of the user input mechanism, the function selection system determines information associated with the user input mechanism and the user control mechanism, compares the information to a set of defined criteria, and performs, when the information satisfies the set of defined criteria, a function associated with a different mode of operation of the computer assisted surgical system.

Abstract: A teleoperated system includes a robotic arm configured to support an instrument, a grip configured to be manipulated by an operator to command motion of the instrument, and a control system communicatively coupled to the robotic arm and the grip. To align the grip with the instrument by the grip, the control system is configured to determine grip rotation values describing an orientation of the grip, determine instrument rotation values describing an orientation of the instrument, determine an orientation error between the orientation of the grip and the orientation of the instrument based on the grip rotation values and the instrument rotation values, produce a motion command by selectively imposing, based on the orientation error, an artificial joint limit on a commanded movement of the instrument, and command the robotic arm to move in accordance with the motion command.

Abstract: A teleoperational system in a surgical environment is provided. The system comprises a teleoperational assembly including a first teleoperational arm and a visual projection device coupled to the teleoperational assembly. The system further comprises a sensor and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to: receive first sensor information from the sensor; determine a first visual aid based upon the first sensor information; operate the visual projection device to project the first visual aid into the surgical environment; and operate the visual projection device to change the first visual aid to a second visual aid based on second sensor information received from the sensor.

Abstract: Techniques for maintaining instrument position and orientation include a computer-assisted device having a control unit and an articulated structure. The articulated structure includes a plurality of joints and is configured to support an instrument. The control unit is configured to determine an error that is introduced, by movement of a first joint of the plurality of joints, to a position of the instrument, an orientation of the instrument, or both the position of the instrument and the orientation of the instrument; and in response at least to determining that a second joint of the plurality of joints is at a range of motion limit or is about to reach the range of motion limit drive one or more joints of the plurality of joints to partially reduce the error, the one or more joints not comprising the second joint, and provide feedback that not all of the error is reduced.

Abstract: A teleoperational medical system includes a teleoperational control system, a teleoperational manipulator configured for operating a medical instrument in a medical environment, and an operator controller. The teleoperational control system includes a processing unit including one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to determine whether a head portion of an operator of the operator controller is directed toward or away from a display region of a display device based on at least one marker on the operator that is configured to remain substantially fixed relative to the head portion of the operator during a movement of the head portion. The processing unit is further configured to, based on a determination that the head portion is directed away from the display region for at least a threshold time period, enter a standby mode such that movement of the operator controller does not provide corresponding movement to the teleoperational manipulator.

Abstract: A system comprises a medical tool including a shaft having proximal and distal ends and an articulatable distal portion coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The system also comprises a processing unit including one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to determine a target in a medical environment. The articulatable distal portion is directed toward the target. The processing unit is also configured to determine a motion of at least a portion of the shaft, and in response to the determined motion, control a pose of the articulatable distal portion so that the articulatable distal portion remains directed toward the target.