Abstract: A surgical robotics method includes capturing points along a surface of a cutting tool by tracking a probe, deriving a tool axis from relative locations of the points, and controlling, using the tool axis, a robot that interfaces with the cutting tool.

Abstract: A robot system includes a tracking arm in communication with a reference location about a site. A robot arm has a procedure tool/end effector engaged therewith, and a proximal end disposed in a known relation to a proximal end of the tracking arm. A controller determines an actual spatial relation between the procedure tool and the reference location in a three-dimensional space via the robot and tracking arms, and directs the procedure tool to a staging position adjacent to the site by regulating movement of the robot arm according to an operational plan and based on the actual spatial relation. An actuator is spaced-apart from the procedure tool and in communication with the controller. The actuator actuates the controller to direct the robot arm to autonomously move the procedure tool from the staging position, according to the operational plan, to interact with the site and perform the procedure.

Abstract: A method of forming a procedure plan includes arranging a tracking arm distal end in communication with a reference location (RL) about a site or an object received thereat (S/O), the RL disposed in relation to the tracking arm in a 3D space. Physical points about the S/O are each contacted with an end effector of a procedure tool engaged with a robot arm disposed in known relation to the tracking arm, and locations thereof concurrently determined in the 3D space. A reference frame (RF) is formed in the 3D space, relative to the RL, from the locations of the physical points, and includes a location of the S/O within the RF. A plan is formed for an end effector procedure on the S/O, within the RF and relative to the RL, including a route traversed by the end effector to and from the S/O and during the procedure.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes at least one robotic arm comprising at least one movable joint and an actuator configured to drive the at least one movable joint, and a controller configured to generate a first signal, the first signal comprising a first oscillating waveform having a first frequency and being modulated by a second oscillating waveform having a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency. The actuator is configured to drive the at least one movable joint based on the first signal to at least partially compensate for friction in the at least one movable joint.

Abstract: A dental imaging system includes a dental tool having an end effector adapted to interact with an object. An optical imaging device is engaged with the dental tool or the end effector, and arranged such that a field-of-view thereof includes the interaction between the end effector and the object. A display is in communication with the optical imaging device and is arranged to display a real-time image of the interaction between the end effector and the object received from the optical imaging device. Associated dental robotic systems implementing the dental imaging system are also provided.

Abstract: A method for operating a surgical robot includes providing a plurality of virtual haptic geometries associated with different steps of a surgical procedure, evaluating a plurality of criteria associated with a first virtual haptic geometry of the plurality of virtual haptic geometries, activating the first virtual haptic geometry of the plurality of virtual haptic geometries without activating a second virtual haptic geometry of the plurality of virtual haptic geometries in response to satisfaction of the plurality of criteria, and controlling the surgical robot to constrain movement of an end effector of the surgical robot to the first virtual haptic geometry in response to activating the first virtual haptic geometry.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes at least one robotic arm comprising at least one movable joint and an actuator configured to drive the at least one movable joint, and a controller configured to generate a first signal, the first signal comprising a first oscillating waveform having a first frequency and being modulated by a second oscillating waveform having a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency. The actuator is configured to drive the at least one movable joint based on the first signal to at least partially compensate for friction in the at least one movable joint.

Abstract: A dental prosthetic device includes at least an anchor portion and in some instances a prosthetic portion arranged to engage the anchor portion. A sensor device is arranged to be engaged with the anchor portion. When the dental prosthetic device includes a prosthetic portion, the sensor device is arranged to be engaged with the anchor portion, with the prosthetic portion, or between the anchor portion and the prosthetic portion. A method of forming a dental prosthetic device is also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating a robotic surgical system includes monitoring a force applied at a surgical instrument attached to a robotic arm, comparing the force to a force threshold for a surgical procedure, providing a signal in response to the force being outside the force threshold, monitoring, using a reference array attached to a patient, a bone movement caused while the surgical instrument interacts with the patient, and adjusting control of the robotic arm based on the bone movement.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system has a tool drive coupled to a distal end of a robotic arm that has a plurality of actuators. The tool drive has a docking interface to receive a trocar. The system also includes one or more sensors that are operable to visually sense a surface feature of the trocar. One or more processors determine a position and orientation of the trocar, based on the visually sensed surface feature. In response, the processor controls the actuators to orient the docking interface to the determined orientation of the trocar and to guide the robotic arm toward the determined position of the trocar. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for operating a surgical robot includes providing a plurality of virtual haptic geometries associated with different steps of a surgical procedure, evaluating a plurality of criteria associated with a first virtual haptic geometry of the plurality of virtual haptic geometries, activating the first virtual haptic geometry of the plurality of virtual haptic geometries without activating a second virtual haptic geometry of the plurality of virtual haptic geometries in response to satisfaction of the plurality of criteria, and controlling the surgical robot to constrain movement of an end effector of the surgical robot to the first virtual haptic geometry in response to activating the first virtual haptic geometry.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical device having a surgical tool includes allowing manual movement of the surgical tool along at least one direction, controlling the surgical device to align the surgical tool with a target using a control object having a planned geometric relationship with an anatomic feature, tracking movement of the anatomic feature during a surgical procedure, moving the control object to compensate for the movement of the anatomic feature during the surgical procedure, and controlling the surgical device to realign the surgical tool with the target using the moved control object.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a first tracker configured to be affixed to a first object, a detection device configured to determine a change in position of the first tracker, and circuitry communicable with the detection device. The circuitry is configured to compare the change in the position of the first tracker to a condition and generate a fault signal in response to a determination that the change in the position of the first tracker violates the condition.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system has a tool drive coupled to a distal end of a robotic arm that has a plurality of actuators. The tool drive has a docking interface to receive a trocar. The system also includes one or more sensors that are operable to visually sense a surface feature of the trocar. One or more processors determine a position and orientation of the trocar, based on the visually sensed surface feature. In response, the processor controls the actuators to orient the docking interface to the determined orientation of the trocar and to guide the robotic arm toward the determined position of the trocar. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A surgical guidance system for use with a robotic device configured to support and move a surgical tool includes a tracking system configured to track the surgical tool and at least one bone, a display device, and a control system coupled to the tracking system and the display device. The control system is configured to register a plurality of target trajectories to the at least one bone, determine a distance between the surgical tool and each target trajectory, automatically identify which one of the target trajectories is closest to and within a threshold distance of the surgical tool, and display, on the display device, the identified target trajectory relative to the at least one bone and a tracked pose of the surgical tool relative to the identified target trajectory.

Abstract: A surgical robotic user input apparatus has a fiber optic cable with a handheld user input device attached at one end, and a connector attached at another end. Multiple intrinsic sensors, such as fiber Bragg grating sensors, are in the fiber optic cable. The intrinsic sensors are used to detect a pose of the handheld user input device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a robotic arm, an end effector coupled to the robotic arm, a divot at the end effector, a probe configured to be inserted into the divot, a tracking system configured to obtain data indicative of a position of the probe while the probe is in the divot, and circuitry configured to verify a proper physical configuration of the surgical system based on the data indicative of the position of the probe while the probe is in the divot.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system senses position or orientation of an object, which may be a trocar that has a magnetic field. Magnetic field sensors are coupled to a surgical robotic arm. A machine learning model coupled to the magnetic field sensors is trained to output three-dimensional position and/or three-dimensional orientation of the trocar or other object. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes at least one robotic arm comprising at least one movable joint and an actuator configured to drive the at least one movable joint, and a controller configured to generate a first signal, the first signal comprising a first oscillating waveform having a first frequency and being modulated by a second oscillating waveform having a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency. The actuator is configured to drive the at least one movable joint based on the first signal to at least partially compensate for friction in the at least one movable joint.

Abstract: A surgical robotic user input apparatus has a fiber optic cable with a handheld user input device attached at one end, and a connector attached at another end. Multiple intrinsic sensors, such as fiber Bragg grating sensors, are in the fiber optic cable. The intrinsic sensors are used to detect a pose of the handheld user input device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.