Abstract: The systems and methods of the present disclosure are used for guiding a medical instrument towards a target, the method positioning a medical instrument at a first location within a patient anatomy, wherein the medical instrument comprises at least one sensor, determining a first biomarker measurement using the at least one sensor, determining a second biomarker measurement using the at least one sensor, comparing the first biomarker measurement with the second biomarker measurement to determine a proximity to the target to provide a first comparison, and providing guidance for moving the medical instrument based on results of the first comparison.

Abstract: A medical instrument system may comprise a control system and an operator input device coupled to a medical instrument through the control system. The control system may comprise a processor and a memory comprising machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the control system to determine a distance between a distal tip of the medical instrument and an identified anatomical area and determine a motion scaling parameter based on the distance. The control system may also receive an input instruction from the operator input device and map the input instruction to an output instruction for the medical instrument. The motion scaling parameter may be applied to the input instruction to create the output instruction. The control system may also instruct an actuator to move the medical instrument based on the output instruction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing a minimally invasive procedure within anatomic passageways include an outer catheter including one or more first lumens, a sealing device coupled to the outer catheter, an inner instrument configured to be slideably deployed through one of the one or more first lumens, and one or more first sensors for detecting bleeding wherein the one or more first sensors are configured to be positioned distal to the sealing device. In some embodiments, the outer catheter includes a fiber optic shape sensor. In some embodiments, the inner instrument includes a second lumen, wherein a working instrument is configured to be slideably received through the second lumen. In some embodiments, the inner instrument or the working instrument includes a dilation device for expanding an opening in a surface of the anatomic passageways at a point of entry. In some embodiments, the inner instrument includes a biopsy needle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for responding to faults in a robotic system are provided herein. In some embodiments, the system includes an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, a backend housing coupled to the proximal end of the elongate body, and a control system. The backend housing includes one or more actuators configured to manipulate the distal end of the elongate body. The control system is configured to control the robotic system by performing operations including: determining an operational state of the medical robotic system, detecting a fault in one or more components of the medical robotic system, classifying the fault according to one or more heuristics, and imposing a fault reaction state on the medical robotic system based on the one or more heuristics to mitigate the fault.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an elongate device include an input control console. The console includes a first input control having an infinite length of travel in a first direction, a second input control having an infinite length of travel in more than one direction, one or more transceivers for coupling the console to a control unit for the elongate device, and interface circuits for coupling the first input control and the second input control to the one or more transceivers. The first input control provides a first command suitable for controlling an insertion depth of the elongate device. The second input control provides second commands suitable for controlling steering of a distal end of the elongate device. In some embodiments, the console includes raised rings or bezels within which the input controls are mounted. In some embodiments, pockets of a drape are anchored to the raised rings or bezels.

Abstract: A method of controlling a movement of a medical instrument comprises receiving an input instruction from an operator input device movement and determining a control factor based on the input instruction. The method also comprises receiving a motion scaling parameter determined from the control factor and mapping the input instruction to an output instruction for a medical instrument movement. The mapping includes applying the motion scaling parameter to the input instruction to create the output instruction. The method also includes moving the medical instrument according to the output instruction.

Abstract: A system and method of planning a procedure includes a planning workstation including: a display system; and a user input device. The planning workstation is configured to: display image data via the display system; receive a first user input via the user input device; display via the display system a target of a medical procedure within the displayed image data identified based at least on the first user input; display an interactive image via the display system, the interactive image including the image data, a plurality of connected anatomical passageways, and the identified target; receive a second user input via the user input device; display via the display system a trajectory between the target and an exit point along a nearest passageway of the plurality of connected anatomical passageways identified based at least on the second user input; receive a third user input via the user input device; and adjust the interactive image based at least on the defined trajectory and the third user input.

Abstract: A medical system comprises a robotic manipulator arm and an imaging probe coupled to the robotic manipulator arm such that the imaging probe is movable in connection with the robotic manipulator arm. The system also comprises a control system in communication with the robotic manipulator arm and the imaging probe. The control system performs operations comprising extracting system information. The system information includes kinematic information from a robotic arm of a medical system, setup information, or a combination of the kinematic information and setup information associated with a medical procedure to be performed. The control system also generates, by a control system processor, a first registration between a first set of model points of a model of a patient anatomy of interest and a second set of intra-operatively collected captured points of a portion of the patient anatomy of interest, wherein the registration is based on the extracted system information.

Abstract: A system for performing a minimally invasive procedure comprises a flexible catheter with a lumen extending therethrough. The system also comprises an elongate instrument sized for passage through the lumen and an optical coherence tomographic sensor coupled to the elongate instrument. The system also comprises a control system that includes one or more processors. The control system is configured to receive sensor data from the optical coherence tomographic sensor, profile a tissue based on the received sensor data, generate an output signal based on the profiled tissue, and based on receipt of the output signal, generate a command to indicate or affect movement of the elongate instrument.

Abstract: A fiber housing includes multiple shape sensing cores and a single optical core. A distal end of the fiber housing is positionable to direct the single optical core to a current point of an anatomical target. Collimated light over a first range of frequencies is projected from the single optical core to the current point. OFDR is used to detect reflected light scattered from the current point and to process the detected light to determine a distance to the current point. Light over a second range of frequencies is projected through the multiple shape sensing optical cores to the distal end of the fiber housing. OFDR is used to measure light reflected from the distal end of the fiber housing back through the multiple shape sensing optical cores and to process the measurement to determine a position in three dimensional space of the distal end of the fiber housing and a pointing direction of the distal end of the fiber housing.

Abstract: A method comprising: displaying, in a first region of a display screen, an image of a patient anatomy for guiding a medical instrument to a deployment location during a medical procedure; and recording a plurality of sample identifiers. Each sample identifier is associated with a corresponding tissue sample of a plurality of tissue samples. The method further includes recording a plurality of location stamps. Each location stamp indicates a location in the patient anatomy of a corresponding tissue sample of the plurality of tissue samples. The method further includes: receiving tissue sample pathology information for each tissue sample in the plurality of tissue samples; and displaying, in a table in a second region of the display screen, the plurality of sample identifiers, the plurality of location stamps, and the tissue sample pathology information for each tissue sample during the medical procedure.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: Methods for using registered real-time images and prior-time anatomic images during an image-guided procedure are provided herein. An exemplary method includes obtaining a three-dimensional image of a patient anatomy and a portion of a medical instrument disposed therein. The three-dimensional image includes image information characterizing a shape of the portion of the medical instrument. A processing device segments the portion of the medical instrument from the three-dimensional image. Shape data is obtained from the portion of the medical instrument while the portion is positioned within the patient anatomy, and the processing device registers the segmented shape of the portion of the medical instrument with the shape data from the portion of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system comprises determining an entry position and entry vector of an entry port in a surgical coordinate space. The entry port provides a passageway for insertion of a first medical instrument into a patient's body. The determination of the entry position and entry vector occurs while the first medical instrument is external to the entry port. The method also comprises positioning the first medical instrument based on the entry position and the entry vector of the entry port and advancing a distal end of the first medical instrument along the entry vector into the entry port.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: A method for modeling a patient anatomy includes applying a first modeling function to a set of volumetric image data for a patient anatomy to produce a first model of the patient anatomy, presenting the first model to a user, receiving an input from the user, and generating a revised model based upon the input.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that improve control of a shapeable or steerable instrument using shape data. Additional methods include preparing a robotic medical system for use with a shapeable instrument and controlling advancement of a shapeable medical device within an anatomic path. Also described herein are methods for altering a data model of an anatomical region.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system comprises receiving, from a fluoroscopic imager, having a first set of parameters, first fluoroscopic image data of a first fiducial marker within a surgical coordinate space. The method comprises receiving a configuration of the first fiducial marker within the surgical coordinate space. The method comprises determining a second set of parameters of the fluoroscopic imager in the surgical coordinate space based on the first flouroscopic image data and the configuration of the first fiducial marker. In some embodiments, determining the second set of parameters comprises developing a calibrated model of the fiducial marker in the surgical coordinate space from the first fluoroscopic image data and the configuration of the first fiducial marker.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that improve control of a shapeable or steerable instrument using shape data. Additional methods include preparing a robotic medical system for use with a shapeable instrument and controlling advancement of a shapeable medical device within an anatomic path. Also described herein are methods for altering a data model of an anatomical region.

Abstract: A method comprises tracking a set of optical fiducials positioned on a reference portion of a medical instrument. The medical instrument includes an elongated flexible body with a distal end and a rigid proximal body which includes the reference portion. The method further comprises receiving shape information from a shape sensor extending within the medical instrument between the reference portion and the distal end and determining a pose of a portion of the elongated flexible body with respect to the patient anatomy.