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.

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 performed by a computing system comprises receiving a collected set of spatial information for a distal portion of an instrument at a plurality of locations within a set of anatomic passageways and receiving a set of position information for a reference portion of the instrument when the distal portion of the instrument is at each of the plurality of locations. The method also comprises determining a reference set of spatial information for the distal portion of the instrument based on the collected set of spatial information and the set of position information for the reference portion of the instrument and registering the reference set of spatial information with a set of anatomical model information.

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 performed by a computing system comprises receiving shape information for an elongate flexible portion of a medical instrument. The medical instrument includes a reference portion movably coupled to a fixture having a known pose in a surgical reference frame. The fixture includes a constraint structure having a known constraint structure location in the surgical reference frame. The elongate flexible portion is coupled to the reference portion and is sized to pass through the constraint structure. The method further includes receiving reference portion position information in the surgical reference frame; determining an estimated constraint structure location in the surgical reference frame from the reference portion position information and the shape information; determining a correction factor by comparing the estimated constraint structure location to the known constraint structure location; and modifying the shape information based upon the correction factor.

Abstract: A method comprises displaying an image of a patient anatomy for guiding a medical instrument to a deployment location during a medical procedure. The method further comprises recording a first sample identifier for a first tissue sample. The method also comprises receiving first tissue sample pathology information about the first tissue sample. The method also comprises displaying the first sample identifier with the first tissue sample pathology information during the medical procedure.

Abstract: In one example, a method for performing a medical procedure includes receiving a command to initiate tissue sampling with a surgical instrument at a target location, retrieving a predefined dynamic trajectory for tissue sampling from a memory device, and moving the surgical instrument according to the predefined dynamic trajectory to sample tissue at the target location.

Abstract: A method of deploying an interventional instrument comprises identifying a target structure in an anatomic frame of reference. The method further comprises determining a target region in the anatomic frame of reference with respect to a current position of the interventional instrument and recording a first engagement location of the interventional instrument within the target region.

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 method of cleaning a medical instrument involves initiating a flow of a pressurized fluid across a surface of the medical instrument, the pressurized fluid having a pressure that is greater than a standard operating room supply, and terminating the flow of the pressurized fluid after a predetermined duration.

Abstract: A method comprises navigating a patient's anatomy with a medical instrument, the instrument comprising a sensing tool. The method further includes correlating a position of the instrument with a model of the patient's anatomy. The method further includes, while navigating the patient's anatomy, updating the model based on data obtained by the sensing tool.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for tracking, localization or controlling an elongate instrument or other medical instrument in an image or patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for tracking, localization or controlling an elongate instrument or other medical instrument in an image or patient.

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: A method of modeling a cyclic anatomical motion comprises receiving a pose dataset for an identified point on an interventional instrument retained within and in compliant movement with a cyclically moving patient anatomy for a plurality of time parameters. The method also includes determining a set of pose differentials for the identified point with respect to a reference point at each of the plurality of time parameters and identifying a periodic signal for the cyclic anatomical motion from the set of pose differentials.

Abstract: A robotic instrument system having an elongate sheath instrument and an elongate catheter instrument positioned within a working lumen of the sheath instrument is controlled by selectively operating an instrument driver coupled to the catheter instrument to place a control element extending through the catheter instrument in tension, and thereby articulate at least a distal end portion the catheter instrument, while automatically compensating for a torsional force exerted on the sheath instrument in a first direction due to articulation of the distal end portion of the catheter, by urging the sheath instrument to twist in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

Abstract: A robotic instrument system includes a master input device and an instrument driver in communication with the controller, the instrument driver having a guide instrument interface including one or more guide instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device, for manipulating a guide instrument operatively coupled to the instrument interface. The master input device includes an operator interface coupled to a linkage assembly, with one or more load cells interposed between the operator interface and the linkage assembly, wherein control signals generated by the master input device are based at least in part on output signals generated by the one or more load cells in response to movement of the operator interface relative to the linkage assembly.

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: 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.