Abstract: The process comprises the steps of creating three reference points at an object and taking a tomogram of the object such that the three reference points define a first set of positional data in the tomogram. The object is then non-rigidly placed on a support for operation thereupon by an instrument which is mounted at a flexible arm containing sensors for sensing the movements of an instrument tip. The instrument tip is placed at the three reference points in order to create a second set of positional data which are in a fixed relationship to the first set of positional data. When the instrument is inserted into the object placed on the support, the positional data of the instrument tip during the insertion movement are sensed and related to the first set of positional data via the fixed relationship between the first and second sets of positional data.

Abstract: The process comprises the steps of creating three reference points at an object and taking a tomogram of the object such that the three reference points define a first set of positional data in the tomogram. The object is then non-rigidly placed on a support for operation thereupon by an instrument which is mounted at a flexible arm containing sensors for sensing the movements of an instrument tip. The instrument tip is placed at the three reference points in order to create a second set of positional data which are in a fixed relationship to the first set of positional data. When the instrument is inserted into the object placed on the support, the positional data of the instrument tip during the insertion movement are sensed and related to the first set of positional data via the fixed relationship between the first and second sets of positional data.

Abstract: The surgical suturing machine comprises a housing (10) on whose head piece (14) a needle holder (16) holding a needle (30), a thread catcher (18), a rotatable cylindrical body (20), a fixed foot with a plate (70) and a stretcher (22) are releasably mounted. The projecting tissue edges to be sutured together are clamped between plates (70) and cylindrical body (20). When the surgical suturing machine advances, the shaped circumferential surface (78) of cylindrical body (20) rolls along the outside of one edge of the tissue. The circumferential surface (78) of the rotating cylindrical body "grips" the outer surface of one tissue edge and guides the two tissue edges into a clamping zone which is located in the vicinity of the shortest distance between plate (70) and circumference (78) of the cylindrical body (20). The projecting tissue edges are pierced by needle (30) in the clamping zone and sutured together with the aid of thread catcher (18) and needle (30 ).