Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes a display unit configured to provide images to an operator of the display unit, a headrest configured to receive a mechanical input provided by a head of the operator in mechanical contact with the headrest, a headrest sensor interfacing with the headrest and configured to provide sensor signals based on the mechanical input, and a controller. The controller includes a computer processor, and is configured to process the sensor signals to obtain a driving input, drive, by the driving input, a virtual mass to obtain a simulated virtual mass movement, and cause movement of the headrest, the movement of the headrest tracking the virtual mass movement.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring control points during reactive motion includes a computer-assisted device. The computer-assisted device includes the one or more articulated arms and a control unit coupled to the one or more articulated arms. The control unit is configured to perform operations comprising determining, before movement of a table separate from the computer-assisted device, a latched spatial configuration of a plurality of control points associated with the one or more articulated arms; determining one or more geometric attributes of the latched spatial configuration; determining an actual spatial configuration of the plurality of control points as the one or more articulated arms track the movement of the table; determining a difference between the one or more geometric attributes of the latched spatial configuration and corresponding one or more geometric attributes of the actual spatial configuration; and performing, based on the determined difference, a remedial action.

Abstract: A computer-assisted device includes a first repositionable arm configured to support a first end effector, a second repositionable arm configured to support a second end effector, and a control unit. The control unit configured to monitor an actual motion of at least one structure selected from the group consisting of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector, determine a deviation threshold based on at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a mode of operation of the first end effector and a mode of operation of the computer-assisted device, and in response to determining that the actual motion of the at least one structure deviates from a desired motion of the at least one structure by more than the deviation threshold, halt motion of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector or halt motion of the second repositionable arm and the second end effector.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus and method for resisting external articulation of one or more joints of a manipulator assembly when the joints are approaching mechanical limits. For example, an articulable system may include a joint mechanism, an actuator coupled to the joint mechanism, a sensor system for sensing a joint state and a controller. The controller can operate the articulable system in an external articulation facilitation mode. The controller can command the actuator to resist movement of the joint in response to the joint state indicating the joint is moving toward a mechanical limit location with a joint velocity meeting a first velocity criterion. The controller can also command the actuator resist movement of the joint at a second joint position when the joint velocity meets a second criterion.

Abstract: A system and method for rapid halt and recovery of motion deviations in a medical device includes a computer-assisted medical device having a first repositionable arm having one or more first repositionable elements, a second repositionable arm having one or more second repositionable elements, and a control unit communicably coupled to the first and second repositionable arms. The control unit is configured to control motion of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector based on a desired motion, monitor an actual motion of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector, determine whether the actual motion deviates from the desired motion by more than a predetermined threshold, and halt motion of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector, or of the second repositionable arm and the second end effector, when the actual motion deviates from the desired motion by more than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Disturbance compensation in computer-assisted devices include a first articulated arm configured to support an imaging device a second articulated arm configured to support an end effector, and a control unit coupled to the first articulated arm and the second articulated arm. The control unit is configured to set a first reference frame, where the first reference frame is based on a first position of the imaging device at a first time. The control unit is further configured to detect a first disturbance to the first articulated arm moving the imaging device away from the first position, receive a command to move the end effector, and transform the command to move the end effector from a command in the first reference frame to a command in a reference frame for the end effector.

Abstract: A computer-assisted device includes an articulated arm with a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated arm. The control unit is configured to send one or more first commands to a plurality of brakes in the articulated arm to begin a release of the plurality of brakes in a predetermined staggered manner, detect a disturbance in a point of interest of the computer-assisted device caused by each brake of the plurality of brakes as the brake is released, and send one or more second commands to the plurality of joints to compensate for the disturbance. In some embodiments, the one or more first commands prevent simultaneous release of two or more brakes of the plurality of brakes. In some embodiments, the one or more first commands cause brakes of the plurality of brakes to release within a predetermined time of each other.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a tool position and orientation for a computer-assisted device include a control unit and an articulated structure coupled to the control unit and including a plurality of joints. The articulated structure is configured to support an instrument. The control unit is configured to determine an error that is introduced to a position of the instrument, an orientation of the instrument, or both the position of the instrument and the orientation of the instrument by movement of a first joint of the plurality of joints; and drive at least a second joint of the plurality of joints to reduce the error.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a tool position and orientation for a computer-assisted device include an articulated structure including a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated structure. The control unit is configured to determine whether a cannula or an instrument is coupled to a distal end of the articulated structure and in response to determining that the cannula or the instrument is coupled to the distal end of the articulated structure: determine an initial position and orientation of the instrument prior to detection of a disturbance in a first joint of the plurality of joints; determine, during the disturbance in the first joint, a current position and orientation of the instrument; determine a difference between the current position and orientation and the initial position and orientation; and drive at least a second joint of the plurality of joints based on the difference.

Abstract: Systems and methods for instrument disturbance compensation include a computer-assisted device. The computer-assisted device includes an articulated arm having a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated arm. The control unit is configured to detect a disturbance to the articulated arm caused by a release of one or more brakes of the plurality of joints and maintain a position of a point of interest associated with the articulated arm by compensating for the disturbance using one or more joints of the plurality of joints. In some embodiments, the point of interest is a tip of an end effector of the articulated arm. In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to determine a predicted motion for the point of interest based on the disturbance and send a drive command to move the point of interest in a direction opposite to the predicted motion.

Abstract: A computer-assisted device includes a plurality of articulated arms and a control unit. Each articulated arm has a plurality of brakes. The control unit is configured to determine a plurality of timing windows based on a time period for brake release and a number of articulated arms comprising the plurality of articulated arms. The plurality of timing windows include a timing window for each articulated arm of the plurality of articulated arms. The control unit is further configured to determine, for each articulated arm of the plurality of articulated arms, an order for releasing brakes of the plurality of brakes of that articulated arm. The control unit is further configured to cause release of the brakes of the plurality of brakes of each of the plurality of articulated arms according to the determined order and the plurality of timing windows.

Abstract: Integrated table motion includes a device including a control unit and an arm having one or more joints and a distal portion. The control unit is configured to receive a table movement request from a separate table, determine whether to allow the table movement request based on one or more of whether a type of movement in the table movement request is permitted, whether one or more instruments mounted to the device are within a field of view of an imaging device, or whether one or more instruments mounted to the device are withdrawn into respective cannulas, allow the table to perform the table movement request based on the determining; track movement of the table while the table performs the table movement request; and maintain, using the joint(s) and based on the tracked movement of the table, a position and/or an orientation of the distal portion relative to the table.

Abstract: A system and method for integrated table motion includes a device. The device includes an articulated arm having joints and a distal portion distal to the joints and a control unit. To support integrated motion with a separate table, the control unit is configured to receive a table movement request from the table, determine whether allowing the table movement request would result in a first joint of the joints being at a range of motion limit, allow the table to perform the table movement request based on determining that allowing the table to perform the table movement request would not result in the first joint being at the range of motion limit, track movement of the table due to performing the table movement request, and maintain, using the joints and based on the tracked movement, a position and/or an orientation of the distal portion relative to the table.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring control points during reactive motion includes a computer-assisted device. The computer-assisted device includes the one or more articulated arms and a control unit coupled to the one or more articulated arms. The control unit is configured to perform operations comprising determining, before movement of a table separate from the computer-assisted device, a latched spatial configuration of a plurality of control points associated with the one or more articulated arms; determining one or more geometric attributes of the latched spatial configuration; determining an actual spatial configuration of the plurality of control points as the one or more articulated arms track the movement of the table; determining a difference between the one or more geometric attributes of the latched spatial configuration and corresponding one or more geometric attributes of the actual spatial configuration; and performing, based on the determined difference, a remedial action.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring control points during reactive motion includes a computer-assisted medical device. The computer-assisted medical device includes one or more articulated arms each having a control point and a control unit coupled to the one or more articulated arms. The one or more articulated arms and corresponding control points are configured to track movement of a surgical table. The control unit monitors a spatial configuration of the one or more control points by determining an expected spatial configuration of the one or more control points during the movement of the surgical table, determining an actual spatial configuration of the one or more control points during the movement of the surgical table, and determining a difference between the expected spatial configuration and the actual spatial configuration.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a tool position and orientation for a computer-assisted device include an articulated structure including a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated structure. The control unit is configured to determine whether a cannula or an instrument is coupled to a distal end of the articulated structure and in response to determining that the cannula or the instrument is coupled to the distal end of the articulated structure: determine an initial position and orientation of the instrument prior to detection of a disturbance in a first joint of the plurality of joints; determine, during the disturbance in the first joint, a current position and orientation of the instrument; determine a difference between the current position and orientation and the initial position and orientation; and drive at least a second joint of the plurality of joints based on the difference.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a tool position and orientation for a computer-assisted medical device include a device with an articulated structure including a plurality of joints and a control unit. The articulated structure is configured to support a tool distal to the joints. The control unit is configured to determine an initial position and orientation of the tool prior to movement of a first joint, determine, while the first joint is moving, a current position and orientation of the tool, determine a difference between the current and the initial position and orientation, and drive at least a second joint based on the difference to maintain a position and orientation of the tool at the initial position and orientation. In some embodiments, the position and orientation of the tool are maintained relative to a reference coordinate frame based on a cause of the moving of the first joint.

Abstract: A computer-assisted device includes an articulated arm with a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated arm. The control unit is configured to send one or more first commands to a plurality of brakes in the articulated arm to begin a release of the plurality of brakes in a predetermined staggered manner, detect a disturbance in a point of interest of the computer-assisted device caused by each brake of the plurality of brakes as the brake is released, and send one or more second commands to the plurality of joints to compensate for the disturbance. In some embodiments, the one or more first commands prevent simultaneous release of two or more brakes of the plurality of brakes. In some embodiments, the one or more first commands cause brakes of the plurality of brakes to release within a predetermined time of each other.

Abstract: A computer-assisted medical device includes an articulated arm with a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated arm. The control unit is configured to send a command to a plurality of brakes in the articulated arm to begin a release of the plurality of brakes in a predetermined staggered manner. In some embodiments the predetermined staggered manner prevents the simultaneous release of the plurality of breaks. In some examples, the predetermined staggered manner causes each brake in the plurality of brakes to release within a predetermined time of each other. In some embodiments, the first predetermined staggered manner causes each brake in the first plurality of brakes to release within a predetermined time of each other. In some embodiments, the first predetermined staggered manner causes each brake in the first plurality of brakes to begin a gradual release within a predetermined time of each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods for instrument disturbance compensation include a computer-assisted device. The computer-assisted device includes an articulated arm having a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated arm. The control unit is configured to detect a disturbance to the articulated arm caused by a release of one or more brakes of the plurality of joints and maintain a position of a point of interest associated with the articulated arm by compensating for the disturbance using one or more joints of the plurality of joints. In some embodiments, the point of interest is a tip of an end effector of the articulated arm. In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to determine a predicted motion for the point of interest based on the disturbance and send a drive command to move the point of interest in a direction opposite to the predicted motion.