Abstract: A method of supplying flux may include receiving first data at a control system identifying which of a plurality of remotely-controllable kinematic flux delivery structures is operationally coupled to which of a plurality of flux supply pathways and receiving second data at the control system identifying which of the remotely-controllable kinematic flux delivery structures is operationally coupled to which of a plurality of kinematic support structures. A system for supplying flux may include a plurality of flux supply pathways, a plurality of remotely-controllable kinematic flux delivery structures, and a control system receiving first data identifying which of the remotely-controllable kinematic flux delivery structures is operationally coupled to which of the flux supply pathways and receiving second data identifying which of the remotely-controllable kinematic flux delivery structures is operationally coupled to which of a plurality of kinematic support structures.

Abstract: A medical robotic assembly configured to support, insert, retract, and actuate a surgical instrument. The medical robotic assembly includes a surgical instrument carriage configured for detachably mounting a surgical instrument to the surgical instrument carriage. The surgical instrument carriage includes a motor housing, a first output assembly in the motor housing, a second output assembly in the motor housing, a first sensor assembly configured to sense a rotational orientation of a first output drive coupling, and a second sensor assembly configured to sense a rotational orientation of a second output drive coupling.

Abstract: An instrument sterile drape includes a plastic sheet and an instrument sterile adapter (ISA) coupled to the plastic sheet. The ISA includes a bottom plate located on a first side of the plastic sheet and a top plate located on a second side of the plastic sheet and joined to the bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a mounting surface that provides a first datum plane for mounting the ISA on a carriage that includes actuators and a plurality of landing pads that extend through the top plate to provide a second datum plane for a surgical instrument coupled to the ISA such that a distance between the carriage and the surgical instrument is controlled only by the bottom plate. The instrument sterile drape may include a pouch shaped to fit around the carriage with the ISA capturing the pouch between the top and bottom plates.

Abstract: A method includes: providing a three-dimensional printer including a build surface and a carrier that is movable away from and toward the build surface; advancing the carrier toward the build surface and contacting a lower surface of the carrier with the build surface or a fixture or frame member adjacent the build surface to align the carrier in an aligned position with the lower surface of the carrier parallel to the build surface; and locking the carrier in a locked state to maintain the carrier in the aligned position.

Abstract: A method comprising receiving an input coupling adjacent to a drive input driven by an actuating element, the input coupling being coupled to a joint output and the joint output being connected to a movable object. The method further comprising rotating the actuating element to drive the drive input and determining, by a control system, whether a resistance torque greater than an inherent drivetrain resistance torque is experienced by the actuating element. The inherent drivetrain resistance torque is for a drivetrain including the input coupling, the drive input, and the joint output. The method also includes determining, by the control system, whether the drive input has engaged the input coupling based on the determination that the resistance torque greater than the inherent drivetrain resistance torque has been experienced by the actuating element.

Abstract: An instrument sterile drape includes a plastic sheet and a pouch sealed to a first opening in the plastic sheet. The pouch is shaped to fit around a carriage that includes actuators and may be shaped to provide a loose form fit around the carriage. A stiffener is coupled to the pouch around a second opening in the pouch to provide an area that is less elastic than the remainder of the pouch. An instrument sterile adapter (ISA) may be coupled to the second opening in the pouch. The ISA may include a bottom plate and a top plate located on opposite sides of the pouch and joined together. Portions of the bottom plate may project through the top plate to provide a datum plane to receive a surgical instrument. The ISA may contain loose pins that depress sensing pins in the carriage when a surgical instrument is mounted.

Abstract: A robotic assembly is configured to support, insert, retract, and actuate a surgical instrument mounted to the robotic assembly. The robotic assembly includes an instrument holder base member, a motor housing moveably mounted to the instrument holder base member, a carriage drive mechanism operable to translate the motor housing along the instrument holder base member, a plurality of drive motors, a plurality of gear boxes, and a plurality of output drive couplings driven by the gear boxes. The robotic assembly includes a sensor assembly that includes an orientation sensor, a sensor target, and a sensor shaft drivingly coupling the sensor target to a corresponding one of the output drive couplings.

Abstract: A method of engaging a medical instrument with a medical instrument manipulator comprises receiving an indication that a first input coupling of the medical instrument is positioned adjacent to a first drive output of the manipulator. The first drive output is driven by a first actuating element. In response to receiving the indication, the first drive output is rotated in a first rotational direction. A determination is made, by one or more processors, as to whether a resistance torque is experienced by the first actuating element after rotating the first drive output in the first rotational direction. If the resistance torque is not experienced by the first actuating element after rotating of the first drive output in the first rotational direction, the first drive output is rotated in a second rotational direction.

Abstract: A teleoperated surgical system has an instrument manipulator that includes a first carriage driver and a second carriage driver that each provide independent rotary motion. Each carriage driver includes a first engagement feature. A surgical instrument includes two instrument drivers that each receive the rotary motion from one of the two carriage drivers. Each instrument driver includes a second engagement feature that engages the first engagement feature to positively couple the carriage driver to the instrument driver. The instrument drivers are rotationally coupled together. A manipulator controller controls rotation of the two carriage drivers and imparts a motion to the second carriage driver that is contrary to the rotation of the first carriage driver until the first engagement features positively engage the second engagement features. The surgical instrument may include an instrument shaft that can rotate indefinitely. The instrument drivers may be rotationally coupled to the instrument shaft.

Abstract: An instrument carriage provides control of a surgical instrument coupled to the instrument carriage. The instrument carriage includes a control surface that is coupled to the surgical instrument to provide the control. A detection pin having a first distal end that extends from the control surface is coupled to the instrument carriage. A sensor fixed relative to the instrument carriage detects a position of the detection pin. A carriage controller coupled to the sensor, provides a signal that indicates at least a first state and a second state responsive to a distance between the distal end of the detection pin and the control surface. The signal may indicate if an instrument sterile adapter is coupled to the control surface of the instrument carriage. A third state of the signal may indicate if a surgical instrument is coupled to the instrument sterile adapter.

Abstract: Implementations relate to actuated grips for a controller. In some implementations, a controller includes a central member, a grip member coupled to the central member and moveable in a grip degree of freedom, a shaft coupled to the grip member, and an actuator coupled to the shaft and operative to output an actuator force on the shaft. The actuator force causes a grip force to be applied via the shaft to the grip member in the grip degree of freedom.

Abstract: Minimally invasive robotic surgical instruments and related methods are disclosed. A surgical instrument includes an interface fitting that couples a proximal chassis of the instrument with a holding fixture of a robotic manipulator. A securing feature releasably prevents relative axial sliding between the interface fitting and the chassis. In response to binding of the surgical instrument within a minimally invasive surgical site so as to inhibit removal of the surgical instrument from the surgical site and inhibit disengagement of the interface fitting from the holding fixture, the securing feature can be released to allow relative axial sliding between the interface fitting and the chassis, thereby allowing the holding fixture and the interface fitting to be separated from the rest of the surgical instrument and repositioning of the robotic manipulator out of the way.

Abstract: An instrument sterile drape includes a plastic sheet and an instrument sterile adapter (ISA) coupled to the plastic sheet. The ISA includes bottom and top plates located on opposite sides of the plastic sheet plate and joined together. A passage in the bottom plate allows an instrument carriage flux connection to pass through the plastic sheet and the bottom plate to be adjacent to the top plate. The top plate includes a signal transmission area that will be adjacent to an upper surface of the flux connection of the instrument carriage. A flux connector may close an opening in the signal transmission area of the top plate and provide a path for an electrical or optical signal. The signal transmission area of the top plate may be thinned to allow an RFID sensor to be closer to an RFID device in a surgical instrument attached to the instrument sterile adapter.

Abstract: An instrument sterile adapter (310) couples a surgical instrument (120) and an instrument carriage (130). The instrument sterile adapter (310) includes an instrument plate (430) that provides a first surface to receive the surgical instrument (120) and a latch plate (400) joined to the instrument plate (430). The latch plate (400) includes a second surface to receive the instrument carriage (130) and latch structures. Each latch structure has a carriage latch arm (410) that extends away from the second surface of the latch plate (400) and an instrument latch arm (405) joined to the carriage latch arm (410). The instrument latch arm (405) extends through the instrument plate (430) and away from the first surface of the instrument plate (430). A connecting member (425) flexibly connects the carriage latch arm (410) and the instrument latch arm (405) to a remainder of the latch plate (400). The connecting member (425) may be perpendicular to the latch arms (405).

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical system includes a combined laser imaging robotic surgical tool, a control console, and a laser generator/controller. The tool is mounted to a first robotic arm of a patient side cart. The tool has a wristed joint and an end effector coupled together. The end effector has a laser-emitting device to direct a laser beam onto tissue in a surgical site and an image-capturing device to capture images of the tissue in the surgical site. The control console, in communication with the tool, receives the captured images of tissue in the surgical site and displays the captured images on a display device to a user. The laser generator/controller is coupled to the tool and the control console to control the emission of the laser beam onto tissue of the surgical site.

Abstract: An instrument sterile drape includes a plastic sheet and a pouch sealed to a first opening in the plastic sheet. The pouch is shaped to fit around a carriage that includes actuators. An instrument sterile adapter (ISA) is coupled to a second opening in the pouch. The ISA includes a bottom plate and a top plate located on opposite sides of the pouch and joined together. A stiffener may be coupled to the pouch around the second opening to provide a relatively inelastic area that corresponds to a portion of the pouch that is retained between the bottom plate and the top plate. Portions of the bottom plate may project through the top plate to provide a datum plane to receive a surgical instrument. The ISA may contain loose pins that depress sensing pins in the carriage when a surgical instrument is mounted.

Abstract: A method for torque compensation of a motor associated with a medical instrument includes determining a torque profile for a motor, the torque profile defining torque output as a function of rotor angle and during operation of the motor, compensating for deviations in the torque profile by adjusting an input signal to the motor, the compensating being based on the torque profile and rotor position.

Abstract: Minimally invasive robotic surgical instruments and related methods are disclosed. A surgical instrument includes an interface fitting that couples a proximal chassis of the instrument with a holding fixture of a robotic manipulator. A securing feature releasably prevents relative axial sliding between the interface fitting and the chassis. In response to binding of the surgical instrument within a minimally invasive surgical site so as to inhibit removal of the surgical instrument from the surgical site and inhibit disengagement of the interface fitting from the holding fixture, the securing feature can be released to allow relative axial sliding between the interface fitting and the chassis, thereby allowing the holding fixture and the interface fitting to be separated from the rest of the surgical instrument and repositioning of the robotic manipulator out of the way.

Abstract: A carrier plate assembly for use in producing a three-dimensional object by bottom-up stereolithography includes: (a) an upper support; (b) an adhesion plate having a substantially flat planar lower adhesion surface, on which surface the three-dimensional object can be formed; (c) at least one energy absorber interconnecting the upper support and the adhesion plate; and (d) a carrier lock portion connected to the upper support.

Abstract: An instrument sterile adapter (310) couples a surgical instrument (120) and an instrument carriage (130). The instrument sterile adapter (310) includes an instrument plate (430) that provides a first surface to receive the surgical instrument (120) and a latch plate (400) joined to the instrument plate (430). The latch plate (400) includes a second surface to receive the instrument carriage (130) and latch structures. Each latch structure has a carriage latch arm (410) that extends away from the second surface of the latch plate (400) and an instrument latch arm (405) joined to the carriage latch arm (410). The instrument latch arm (405) extends through the instrument plate (430) and away from the first surface of the instrument plate (430). A connecting member (425) flexibly connects the carriage latch arm (410) and the instrument latch arm (405) to a remainder of the latch plate (400). The connecting member (425) may be perpendicular to the latch arms (405).