Abstract: Endoluminal robotic systems and corresponding methods include subsystems for visualization, navigation, pressure sensing, platform compatibility, and user interfaces. The user interfaces may be implemented by one or more of a console, haptics, image fusion, voice controls, remote support, and multi-system controls.

Abstract: Endoluminal robotic systems and corresponding methods include subsystems for visualization, navigation, pressure sensing, platform compatibility, and user interfaces. The user interfaces may be implemented by one or more of a console, haptics, image fusion, voice controls, remote support, and multi-system controls.

Abstract: A method for enhanced surgical navigation, and a system performing the method and displaying graphical user interfaces associated with the method. A 3D spatial map of a surgical site is generated using a 3D endoscope including a camera source and an IR scan source. The method includes detecting a needle tip protruding from an anatomy and determining a needle protrusion distance corresponding to a distance between the needle tip and a surface of the anatomy using the 3D spatial map. A position of a surgical tool in the 3D spatial map is detected and a determination is made by the system indicative of whether the needle protrusion distance is sufficient for grasping by the surgical tool. A warning is generated when it is determined that the needle protrusion distance is not sufficient for grasping by the surgical tool.

Abstract: A system and method for luminal navigation of a catheter including a sensor and a computing device. The computing device executing steps of receiving magnetic resonance signals from a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scanner and to generate an MRI image data set, generating a three-dimensional (3D) model from the MRI image data set, generating a pathway through the 3D model to a target, determining a location of the sensor within the patient, displaying a location of a portion of the catheter in the 3D model, updating the displayed location of the portion of the catheter, receiving second magnetic resonance signals and generate a second MRI image data set, receiving an indication of a distal end of the catheter in the second MRI image data set, and updating a relative position of a distal end of the catheter and the target in the 3D model.

Abstract: A method and system of correcting alignment of catheter relative to a target including receiving signals from an inertial measurement unit located at a distal end of a catheter, determining movement of the distal end of the catheter caused by physiological forces, receiving images depicting the distal end of the catheter and the target, identifying the distal end of the catheter and the target in the images, determining an orientation of the distal end of the catheter relative to the target and articulating the distal tip of the catheter in response to the detected movement to achieve and maintain an orientation towards the target such that a tool extended from an opening at the distal end of the catheter would intersect the target.

Abstract: A system for performing a surgical procedure includes an extended working channel (EWC) having a drive mechanism, a catheter having a camera and an electromagnetic sensor, and a workstation including a memory storing instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to determine a location and an orientation of a distal end of the EWC, receive real-time images of the patient's anatomy from the camera, identify a centerpoint of a lumen within the received real-time images, articulate the distal end of the EWC using the drive mechanism to align the distal end of the EWC with the identified centerpoint, and instruct the drive mechanism to reduce tension on the distal end of the EWC to permit the distal end of the EWC to deflect when contacting walls of the lumen if a diameter of the lumen approximates an outer diameter of the EWC.

Abstract: An endoluminal robotic system includes at least one robotic arm that operates tools to perform suturing procedures. The tools may include at least one of a suture needle driver tool, an endoscope, and a grasping tool. Methods performed by the endoluminal robotic system include driving a suture needle through anterior and posterior sides of a defect using the suture needle driving tool, the end portion of which is rotated after passing through tissue, to form a desired suture pattern. Then, the two ends of the suture thread are pulled and tied together to form a knot. Methods performed by the endoluminal robotic system also include overlaying a suture needle path on an image captured by the endoscope and controlling the at least one robotic arm to operate the driving tool and the suture needle driver tool based on the overlaid suture needle path.

Abstract: A method for imaging involves scanning an anatomical object within a patient and capturing reflected IR light with a plurality of cameras that are separate from the scanner. The IR images captured by the IR cameras are associated together to create an integrated image based on parallax between the IR cameras and the scanner. The integrated image is associated with a separate or optical light image of the anatomical object to generate an intra-operative 3D image that can be created in real-time. Systems for effectuating such imaging may include multiple surgical instruments supporting various cameras positioned to capture different fields of view and to increase parallax.

Abstract: An articulating microwave ablation catheter and methods of use the catheter including a catheter sheathing housing therein a radiating section defining an ablation zone, a first pull wire traversing the catheter sheathing, a pull ring secured in a distal portion of the catheter sheathing and configured to receive the pull wire, and a drive mechanism operably connected to the catheter sheathing and the pull wire, wherein operation of the drive mechanism alters the length of the pull wire and a shape of a distal portion of the catheter sheathing and the location of the ablation zone defined by the radiating section.

Abstract: A system for performing a surgical procedure includes a catheter including a camera and an electromagnetic sensor and a workstation operably coupled to the catheter, the workstation including a memory storing instructions, which when executed cause a processor to receive pre-procedure images of a patient's anatomy, generate a 3D representation of the patient's anatomy, identify first anatomical landmarks within the generated 3D representation, identify a location of the EM sensor within a reference coordinate frame, receive real-time images from the camera, identify second anatomical landmarks within the received real-time images corresponding to the identified first anatomical landmarks, identify a location of the camera within the reference coordinate frame using the identified second anatomical landmarks corresponding to the identified first anatomical landmarks, and register a location of the catheter to the 3D representation using the identified locations of the EM sensor and the camera within the refere

Abstract: A method and system of correcting alignment of catheter relative to a target including receiving signals from an inertial measurement unit located at a distal end of a catheter, determining movement of the distal end of the catheter caused by physiological forces, receiving images depicting the distal end of the catheter and the target, identifying the distal end of the catheter and the target in the images, determining an orientation of the distal end of the catheter relative to the target and articulating the distal tip of the catheter in response to the detected movement to achieve and maintain an orientation towards the target such that a tool extended from an opening at the distal end of the catheter would intersect the target.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced surgical navigation and graphical user interfaces associated therewith. The system includes a 3D endoscope and a computing device including a display for displaying the graphical user interfaces. The 3D endoscope includes a camera source and a scan source and is utilized to generate a 3D spatial map of a surgical site. A position of a surgical tool is detected in the 3D spatial map, a distance between the position of the surgical tool in the 3D spatial map and a location of an anatomy is detected, and a warning is generated when it is determined that the distance between the position of the surgical tool in the 3D spatial map and the location of the anatomy is equal to or not greater than a threshold minimum distance.

Abstract: A system and method for arriving at a biopsy or therapy site including receiving one or more images from optical sensor on a catheter, signaling a drive mechanism to articulate a distal portion of the catheter based on analysis of the one or more images, and determining that a distal portion of the catheter has reached a desired location.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging tissue including an endoscope capable of illuminating tissue with white and near infrared light. The method includes detecting the fluorescence and displaying the detected fluorescence in combination with white light images.

Abstract: A system and method for a catheter in a luminal network including capturing images via an optical sensor, comparing the captured images to pre-operative images, identifying fiducials in the captured images that correspond to fiducials in the pre-operative images; and depicting the position of the catheter in a three-dimensional (3D) model or two-dimensional (2D) images derived from the pre-operative images.

Abstract: An ablation system includes an ablation device configured to ablate a target, and a computing device. The ablation device includes fiber Bragg gratings for monitoring temperature. The computing device is configured to calculate temperature measurements based on light reflected from the fiber Bragg gratings during application of microwave ablation energy to the target and extrapolate the temperature measurements calculated to generate an ablation volume in real time.

Abstract: A catheter system and method, the system including a catheter having a lumen, a position sensor, and at least one pull-wire to articulate the catheter, a tool including a metal tip at the distal end of the catheter, a proximity sensor associated with the catheter and configured to detect the presence of the tool proximate an articulation region on the target, and an articulation mechanism configured to apply pressure to the pull-wire to articulate and de-articulate the catheter. The method determining that the tool cannon pass through the articulation region based on the level of articulation of the catheter and the properties of the tool, de-articulating the catheter to allow the tool to pass through the articulation region and re-articulating the catheter to a position and orientation of the catheter prior to de-articulation.

Abstract: Surgical navigation systems and methods display navigation options and other relevant information to assist a clinician during navigation of a medical device through a branched structure of a patient's body. The navigation systems and methods receive image data and procedure information including patient information and user information. The navigation systems and methods then determine navigation options including possible paths based on the image data and the procedure information, and display the navigation options and user controls for selecting one of the displayed navigation options.

Abstract: Computer-assisted surgical systems and methods provide intraoperative playback of and interaction with recorded video images and/or a 3D model while displaying current video images. The methods and related surgical systems involve capturing, by a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) video camera, current video images and recording the captured video images. A user interface displays the current video images and the recorded video images and/or the 3D model and enables a user to interact with either or both of them.

Abstract: A catheter includes a shaft portion defining a non-circular transverse cross-section. The shaft portion includes an exterior sidewall and an interior sidewall defining two or more asymmetrical working channels.