Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.

Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.

Abstract: A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that a drill connected thereto is guided in its trajectory and limited in its advancement into an associated anatomical feature by a drill guide. The drill guide may be adjusted manually to engage a corresponding surface of the drill after its advancement by a pre-selected amount. The drill guide likewise includes features to guide the drill during trajectories having oblique angles relative to the surface of the anatomical feature associated with the medical procedure.

Abstract: A drape covers robotic equipment in a medical environment to maintain sterility. The robotic equipment has an arm with an end surface which attaches to a tool, such as an active end effector. The drape has an extended drape portion that covers the arm, and a shaped drape portion that covers the end of the arm where the arm is clamped to the tool. The drape is clamped inside the clamp, and where the clamping occurs, the drape has a band of material that is reinforced by being thickened or by including a different material. The shape of the band corresponds to the portion of the arm that is clamped by the clamp.

Abstract: A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that any selected one of a group of surgical tools may be selectively connected to such end-effector. The end-effector makes use of a tool-insert locking mechanism which secures a selected one of the surgical tools at not only a respective, predetermined height and angle of orientation, but also at a rotational position relative to an anatomical feature of the patient. The tool-insert locking mechanism may include interchangeable inserts to interconnect multiple tools to the same end-effector. In this way, different robotic operations may be accomplished with less reconfiguration of the end-effector. The end-effector may also include a tool stop which has a sensor associated with a moveable stop mechanism which may be positioned to selectively inhibit tool insertion or end-effector movement.

Abstract: A drape covers robotic equipment in a medical environment to maintain sterility. The robotic equipment has an arm with an end surface which attaches to a tool, such as an active end effector. The drape has an extended drape portion that covers the arm, and a shaped drape portion that covers the end of the arm where the arm is clamped to the tool. The drape is clamped inside the clamp, and where the clamping occurs, the drape has a band of material that is reinforced by being thickened or by including a different material. The shape of the band corresponds to the portion of the arm that is clamped by the clamp.

Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.

Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.

Abstract: A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that any selected one of a group of surgical tools may be selectively connected to such end-effector. The end-effector makes use of a tool-insert locking mechanism which secures a selected one of the surgical tools at not only a respective, predetermined height and angle of orientation, but also at a rotational position relative to an anatomical feature of the patient. The tool-insert locking mechanism may include interchangeable inserts to interconnect multiple tools to the same end-effector. In this way, different robotic operations may be accomplished with less reconfiguration of the end-effector. The end-effector may also include a tool stop which has a sensor associated with a moveable stop mechanism which may be positioned to selectively inhibit tool insertion or end-effector movement.

Abstract: A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that a drill connected thereto is guided in its trajectory and limited in its advancement into an associated anatomical feature by a drill guide. The drill guide may be adjusted manually to engage a corresponding surface of the drill after its advancement by a pre-selected amount. The drill guide likewise includes features to guide the drill during trajectories having oblique angles relative to the surface of the anatomical feature associated with the medical procedure.

Abstract: A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that any selected one of a group of surgical tools may be selectively connected to such end-effector. The end-effector makes use of a tool-insert locking mechanism which secures a selected one of the surgical tools at not only a respective, predetermined height and angle of orientation, but also at a rotational position relative to an anatomical feature of the patient. The tool-insert locking mechanism may include interchangeable inserts to interconnect multiple tools to the same end-effector. In this way, different robotic operations may be accomplished with less reconfiguration of the end-effector. The end-effector may also include a tool stop which has a sensor associated with a moveable stop mechanism which may be positioned to selectively inhibit tool insertion or end-effector movement.

Abstract: An end-effector for a surgical robot system may include an end-effector body and an optical sub-assembly. The optical sub-assembly may include a housing coupled to the end-effector body, the housing including a threaded portion. The optical sub-assembly may further include a window that is transparent to a predetermined range of light radiation wavelengths. The optical sub-assembly may further include a gasket disposed between the housing and the window. The optical sub-assembly may further include a threaded ring disposed over the window and threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the housing, the threaded ring compressing the gasket between the window and the housing to form a seal between the window and the housing. The optical sub-assembly may further include a light emitter configured to emit light in the predetermined range of light radiation wavelengths through the window.

Abstract: An end-effector for a surgical robot system may include an end-effector body and an optical sub-assembly. The optical sub-assembly may include a housing coupled to the end-effector body, the housing including a threaded portion. The optical sub-assembly may further include a window that is transparent to a predetermined range of light radiation wavelengths. The optical sub-assembly may further include a gasket disposed between the housing and the window. The optical sub-assembly may further include a threaded ring disposed over the window and threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the housing, the threaded ring compressing the gasket between the window and the housing to form a seal between the window and the housing. The optical sub-assembly may further include a light emitter configured to emit light in the predetermined range of light radiation wavelengths through the window.

Abstract: A drape covers robotic equipment in a medical environment to maintain sterility. The robotic equipment has an arm with an end surface which attaches to a tool, such as an active end effector. The drape has an extended drape portion that covers the arm, and a shaped drape portion that covers the end of the arm where the arm is clamped to the tool. The drape is clamped inside the clamp, and where the clamping occurs, the drape has a band of material that is reinforced by being thickened or by including a different material. The shape of the band corresponds to the portion of the arm that is clamped by the clamp.

Abstract: A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that a drill connected thereto is guided in its trajectory and limited in its advancement into an associated anatomical feature by a drill guide. The drill guide may be adjusted manually to engage a corresponding surface of the drill after its advancement by a pre-selected amount. The drill guide likewise includes features to guide the drill during trajectories having oblique angles relative to the surface of the anatomical feature associated with the medical procedure.

Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.

Abstract: A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that any selected one of a group of surgical tools may be selectively connected to such end-effector. The end-effector makes use of a tool-insert locking mechanism which secures a selected one of the surgical tools at not only a respective, predetermined height and angle of orientation, but also at a rotational position relative to an anatomical feature of the patient. The tool-insert locking mechanism may include interchangeable inserts to interconnect multiple tools to the same end-effector. In this way, different robotic operations may be accomplished with less reconfiguration of the end-effector. The end-effector may also include a tool stop which has a sensor associated with a moveable stop mechanism which may be positioned to selectively inhibit tool insertion or end-effector movement.

Abstract: An end-effector for a surgical robot system may include an end-effector body and an optical sub-assembly. The optical sub-assembly may include a housing coupled to the end-effector body, the housing including a threaded portion. The optical sub-assembly may further include a window that is transparent to a predetermined range of light radiation wavelengths. The optical sub-assembly may further include a gasket disposed between the housing and the window. The optical sub-assembly may further include a threaded ring disposed over the window and threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the housing, the threaded ring compressing the gasket between the window and the housing to form a seal between the window and the housing. The optical sub-assembly may further include a light emitter configured to emit light in the predetermined range of light radiation wavelengths through the window.

Abstract: A seal for a meter housing with an interior portion is disclosed. The seal includes an axially inner surface configured to face the interior portion of the meter housing and an axially outer surface configured to face away from the interior portion of the meter housing. At least one of the axially inner surface and the axially outer surface is configured to seal against a portion of the housing. The seal further includes a diaphragm defined axially intermediate the axially inner surface and the axially outer surface and a fluid passageway defined through a portion of the diaphragm. The fluid passageway is configured to move between an open position and a closed position in response to a pressure differential between the interior portion of the housing and an exterior portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling a display device to which is coupled a light guide that has smooth surfaces for light-transmission and at least one surface that is for light scattering and internal reflection. The method includes depositing a reflective coating on that surface, and installing the display device with coupled light guide in an interior of a meter housing or casing. A portion of the casing interior is filled with a component, such as epoxy, for sealing the case interior to protect the display device and light guide against water and dust penetration. All surfaces of the light guide are protected from direct contact with the epoxy. This approach greatly simplifies the assembly process and yields a robust display that also prevents light leakage from the light guide.