Abstract: Surgical robotic systems, and methods of verifying functionality of a user interface device of such systems, are described. During a surgical procedure, the user interface device controls motion of a surgical tool. Proximity sensors of the user interface device generate proximity measures throughout the surgical procedure. The proximity measures are used to detect whether the user interface device is dropped and to responsively halt motion of the surgical tool. To verify an accuracy of the proximity sensors that provide the drop detection, a test is performed when the user interface device is placed in a dock. The test compares the generated proximity measures to expected proximity data. When the proximity measures match the expected proximity data, the system determines that the proximity sensors are functioning accurately and verifies that the user interface device is functioning safely. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Surgical robotic systems, and methods of controlling such systems based on a user's grip on a user interface device, are described. During a surgical procedure, a surgical robotic system generates control commands to actuate a component of the surgical robotic system. The component can be a surgical tool that is actuated to move based on tracking data from the user interface device. The component can be the user interface device, which is actuated to render haptic feedback to the user's hand based on load data from a surgical robotic arm holding the surgical tool. In either case, the actuation is based on a center of rotation of the user interface device that corresponds to the user's grip on the user interface device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A medical system may include an input device for controlling a medical instrument. The input device may include a grasper for receiving user input and a sensor coupled to the grasper for generating sensor information related to a user presence at the grasper. The medical system may also include a processor and memory that stores instructions for receiving secondary information associated with the grasper and determining a user presence at the grasper based on the sensor information and the secondary information. A method for operating the medical system with the input device is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An input device for controlling operation of a robotic arm may include a grasper that includes a first finger pad. The first finger pad may include a first set of two or more electrodes for determining user presence at the first finger pad. The input device may also include a processor for modifying operation of the robotic arm in response to information from the input device in accordance with a determination of the user presence at the first finger pad. A method for operating a surgical tool via the input device is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Surgical robotic systems, and methods of controlling such systems based on a user's grip on a user interface device, are described. During a surgical procedure, a surgical robotic system generates control commands to actuate a component of the surgical robotic system. The component can be a surgical tool that is actuated to move based on tracking data from the user interface device. The component can be the user interface device, which is actuated to render haptic feedback to the user's hand based on load data from a surgical robotic arm holding the surgical tool. In either case, the actuation is based on a center of rotation of the user interface device that corresponds to the user's grip on the user interface device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Surgical robotic systems, and methods of verifying functionality of a user interface device of such systems, are described. During a surgical procedure, the user interface device controls motion of a surgical tool. Proximity sensors of the user interface device generate proximity measures throughout the surgical procedure. The proximity measures are used to detect whether the user interface device is dropped and to responsively halt motion of the surgical tool. To verify an accuracy of the proximity sensors that provide the drop detection, a test is performed when the user interface device is placed in a dock. The test compares the generated proximity measures to expected proximity data. When the proximity measures match the expected proximity data, the system determines that the proximity sensors are functioning accurately and verifies that the user interface device is functioning safely. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A robot with locomotive capability is described here. In some embodiments, the robot has a frontal body connected to a rear body via a middle body. In some embodiments, the frontal body to rotate with respect to the rear body. In some embodiments, a first frontal limb and a second fontal limb are pivotally secured to the frontal body. In some embodiments, a first leg with a first foot is connected to a first side of the rear body. In some embodiments, a second leg with a second foot is connected to a second side of the rear body. In some embodiments, the first frontal limb, the second frontal limb, and either the first foot or the second foot form a triangular alignment encompassing the robot's center of gravity as the first leg and the second leg alternately move between a forward position and a rearward position.