Abstract: A method identifies an anomaly condition in operating a hand-held, mechanically unconstrained master device for controlling a robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation. The method includes detecting or calculating the velocity vector of a point belonging to or integral with the master device, or of a virtual point uniquely and rigidly associated with the master device. A detectable anomaly condition is identified and recognized and/or discriminated based on the detected velocity vector, or based on a vector component. The detectable anomalies include master device excessive angular or linear velocity, inability to follow by the slave device, excessive vibrations or involuntary or abnormal opening of the master device. Each detectable anomaly is associated with a system state change to be performed if the anomaly is detected. The state change includes exiting or suspension from the teleoperation state. A robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation performs the method.

Abstract: A method is for identifying at least one anomaly condition in using a hand-held, mechanically unconstrained master device to control a robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation. The method includes detecting, by sensor(s), the position vector of a point belonging to or integral with the master device, or of a virtual point uniquely and rigidly associated with the master device. A detectable anomaly is identified based on the detected position vector, or based on a component of the detected position vector. The detectable anomalies include at least an incorrect positioning of the master device with respect to a predetermined workspace of the master device. Each of such detectable anomalies is associated with a system state change to be performed if the anomaly is detected, in which the state change includes exiting from the teleoperation state. A robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation performs the method.

Abstract: A method for identifies an anomaly condition in using a hand-held, mechanically unconstrained master device to control a robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation. The method includes detecting and/or calculating, by sensors, the acceleration vector of a point belonging to or integral with a master device, or of a virtual point uniquely and rigidly associated with the master device; and then identifying a detectable anomaly condition based on a component or modulus of the detected and/or calculated acceleration vector. The detectable anomalies include one or more of the following: involuntary drop of the master device and/or excessive acceleration of the master device, and/or sudden and/or involuntary opening of the master device. Each of the detectable anomalies is associated with a system state change to be performed if the anomaly is detected. A master-slave robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation is equipped to perform the method.

Abstract: A method verifies functional/structural integrity of a hand-held unconstrained master device to control a robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation. The master device includes a body having two rigid parts constrained to relatively rotate or translate on a common axis. Position vectors of two-plus points are measured and/or detected, each belonging to a respective one of the two rigid parts, and measuring and/or detecting evolution of the position vectors. An orientation of each of the points, and the evolution of the orientations are measured and/or detected. Constraints from constructional/structural features of the master device are defined, deriving from degrees of freedom. Mathematical relations associated with each of the defined constraints are calculated based on detected and/or measured position vectors, orientations and evolutions.

Abstract: A method controls a robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation. The robotic system includes a hand-held master device, mechanically unconstrained to the ground and moveable by an operator; and a slave device including a surgical instrument adapted to be controlled by the master device, so that movements of the slave device, or of the surgical instrument of the slave device, referred to one or more of a plurality of controllable degrees of freedom are controlled by respective movements of the master device, according to a master-slave control architecture. The method firstly includes the steps of defining a first enslaved state of the system and a second decoupled state of the system. A controller controls transitions between the first and second states. The controllable degrees of freedom include degrees of freedom of translation and of orientation. A master-slave robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation performs the method.

Abstract: A method initiates and/or prepares and/or conducts teleoperation by a robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation. The robotic system includes a master device, which is hand-held, mechanically unconstrained and moveable by an operator, and a slave device including a surgical instrument controlled by the master device. The master device is functionally symmetrical with respect to a predeterminable single, longitudinal axis of the master device. A local reference frame of the master device and the related longitudinal axis is detected, with respect to a main reference frame of the master device workspace; then, functionally equivalent local reference frames are detected. A corresponding target reference frame is mapped in a workspace of the slave device. An operating reference frame is detected according to criteria for optimization of the trajectory of the slave device. A robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation is control led by the control method.

Abstract: A method initiates and/or prepares a teleoperation by a robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation. A hand-held master device is mechanically unconstrained and moved by an operator. A slave device includes a microsurgical instrument controlled by the master device. The robotic system includes a man-machine interface allowing the operator to communicate the intention to teleoperate to the robot. The method includes initiating teleoperation preparation; then performing alignment between master device and slave device, in which the slave device moves to align orientation of the surgical instrument to the master device. Teleoperation is entered after the alignment master and slave devices has been completed. First checks are conducted for entering the alignment, and enabling start of the alignment only if all first checks are passed. Before entering the teleoperation, second checks are conducted for enabling alignment, and enabling entry into teleoperation only if all second checks are passed.

Abstract: A robotic surgical assembly (100) includes a support (104), one macro-positioning arm (30), connected to the support (104) and having a plurality of degrees of freedom. The macro-positioning arm (30) includes a support member (38), at least two micro-positioning devices (41, 141, 241, 341), each having a plurality of motorized degrees of freedom, connected in cascade to the support member (38) of the macro-positioning arm (30), and at least two medical instruments (60, 160, 260, 360). Each instrument is connected in cascade to each of the micro-positioning device and includes a jointed device (70, 170, 270) having a plurality of motorized degrees of freedom including a plurality of rotational joints. Each of the at least two medical instruments (60, 160, 260, 360) has a shaft (65), suitable for distancing the jointed device from the micro-positioning devices by a predetermined distance in a shaft direction (X-X).

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an articulated end having a first support link, a second link articulated with respect to the first support link about a rotation axis, and a transmission cable fixed to the second link. The first support link has at least one first convex ruled surface with straight generator lines all parallel to each other, and a second convex ruled surface with straight generator lines all parallel to each other. The transmission cable is configured to slide on both the at least one first convex ruled surface and the second convex ruled surface of the first support link when the second link rotates with respect to the first support link. The straight generator lines of the at least one first convex ruled surface are orthogonal to the straight generator lines of the second convex ruled surface.

Abstract: A robotic surgical assembly includes a support, one macro-positioning arm, connected to the support and having a plurality of degrees of freedom. The macro-positioning arm includes a support member, at least two micro-positioning devices, each having a plurality of motorized degrees of freedom, connected in cascade to the support member of the macro-positioning arm, and at least two medical instruments. Each instrument is connected in cascade to each of the micro-positioning devices and includes a jointed device having a plurality of motorized degrees of freedom including a plurality of rotational joints. Each of the at least two medical instruments has a shaft, suitable for distancing the jointed device from the micro-positioning devices by a predetermined distance in a shaft direction (X-X).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a jointed device of a medical instrument includes providing a machining fixture on a wire electrical discharge machine having an electrical discharge wire. The fixture includes member holes each adapted to accommodate at least one workpiece, the workpiece being adapted to form a portion of the jointed device of the medical instrument. At least two workpieces each include a first workpiece and a second workpiece, accommodated within at least two member holes of the member holes. The fixture is associated with the wire electrical discharge machine so that the electrical discharge wire can cut at most one workpiece at a time. The machining fixture is rotated around a fixture rotation axis at a predetermined angle, which is chosen to provide that the electrical discharge wire can cut only one workpiece at a time. The workpieces are cut by the electrical discharge wire.

Abstract: A tip protector, for a surgical instrument having a shaft and an instrument tip near a distal portion of the shaft, includes a tip housing for releasably receiving the instrument tip; a clamp system suitable for gripping a portion of the surgical instrument to position the tip protector; and a distal through opening at or near the distal end of the tip housing. The distal through opening has an opening size that is adjustable.

Abstract: A sterile master input handle assembly includes a non-sterile manipulandum; a sterile surgical drape draping the non-sterile manipulandum; and at least one sterile accessory, suitable to form a sterile interface of the sterile master input handle assembly for the surgeon’s fingers. The at least one sterile accessory mechanically engages with the non-sterile manipulandum across the sterile surgical drape, the at least one sterile accessory covers at least one portion of the outer surface of the surgical drape, and the at least one sterile accessory includes at least one surface forming the sterile interface for the surgeon’s fingers to manipulate the non-sterile manipulandum across the sterile surgical drape.

Abstract: A robotic surgery assembly for robotic-aided microsurgery includes at least one transmission component; at least one motorized manipulator including at least one motorized linear slider; and at least one sterile adapter including a coupling device suitable for connecting to a surgical instrument. The transmission component is interposed between the at least one motorized manipulator and at least one sterile adapter, so to rigidly determine at least the relative mutual position of the at least one motorized linear slider of the motorized manipulator and the coupling device sterile adapter.

Abstract: A sterile adapter for a robotic surgery system includes a frame, a proximal coupling device suitable to form a connection with a non-sterile robotic manipulator system, a distal cavity suitable to form a connection with a surgical instrument suitable to perform robotic surgery to a patient anatomy, and a membrane having a proximal non-sterile side and a distal sterile side opposite to the proximal non-sterile side. The membrane is between the proximal coupling device and the distal cavity, and membrane is stretchable to transmit a plurality of pushing actions from the proximal non-sterile side to the distal sterile side. The frame is rigid to transmit a roll action.

Abstract: A master workstation for a surgical robotic system suitable for being located within a sterile operatory field includes an ungrounded master input handle, suitable for being hand held by a surgeon during surgery for controlling a slave robotic assembly of the surgical robotic system; a console including at least one convex body; a sterile drape draping at least a portion of the console; at least one sterile holder having at least one cavity; at least one resting element within the cavity suitable for the master input handle to rest thereon; and at least one positioning clip engaged with the at least one convex body of the console across and through the sterile drape while preserving the integrity of the sterile drape. The positioning clip is suitable for positioning the cavity of the sterile holder at a desired location near the console and within the sterile operatory field.

Abstract: A robotic surgery system includes at least one sterile barrier assembly, at least one non-sterile robotic manipulator including a case and at least one roll motor, and at least one rolling body suitable to pivot relative to the case. At least one connector of a surgical drape of the sterile barrier assembly is coupled with the case, and at least one sterile adapter of the sterile barrier assembly is coupled with at least one rolling body of the non-sterile robotic manipulator. The at least one roll motor is suitable to move at least one rolling body together with the at least one sterile adapter in a pivoting movement with respect to the case. A gap between the at least one connector of the surgical drape and the at least one sterile adapter forms a rotatable seal, which prevents the non-sterile robotic manipulator from contaminating a sterile operatory field.

Abstract: A master workstation for a surgical robotic system suitable for being located within a sterile operatory field includes an ungrounded master input handle suitable for being hand held by a surgeon during surgery for controlling a slave robotic assembly of the surgical robotic system; a console; a sterile drape draping at least a portion of the console; and at least one sterile holder, wherein the at least one sterile holder includes at least one cavity and at least one resting element within the cavity suitable for the master input handle to rest thereon when the master input handle is not hand held.

Abstract: A sterile console includes at least one master input tool mechanically ungrounded and suitable to be hand-held by a surgeon during surgery. A surgical chair has a seating surface to accommodate the surgeon during surgery. A tracking system detects position and orientation of the master input tool within a predefined tracking volume. A tool supporting element receives the master input tool. The consoles also includes a slave robot assembly has at least one surgical instrument designed to operate on a patient anatomy, and a control unit. A field generator of the tracking system is integral with a portion of the surgical chair so that, when the surgeon is seated and hand-holds the master input tool, the master input tool is located within the predefined tracking volume. The position and orientation of the master input tool are detected by the tracking system.

Abstract: A sterile console includes at least one master input tool mechanically ungrounded and suitable to be hand-held by a surgeon during surgery. A surgical chair has a seating surface to accommodate the surgeon during surgery. A tracking system detects position and orientation of the master input tool within a predefined tracking volume. A tool supporting element receives the master input tool. The consoles also includes a slave robot assembly has at least one surgical instrument designed to operate on a patient anatomy, and a control unit. A field generator of the tracking system is integral with a portion of the surgical chair so that, when the surgeon is seated and hand-holds the master input tool, the master input tool is located within the predefined tracking volume. The position and orientation of the master input tool are detected by the tracking system.