Abstract: An electrosurgical connection unit for a surgical robot arm to connect an electrosurgical instrument attached to the arm to an electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical connection unit includes an input port connectable to the electrosurgical generator, the input port configured to receive a driving electrosurgical signal and output one or more activation signals; an output port connectable to the electrosurgical instrument, the output port configured to output the driving electrosurgical signal received on the input port; one or more activation switch units, wherein activation of an activation switch unit causes an activation signal to be output from the input port indicating a driving electrosurgical signal with a desired waveform is to be activated; and a control unit configured to selectively activate one of the one or more activation switch units in response to a control signal.

Abstract: A control system for a surgical robotic system, the surgical robotic system comprising a remote surgeon console and an articulated surgical robot arm comprising a series of joints extending from a base to a terminal end for attaching to an articulated surgical instrument. The control system comprises a central controller communicatively coupled to and remotely located from an arm controller of the surgical robot arm, the central controller also communicatively coupled to a surgeon input device of the surgeon console.

Abstract: An electrosurgical connection unit for a surgical robot arm to connect an electrosurgical instrument attached to the arm to an electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical connection unit includes an input port connectable to the electrosurgical generator, the input port configured to receive a driving electrosurgical signal and output one or more activation signals; an output port connectable to the electrosurgical instrument, the output port configured to output the driving electrosurgical signal received on the input port; one or more activation switch units, wherein activation of an activation switch unit causes an activation signal to be output from the input port indicating a driving electrosurgical signal with a desired waveform is to be activated; and a control unit configured to selectively activate one of the one or more activation switch units in response to a control signal.

Abstract: An electrosurgical connection unit for a surgical robot arm to connect an electrosurgical instrument attached to the arm to an electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical connection unit includes an input port connectable to the electrosurgical generator, the input port configured to receive a driving electrosurgical signal and output one or more activation signals; an output port connectable to the electrosurgical instrument, the output port configured to output the driving electrosurgical signal received on the input port; one or more activation switch units, wherein activation of an activation switch unit causes an activation signal to be output from the input port indicating a driving electrosurgical signal with a desired waveform is to be activated; and a control unit configured to selectively activate one of the one or more activation switch units in response to a control signal.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a surgical robot system, the surgical robot system comprising at least one surgical robot, each of the at least one surgical robot comprising a base, and an arm extending from the base to an attachment for an instrument, the arm comprising a plurality of joints whereby the configuration of the arm can be altered, the control system comprising: a main controller configured to: receive communications from one or more devices of an operator console identifying inputs from an operator of the at least one surgical robot; generate control signals for controlling the movement of the at least one surgical robot arm based on the inputs; and send communications to the at least one surgical robot identifying the control signals; and a safety monitor configured to analyse at least a portion of the communications to and/or from the main controller to determine whether the surgical robot system is in a fault state, and in response to determining that the surgical robot system is in a fault

Abstract: A control system for a surgical robotic system, the surgical robotic system comprising a remote surgeon console and an articulated surgical robot arm comprising a series of joints extending from a base to a terminal end for attaching to an articulated surgical instrument. The control system comprises a central controller communicatively coupled to and remotely located from an arm controller of the surgical robot arm, the central controller also communicatively coupled to a surgeon input device of the surgeon console.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system comprising: a surgical robot; a user interface console coupled to the surgical robot whereby a user can control motion of the surgical robot; a data logger for logging data from a surgical procedure performed by means of the robot; and a portable user terminal; the system further comprising: a display controllable by one of the data logger and the user terminal, that one of the data logger and the user terminal being configured for displaying a machine-readable code whereby the data logger or a user of the user terminal can be identified; and a camera coupled to the other of the data logger and the user terminal; the said other of the data logger and the user terminal being configured to, on receiving from the camera an image of a machine-readable code, decode that code to identify the data logger or a user of the user terminal and to cause the identified entity to be logged in association with a procedure performed by means of the robot.

Abstract: A circuit for sensing the driving current of a motor, the circuit comprising: a driver configured to generate a driving current for each phase of a multiple-phase motor, the instantaneous sum of all the driving currents being zero; a current sensor for each phase of the multiple-phase motor, each current sensor configured to measure the driving current of that phase and comprising a plurality of current sensor elements arranged with respect to each other such that each current sensor element has the same magnitude of driving current systematic error due to magnetic fields external to the driving current to be measured; and a controller configured to, for each phase of the multiple-phase motor, generate an estimate of the driving current of that phase to be the measured driving current of that phase minus 1/n of the total of the measured driving currents for all phases, n being the number of phases of the multiple-phase motor.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system comprising: a surgical robot; a user interface console coupled to the surgical robot whereby a user can control motion of the surgical robot; a data logger for logging data from a surgical procedure performed by means of the robot; and a portable user terminal; the system further comprising: a display controllable by one of the data logger and the user terminal, that one of the data logger and the user terminal being configured for displaying a machine-readable code whereby the data logger or a user of the user terminal can be identified; and a camera coupled to the other of the data logger and the user terminal; the said other of the data logger and the user terminal being configured to, on receiving from the camera an image of a machine-readable code, decode that code to identify the data logger or a user of the user terminal and to cause the identified entity to be logged in association with a procedure performed by means of the robot.

Abstract: A device for sensing the relative rotary position of first and second parts about a rotation axis, the device comprising a follower constrained to move on a first track fast with the first part and on a second track fast with the second part, the first track being linear and the second track comprising a plurality of circular arcs and at least one transition section connecting one of the circular arcs to another, the tracks being arranged so as to convert relative rotation of the parts into linear motion of the follower, wherein the second track is generally spiral, each circular arc is of constant radius about the rotation axis and the first track is perpendicular to the rotation axis.

Abstract: A method of correcting a position reading from a position sensing arrangement. The position sensing arrangement is suitable for sensing the position of a revolute joint of an articulated structure, and comprises a disc having a magnetic ring with magnetic pole pairs and a magnetic sensor assembly comprising a magnetic sensor array for detecting the magnetic pole pairs of the magnetic ring.

Abstract: A position sensing arrangement for sensing the position of a revolute joint of an articulated structure. The position sensing arrangement comprises a disc and a magnetic sensor assembly. The disc complises a first magnetic ring with m magnetic pole pairs, and a second magnetic ring with n magnetic pole pairs, where m and n are co-prime, and a mounting arrangement by which the disc is mountable to a magnetisation jig during manufacture and the articulated structure during operation, the mounting arrangement permitting the disc to be momlted to the magnetisation jig and articulated structure in a single orientation only. The magnetic sensor assembly comprises a first magnetic sensor array for detecting the magnetic pole pairs of the first magnetic ring, and a second magnetic sensor array for detecting the magnetic pole pairs of the second magnetic ring.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include a torque sensor arrangement configured to attach between a first part and a second part to sense torque therebetween, the torque sensor arrangement comprising an interface member having on its exterior an engagement configuration configured to rotationally engage the first part, a torsion member comprising a deflectable body attached at one end thereof to the interface member and comprising, at the other end of the deflectable body, an engagement configuration configured to fixedly engage the second part, and a deflection sensor attached to the deflectable body, wherein the interface member defines a rigid sleeve extending around the deflectable body and the torque sensor arrangement further comprises a bushing located between and in contact with both the sleeve and the deflectable body.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system for identifying the triggering of a condition in the system, the system comprising: a first robot arm; a controller; and a first wiring arrangement configured to provide an electrical connection between the first robot arm and the controller, the first wiring arrangement comprising: a first electrical coupling comprising circuitry configured to generate a selective electrical disconnect; a second electrical coupling; a first sensor configured to measure a first electrical output from the first electrical coupling; and a second sensor configured to measure a second electrical output from the second electrical coupling; wherein the controller is configured to detect the triggering of the condition by comparing the first electrical output and the second electrical output.

Abstract: A circuit for sensing the driving current of a motor, the circuit comprising: a driver configured to generate a driving current for each phase of a multiple-phase motor, the instantaneous sum of all the driving currents being zero; a current sensor for each phase of the multiple-phase motor, each current sensor configured to measure the driving current of that phase and comprising a plurality of current sensor elements arranged with respect to each other such that each current sensor element has the same magnitude of driving current systematic error due to magnetic fields external to the driving current to be measured; and a controller configured to, for each phase of the multiple-phase motor, generate an estimate of the driving current of that phase to be the measured driving current of that phase minus 1/n of the total of the measured driving currents for all phases, n being the number of phases of the multiple-phase motor.

Abstract: A device for sensing the relative rotary position of first and second parts about a rotation axis, the device comprising a follower constrained to move on a first track fast with the first part and on a second track fast with the second part, the first track being linear and the second track comprising a plurality of circular arcs and at least one transition section connecting one of the circular arcs to another, the tracks being arranged so as to convert relative rotation of the parts into linear motion of the follower, wherein the second track is generally spiral, each circular arc is of constant radius about the rotation axis and the first track is perpendicular to the rotation axis.

Abstract: A method for controlling a mechanical system having a plurality of components interlinked by a plurality of driven joints, the method comprising: measuring torques or forces about or at the driven joints and forming a load signal representing the measured torques or forces; receiving a motion demand signal representing a desired state of the system; implementing an impedance control algorithm in dependence on the motion demand signal and the load signal to form a target signal indicating a target configuration for each of the driven joints; measuring the configuration of each of the driven joints and forming a state signal representing the measured configurations; and forming a set of drive signals for the joints by, for each joint, comparing the target configuration of that joint as indicated by the target signal to the measured configuration of that joint as indicated by the state signal.

Abstract: A position sensing arrangement for sensing the position of a revolute joint of an articulated structure. The position sensing arrangement comprises a disc and a magnetic sensor assembly. The disc comprises a first magnetic ring with m magnetic pole pairs, and a second magnetic ring with n magnetic pole pairs, where m and n are co-prime, and a mounting arrangement by which the disc is mountable to a magnetisation jig during manufacture and the articulated structure during operation, the mounting arrangement permitting the disc to be mounted to the magnetisation jig and articulated structure in a single orientation only. The magnetic sensor assembly comprises a first magnetic sensor array for detecting the magnetic pole pairs of the first magnetic ring, and a second magnetic sensor array for detecting the magnetic pole pairs of the second magnetic ring.

Abstract: A circuit for sensing the driving current of a motor, the circuit comprising: a driver configured to generate a driving current for each phase of a multiple-phase motor, the instantaneous sum of all the driving currents being zero; a current sensor for each phase of the multiple-phase motor, each current sensor configured to measure the driving current of that phase and comprising a plurality of current sensor elements arranged with respect to each other such that each current sensor element has the same magnitude of driving current systematic error due to magnetic fields external to the driving current to be measured; and a controller configured to, for each phase of the multiple-phase motor, generate an estimate of the driving current of that phase to be the measured driving current of that phase minus 1/n of the total of the measured driving currents for all phases, n being the number of phases of the multiple-phase motor.

Abstract: A device for sensing the relative rotary position of first and second parts about a rotation axis, the device comprising a follower constrained to move on a first track fast with the first part and on a second track fast with the second part, the first track being linear and the second track comprising a plurality of circular arcs and at least one transition section connecting one of the circular arcs to another, the tracks being arranged so as to convert relative rotation of the parts into linear motion of the follower, wherein the second track is generally spiral, each circular arc is of constant radius about the rotation axis and the first track is perpendicular to the rotation axis.