Abstract: A surgical instrument has an end effector and a region of stress-responsive colorimetric material on the end effector. The material has a color that changes with increases in pressure applied to tissue by the end effector, and is positioned to be visible to a user or endoscopic camera when in a body cavity engaging tissue. In some applications, image processing techniques are applied to images of the end effector captured during use and can be used to generate feedback to the user if the material is observed to change to a color indicative of a force exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A drug delivery trocar is configured to deliver medication at an incision site during surgery so as to reduce post-surgical incisional pain. The trocar includes an elongate tube having a lumen, and a fluid reservoir attached or attachable to the lumen.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a hydraulic drive system and a surgical instrument removably positioned in operative engagement with the hydraulic drive system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft and a pair of jaw members disposed on the shaft and extending from an at least partially spherical element. The jaw members are moveable in pitch and yaw relative to the center of the sphere in response to actuation forces applied to a proximal drive mechanism of the instrument. The surgical instrument may include a manually operated handle for manual input of actuation forces by a user, or it may be removably mounted to a drive component of a robotic system such that its proximal drive mechanism is operatively engaged with actuators that generate mechanical output that is transferred to the proximal drive mechanism.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system in which the system applies a scaling factor between user input from a user input device and corresponding movements of the robotic manipulator. Scaling factors may be applied or adjusted based on detected conditions such as the type of instrument being manipulated, detected distance between multiple instruments being manipulated, user biometric parameters.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system configured to control movement of a first instrument and a second instrument, each of which is on a robotic manipulator. In described modes of operation, movement of the first instrument is surgeon controlled based on surgeon input to the robotic system. Movement of the second instrument is also surgeon controlled, but its motion is defined by the chosen mode of operation which sets the amplitude and direction of the second instrument's motion relative to the actual or instructed motion of the first instrument. In this way, two instruments are simultaneously moved based on input from a single surgeon input device.

Abstract: A surgical system comprising includes a light source, a sensor for detecting light, and a surgical device including an elongate shaft having a distal part positionable at a surgical working site within a body cavity. A first optical pathway transmits transmitting light from the light source to a distal part of the elongate shaft and onto tissue within the body cavity, and a second optical pathway receives light from tissue within the body cavity and transmits the received light to the sensor. A surgical drape, such as one covering a robotic manipulator arm housing components of the system, is positioned such that at least the first or second optical pathway includes an optically transmissive portion of the surgical drape.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for use with a robotic manipulator includes an end effector assembly having one or two end effector members, each having a distal treatment end, a proximal end, and a tendon pass-through. Each end effector member is sandwiched between a corresponding pair of pulley members that, when assembled define an annular tendon pathway that is between the pulley members and that is aligned with the pass-through. For each end effector member, a tendon having a distal loop portion ends through the tendon pass-through, with its legs passing proximally from the pass-through, extending in opposite directions around the tendon pathway and proximally through the instrument's shaft.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument having jaws is energized and actuated using a length of cable. The cable is formed of a conductive inner portion coated with a dielectric polymer. The cable extends through a pass-through in a portion of the jaw and is crimped to create a mechanical and electrical connection between the conductive inner portion and the conductive jaw material.

Abstract: In a surgical system in which surgical instruments are manipulated using robotic arms that move in response to user input from a plurality of input devices. Images capturing an instrument positioned within view of a camera are received. At least one characteristic of the surgical instrument is determined by the system based on the image data. The system automatically assigns the surgical instrument to a user input device, or controls movement of the robotic manipulator carrying the instrument, based on the at least one characteristic. The surgical instrument is then robotically maneuvered by the corresponding robotic arm based on user input to the user input device.

Abstract: In a surgical method using a robotic system, a distal end of a robotically controlled surgical instrument is positioned in a patient body cavity. Operation of the instrument is controlled in response to input provided by a surgeon at an input device. An image of the interior of the body cavity is captured for display on a display. A boundary in the body cavity is identified using the image processing software by distinguishing between different colors on the image.

Abstract: A robot-assisted surgical system has a user interface operable by a user, a first robotic manipulator having a first surgical instrument, and a second robotic manipulator having a second surgical instrument. The system receives user input in response to movement of the input device by a user and causes the manipulator to move the first surgical instrument in response to the user input, determines a vector defined by the position of the first surgical instrument relative to the second surgical instrument, generates dynamic control signals based on the determined vector, and causes the manipulator to move the second surgical instrument in response to said dynamic control signals.

Abstract: A robotic system assembly comprises a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly and a surgical instrument having a base body mountable to the actuator assembly. The base includes a first control input and a second control input, wherein the first and second control inputs are positioned on different sides of the base. The actuator assembly is moveable between open and closed positions to facilitate removal and replacement of surgical instruments. When in the closed positions, drive elements of the actuator assembly are positioned to drive the first and second control inputs of the surgical instrument to cause end effector movement or actuation.

Abstract: A robot-assisted surgical system includes a robotic manipulator configured for robotic positioning of a surgical instrument in a body cavity, a surgical instrument positionable in an operative site in the body cavity and at least one path-defining instrument insertable into a natural body orifice. The system is configured to determine a position of the path-defining instrument. A target resection path for the surgical instrument may be determined based on the determined position. The path-defining instrument may be a bougie or colpotomy ring.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting a virtual desktop. In some embodiments, the system includes a client computer comprising one or more client-side plugins; and a server computer comprising a web server that incorporates one or more server-side plugins. Each plugin may be associated with a plugin definition and the plugin definition associated with the server-side plugin is configured to be imported by the client computer.

Abstract: An instrument channel device for receiving a medical instrument having a distal tip includes an elongate tubular shaft including a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion positionable within a body cavity. The shaft defines a lumen for passage of the distal tip of a flexible medical instrument therethrough, allowing positioning of the medical instrument such that its distal tip is disposed distally of the distal shaft portion. A telescoping reinforcement is positioned on the distal shaft portion. The reinforcement has a collapsed position in which the telescoping reinforcement has a length that is shorter than the length of the telescoping reinforcement in an expanded position. As an instrument is advanced from the distal end of the lumen, the telescoping reinforcement is engaged by a distal portion of the instrument such that advancement of the distal tip to a position beyond a distal end of the telescoping reinforcement moves the telescoping reinforcement to the expanded position.

Abstract: A system and method for determining individualized medical intervention for a particular disease state, and especially for cancers, that includes the molecular profiling of a biological sample from the patient, determining whether any molecular findings including one or more genes, one or more gene expressed proteins, one or more molecular mechanisms, and/or combinations of such exhibit a change in expression compared to a reference, and identifying a non-specific disease therapy or agent capable of interacting with the genes, gene expressed proteins, molecular mechanisms, or combinations of such molecular findings that exhibited a change in expression.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for identifying a therapeutic for an individual, such as a therapeutic not previously identified for treating the individual. The therapeutic can be identified by molecular profiling, such as determining the biomarker patterns or signature sets of a biological sample of an individual.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for identifying a therapeutic for an individual, such as a therapeutic not previously identified for treating the individual. The therapeutic can be identified by molecular profiling, such as determining the biomarker patterns or signature sets of a biological sample of an individual.

Abstract: Methods for detecting elevated levels of SPARC in biological samples using immunohistochemical staining and therapeutic and diagnostic methods relating to those detection methods.