Abstract: A cannula is provided that includes a head portion that defines a proximal opening sized to receive one or more surgical instruments; an elongated inner tube rigidly fastened to the head portion defines an elongated conduit; a surgical instrument can be inserted within the conduit; an elongated overtube rigidly fastened to the head portion is coaxially aligned with the inner tube and extends about a portion of the inner tube; an inner wall of the overtube is spaced apart from an outer wall of the inner tube; sensors are disposed on the overtube to provide an indication of forces applied to the outer wall of the overtube in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the overtube.

Abstract: A medical apparatus can include an instrument comprising a shaft and a jaw assembly coupled to an end of the shaft; an image capture device; and a controller operably coupled to the image capture device to receive image data from the image capture device. The image data is from images of material gripped between jaw members of the jaw assembly and captured by the image capture device, with the controller programmed to process the received image data using at least one of optical flow and digital image correlation. A medical apparatus can include an instrument comprising a shaft, and a jaw assembly coupled to an end of the shaft, the jaw assembly comprising a pair of jaw members having opposing surfaces configured to grasp material between the opposing surfaces, wherein at least a portion of the opposing surface of a first jaw member of the pair of jaw members is transparent.

Abstract: A surgical port feature may include a funnel portion, a tongue, a waist portion, and surgical instrument channels. The waist portion may be located between the funnel portion and the tongue. The surgical instrument channels may extend from the funnel portion through the waist portion. The surgical port feature may further include a second tongue, with the wait portion being located between the funnel portion, the tongue, and the second tongue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided that includes an elongated shaft that includes a proximal end and a distal end; a cantilever beam is disposed at the distal end of the shaft; an optical fiber extends within a channel that extends within between proximal and distal portions of the cantilever beam; a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is formed in a segment of the optical fiber within the proximal portion of the beam; a second FBG is formed in a segment of the optical fiber within the distal portion of the beam.

Abstract: A cannula is provided that includes a head portion that defines a proximal opening sized to receive one or more surgical instruments; an elongated inner tube rigidly fastened to the head portion defines an elongated conduit; a surgical instrument can be inserted within the conduit; an elongated overtube rigidly fastened to the head portion is coaxially aligned with the inner tube and extends about a portion of the inner tube; an inner wall of the overtube is spaced apart from an outer wall of the inner tube; sensors are disposed on the overtube to provide an indication of forces applied to the outer wall of the overtube in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the overtube.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wrist, an end effector, a cable pair, and a transmission. A proximal wrist portion is coupled to a distal end portion of a shaft. Actuation of the wrist moves a distal wrist portion relative to the proximal wrist portion. The end effector is coupled to the distal wrist portion, and can be actuated to move relative to the wrist. The transmission is coupled to a proximal end portion of the shaft, and can move an end of the cable pair to actuate the end effector. The end of the cable pair is routed through a transmission cable path within the transmission. The transmission includes an adjustment mechanism having an input portion that receives a force exerted by the end of the cable pair. The adjustment mechanism is configured to change a length of the transmission cable path in response to a change in the force.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a snake wrist structure further including: a first joint disk having a first rim having a first tooth slot and a first toothed gear with the first tooth slot opposite the first toothed gear along the first rim; and a first strut having a first slot bearing and a first hole bearing connected by a first connection strut with the first slot bearing in the first tooth slot.

Abstract: A manipulator for articulating a surgical instrument may comprise an instrument holder configured to couple with the surgical instrument and to pivot about a remote center of motion. The manipulator may comprise a linkage assembly coupled to the instrument holder and configured to constrain rotational motion of the instrument holder to pivot about the remote center of motion. The linkage assembly may comprise a first, second, and third linkage arms. The second linkage arm may be rotatably coupled to the first linkage arm with a proximal end of the first linkage arm and a proximal end of the second linkage arm coupled at a proximal pivot joint. A third linkage arm may be translationally coupled to the second linkage arm. Movement of the second linkage arm and the third linkage arm may cause a distal end of the third linkage arm to trace an arc around the remote center of motion.

Abstract: A system includes a manipulator assembly and a shroud that defines a sterile volume. The manipulator assembly includes a sterile link or a non-sterile link covered by an external sterile cover, and the link is received into and withdrawn from the shroud's sterile volume. The outside of the shroud may be non-sterile while the shroud maintains its interior sterile volume, so that the link or external sterile cover remains sterile as it moves within the shroud's sterile volume. The shroud may then extend into a non-sterile field in a surgical environment, and the link or external sterile cover remains sterile as the link is moved from the non-sterile field into a sterile field for surgery. The shroud may be movable, it may mechanically support the manipulator assembly, and it may be coupled to a surgical table or to a unit separate from a surgical table.

Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes manipulators, a user input system, a user output system comprising a display device, and a controller configured to execute instructions to perform operations. The operations include, in a pairing mode and in response to a first set of signals generated by the user input system, causing a virtual selector shown on the display device to move relative to an imagery shown on the display device. The operations further include, in the pairing mode, associating a first manipulator with a portion of the user input system based on movement of the virtual selector relative to a represented location of the first instrument, and, in a following mode, controlling motion of the first instrument in accordance to a second set of signals generated by the user input system in response to operation of the portion of the user input system by a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for minimally invasive computer-assisted telesurgery are described. A computer-assisted teleoperated surgery system includes a teleoperated instrument actuation pod. The surgical instrument actuation pod includes a plurality of linear actuators arranged around a surgical instrument. The linear actuators engage with actuator engagement members on the instrument and so drive movable parts on the instrument. The actuation pod is mounted on a teleoperated manipulator. Instrument pod mass is close to the teleoperated manipulator to minimize the pod's inertia, momentum, and gravity effects on the manipulator.

Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes manipulators, a user input system, a user output system comprising a display device, and a controller configured to execute instructions to perform operations. The operations include, in a pairing mode and in response to a first set of signals generated by the user input system, causing a virtual selector shown on the display device to move relative to an imagery shown on the display device. The operations further include, in the pairing mode, associating a first manipulator with a portion of the user input system based on movement of the virtual selector relative to a represented location of the first instrument, and, in a following mode, controlling motion of the first instrument in accordance to a second set of signals generated by the user input system in response to operation of the portion of the user input system by a user.

Abstract: A computer-assisted system comprises a manipulator configured to support a tool, a lockable joint, and a controller. The manipulator extends distally from a base and comprises a distal portion. The lockable joint is coupled to the base and located proximally relative to the base. The controller is operably coupled to a powered joint. The powered joint is located distally relative to the base. The controller is configured to perform operations. The operations comprise: driving the powered joint to move the distal portion while the lockable joint is locked, and driving the powered joint to move the base while the lockable joint is unlocked and a position of the distal portion is externally maintained. A method includes processes for operating a computer-assisted system. A method includes determining a desired motion envelope for a tool supported by a manipulator, and positioning a base of the manipulator based on the desired motion envelope.

Abstract: A system generally includes a surgical manipulator configured to control motion of a surgical tool, and a clamping apparatus having a mounting location configured to support the surgical manipulator and couple to a mounting structure. The clamping apparatus may include a body, a first jaw coupled to the body and configured to engage a first portion of the mounting structure, and a second jaw coupled to the body and configured to engage a second portion of the mounting structure. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw may be movably coupled to the body and configured to move along a non-linear path to clamp mounting structures of different sizes. A lever may be pivotably coupled to the body and may be movable between a unclamped position and a clamped position. Alternatively, a motor may be operable to attach the clamping apparatus to the mounting structure.

Abstract: An instrument holder generally includes a carriage rotatable with respect to a carriage support, a light pipe extending axially through the carriage, and an electrical conductor extending through the carriage radially outward of the light pipe. The light pipe can transmit light energy and the electrical conductor can transmit electricity between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion of the carriage to a medical instrument. The rotatable carriage may include a sterile adapter assembly positioned at the proximal and/or distal end portions of the rotatable carriage. The sterile adapter assembly may include a roll disk rotatable with respect to the outer frame, an inner disk rotatable with respect to the roll disk, and a light pipe to transmit light energy through the roll disk. The inner disk can transfer movement of an actuator between the rotatable carriage and the instrument.

Abstract: An instrument holder generally includes a carriage support having an output drive and a carriage configured to removably couple an instrument thereto, the carriage may have a lateral opening extending radially outward from a central axis of the carriage, and the lateral opening may be configured to receive a portion of the instrument therein. The carriage may further include a positioning member disposed on an outer surface of the such that rotation of the output drive changes an angular position of the carriage relative to the carriage support. The positioning member may be configured to allow the output drive to operably couple with the carriage at an engagement point adjacent to the lateral opening. The carriage may include a positionable door or a fin extending into the lateral opening to allow the output drive to drive the carriage around a full 360 degree rotation or greater.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wrist, an end effector, a cable pair, and a transmission. A proximal wrist portion is coupled to a distal end portion of a shaft. Actuation of the wrist moves a distal wrist portion relative to the proximal wrist portion. The end effector is coupled to the distal wrist portion, and can be actuated to move relative to the wrist. The transmission is coupled to a proximal end portion of the shaft, and can move an end of the cable pair to actuate the end effector. The end of the cable pair is routed through a transmission cable path within the transmission. The transmission includes an adjustment mechanism having an input portion that receives a force exerted by the end of the cable pair. The adjustment mechanism is configured to change a length of the transmission cable path in response to a change in the force.

Abstract: A connector system is provided to connect a carriage that includes a rotatable drive member to a surgical instrument that includes a driven member, comprising. a mechanical interface that includes a drive transmission member configured to receive a rotational drive force provided by the drive member at the internal surface region and to provide a corresponding rotational drive force to the driven member at the external surface region; and a support to mount an end portion of an optical fiber to the mechanical interface with a center axis of the first end portion aligned with an axis of rotation of the drive transmission member.

Abstract: An instrument system includes an instrument, a drive system, and a controller operably connected to a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism of the drive system. The controller is configured to operate the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism drive a flexible tensioning member of the instrument to cause movement of an end effector of the instrument while maintaining a tension applied to the flexible tensioning member of the instrument in a tension range.

Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes robotic manipulators, a user input system operable to generate signals to control the manipulators, and a controller configured to execute instructions to perform operations. A portion of the user input system is movable relative to the plurality of manipulators. The operations include, in a pairing mode, associating a first manipulator of the plurality of manipulators with the portion of the user input system based on movement of the portion of the user input system relative to the first manipulator, and, in a following mode, controlling motion of the first manipulator in accordance with an indication generated by the user input system in response to operation of the portion of the user input system by a user.