Abstract: Described herein is a device and method used to effectively remove volume inside a patient in various types of surgeries, such as spinal surgeries (e.g. laminotomy), neurosurgeries (various types of craniotomy), ENT surgeries (e.g. tumor removal), and orthopedic surgeries (bone removal). Robotic assistance linked with a navigation system and medical imaging it can shorten surgery time, make the surgery safer and free surgeon from doing repetitive and laborious tasks. In certain embodiments, the disclosed technology includes a surgical instrument holder for use with a robotic surgical system. In certain embodiments, the surgical instrument holder is attached to or is part of an end effector of a robotic arm, and provides a rigid structure that allows for precise removal of a target volume in a patient.

Abstract: A blade adapter couples a sagittal saw handpiece to an end effector of a robot to actuate a saw blade. The end effector has a first mechanical interface, and the sagittal saw handpiece has a second mechanical interface. The blade adapter includes a first coupling mechanism at a first side of the blade adapter and a second coupling mechanism at a second side of the blade adapter. The first coupling mechanism is coupleable to the first mechanical interface, and the second coupling mechanism is coupleable to the second mechanical interface.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, the systems, apparatus, and methods disclosed herein relate to robotic surgical systems with built-in navigation capability for patient position tracking and surgical instrument guidance during a surgical procedure, without the need for a separate navigation system. Robotic based navigation of surgical instruments during surgical procedures allows for easy registration and operative volume identification and tracking. The systems, apparatus, and methods herein allow re-registration, model updates, and operative volumes to be performed intra-operatively with minimal disruption to the surgical workflow. In certain embodiments, navigational assistance can be provided to a surgeon by displaying a surgical instrument's position relative to a patient's anatomy.

Abstract: Embodiments of a compliant orthopedic driver are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, compliant orthopedic driver includes a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a driver axis; a driver tip disposed at the distal end of the body, wherein the body includes at least one compliant portion configured to allow the driver flex about at least two axes transverse to the driver axis.

Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot having a robot base and a robot arm connected to the robot base. The surgical robot system further includes a joint manipulation arm configured to be attached to the robot arm and to be connected to an appendage of a patient and moved to apply force and/or torque to a joint connecting the appendage through movement of the robot arm. The surgical robot system further includes force and/or torque sensor apparatus configured to output a feedback signal providing an indication of an amount of force and/or torque that is being applied to the robot arm and/or the joint manipulation arm. At least one controller is configured to determine ligaments balancing at the joint based on a plurality of measurements of the feedback signal, and to output information characterizing the ligaments balancing.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, the systems, apparatus, and methods disclosed herein relate to robotic surgical systems with built-in navigation capability for patient position tracking and surgical instrument guidance during a surgical procedure, without the need for a separate navigation system. Robotic based navigation of surgical instruments during surgical procedures allows for easy registration and operative volume identification and tracking. The systems, apparatus, and methods herein allow re-registration, model updates, and operative volumes to be performed intra-operatively with minimal disruption to the surgical workflow. In certain embodiments, navigational assistance can be provided to a surgeon by displaying a surgical instrument's position relative to a patient's anatomy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for placing screws in the spine using a robot attached to a passive structure. The present invention also related to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for removing volumes in the body of a patient using a robot attached to a passive structure and to a device to carry out said methods. The present invention further concerns a device suitable to carry out the methods according to the present invention.

Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot having a robot base and a robot arm connected to the robot base. The surgical robot system further includes a joint manipulation arm configured to be attached to the robot arm and to be connected to an appendage of a patient and moved to apply force and/or torque to a joint connecting the appendage through movement of the robot arm. The surgical robot system further includes force and/or torque sensor apparatus configured to output a feedback signal providing an indication of an amount of force and/or torque that is being applied to the robot arm and/or the joint manipulation arm. At least one controller is configured to determine ligaments balancing at the joint based on a plurality of measurements of the feedback signal, and to output information characterizing the ligaments balancing.

Abstract: Minimally invasive surgical techniques are used to obtain access to vertebrae while protecting soft tissues in the surrounding area. The dilators may be used to provide a working channel through which the operation is performed. Standard dilators may be used with a robotic surgical system to provide precise guidance of surgical tools. A dilator may be held by the robot and automatically repositioned when the surgeon adjusts a trajectory for performing the surgery. The dilator itself may be used as a surgical instrument guide along with dilator adaptors that adjust the diameter of a portion of the dilator to allow for different sized tools to be guided by the dilator. Alternatively, surgical instrument guides may also be held by the robotic arm such that tools are guided by a surgical instrument guide through the dilator to perform a medical procedure.

Abstract: Embodiments of a compliant orthopedic driver are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, compliant orthopedic driver includes a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a driver axis; a driver tip disposed at the distal end of the body, wherein the body includes at least one compliant portion configured to allow the driver flex about at least two axes transverse to the driver axis.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, apparatus, and methods for precise placement and guidance of tools during a surgical procedure, particularly a spinal surgical procedure. The system features a portable robot arm with end effector for precise positioning of a surgical tool. The system requires only minimal training by surgeons/operators, is intuitive to use, and has a small footprint with significantly reduced obstruction of the operating table. The system works with existing, standard surgical tools, does not required increased surgical time or preparatory time, and safely provides the enhanced precision achievable by robotic-assisted systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for placing screws in the spine using a robot attached to a passive structure. The present invention also related to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for removing volumes in the body of a patient using a robot attached to a passive structure and to a device to carry out said methods. The present invention further concerns a device suitable to carry out the methods according to the present invention.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for use in preparing holes in bones. In certain embodiments, the trajectory followed in preparing a hole in a bone is optimized by adjusting characteristics of rotation of a drill bit (e.g., an anti-skiving drill bit). In certain embodiments, a change in material is determined once a hard outer layer of a bone has been drilled. Subsequently, characteristics of rotation of a drill bit are altered to allow natural features of a patient's anatomy to guide the drill bit. In this way, certain hard walls of certain bones can act to redirect a drill bit. The change in material may be determined, and/or characteristics of rotation altered, by a surgeon or a robotic surgical system (e.g., automatically). In certain embodiments, a robotic surgical system notifies a surgeon of a change in material to prompt the surgeon to alter the characteristics of rotation.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, apparatus, and methods for precise placement and guidance of tools during surgery, particularly spinal surgery, using minimally invasive surgical techniques. Several minimally invasive approaches to spinal surgeries were conceived, percutaneous technique being one of them. This procedures looks to establish a skin opening as small as possible by accessing inner organs via needle-puncture of the skin. The percutaneous technique is used in conjunction with a robotic surgical system to further enhance advantages of manual percutaneous techniques by improving precision, usability and/or shortening surgery time by removal of redundant steps.

Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot having a robot base and a robot arm connected to the robot base. The surgical robot system further includes a joint manipulation arm configured to be attached to the robot arm and to be connected to an appendage of a patient and moved to apply force and/or torque to a joint connecting the appendage through movement of the robot arm. The surgical robot system further includes force and/or torque sensor apparatus configured to output a feedback signal providing an indication of an amount of force and/or torque that is being applied to the robot arm and/or the joint manipulation arm. At least one controller is configured to determine ligaments balancing at the joint based on a plurality of measurements of the feedback signal, and to output information characterizing the ligaments balancing.

Abstract: Minimally invasive surgical techniques are used to obtain access to vertebrae while protecting soft tissues in the surrounding area. The dilators may be used to provide a working channel through which the operation is performed. Standard dilators may be used with a robotic surgical system to provide precise guidance of surgical tools. A dilator may be held by the robot and automatically repositioned when the surgeon adjusts a trajectory for performing the surgery. The dilator itself may be used as a surgical instrument guide along with dilator adaptors that adjust the diameter of a portion of the dilator to allow for different sized tools to be guided by the dilator. Alternatively, surgical instrument guides may also be held by the robotic arm such that tools are guided by a surgical instrument guide through the dilator to perform a medical procedure.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for computer-assisted navigation and/or robot-assisted surgery. Navigable instrumentation, which are capable of being navigated by a surgeon using the surgical robot system, allow for the navigated movement of instruments or other surgical devices. The instruments may be suitable for procedures involving navigated and/or robotic total knee arthroplasty, for example.

Abstract: Embodiments of a compliant orthopedic driver are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, compliant orthopedic driver includes a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a driver axis; a driver tip disposed at the distal end of the body, wherein the body includes at least one compliant portion configured to allow the driver flex about at least two axes transverse to the driver axis.

Abstract: A passive end effector of a surgical system includes a base, a first mechanism, and a second mechanism. The base attaches to an end effector coupler of a robot arm positioned by a surgical robot. The first mechanism extends between a rotatable connection to the base and a rotatable connection to a tool attachment mechanism. The second mechanism extends between a rotatable connection to the base and a rotatable connection to the tool attachment mechanism. The first and second mechanisms pivot about the rotatable connections to constrain movement of the tool attachment mechanism to a range of movement within a working plane. The tool attachment mechanism is configured to connect to a surgical saw including a saw blade for cutting.

Abstract: A system for computer assisted navigation during surgery. At least one processor operates to identify locations of fiducials of a reference element on a ball tip stylus in images obtained from tracking cameras with at least partially overlapping field-of-views imaging the ball tip stylus with a ball palpating a surface of a bone. Operations determine locations of a center of the ball based on the locations of the fiducials of the reference element, and define an offset-acquired surface of the bone based on mathematically connecting the locations of the center of the ball. Operations determine local normal vectors to the offset-acquired surface for the locations of the center of the ball. Operations translate the offset-acquired surface of the bone toward the surface of the bone along the local normal vectors based on a radius of the ball to define an acquired surface of the bone.