Abstract: A medical instrument can include a wrist, an end effector, pull wires that extend through the wrist toward for controlling a motion of the end effector, and a conductive cable that extends through the wrist to the end effector. The wrist can have proximal and distal clevises and proximal and distal pulleys through which the conductive cable passes. The conductive cable can extend over one or more redirect surfaces of the distal and/or proximal clevises.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and apparatuses with shielded wrists, and methods of actuating instruments with wrists. In one aspect, an instrument includes a shaft, an end effector, and a wrist connecting the shaft to the end effector. For example, the wrist may include a proximal clevis, a distal clevis, and an intermediary frame positioned between the proximal clevis and the distal clevis.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for a bipolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a first end effector, a first set of one or more distal pulleys coupled to the first end effector, and a wrist configured to house the first set of distal pulleys. The medical instrument also includes a plurality of cables extending through the wrist and a first insulating member formed between the first end effector and the first set of one or more distal pulleys.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having opposing first and second ends, a carriage arranged within the drive housing, a shaft extending from the carriage, a firing rod extending within the shaft and defining external threads, an end effector arranged at an end of the shaft and including a knife coupled to the firing rod such that movement of the firing rod moves the knife, and an activating mechanism coupled to the carriage. The activating mechanism including a motor mounted to the carriage and operable to rotate a drive gear, and a driven gear engageable with the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear rotates the driven gear and actuates the activating mechanism. The driven gear defines internal threads and is rotatably mounted to the firing rod at the external threads such that rotation of the driven gear longitudinally moves the firing rod and the knife.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for medical robotic systems that leverage a versatile, open kinematic chain together with a set of medical-procedure-specific software-controlled actuation constraints in order to perform a variety of medical procedures. The robotic system can be operated in a first mode by identifying a remote center and constraining the actuation of motorized joints to maintain intersection of at least an insertion axis with the remote center. The robotic system can be operated in a second mode by identifying a virtual rail position and constraining the actuation of motorized joints to maintain alignment of the insertion axis along the virtual rail.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for an articulating monopolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a wrist comprising a proximal clevis and a distal clevis; an end effector coupled to the distal clevis via a distal axle; at least one proximal pulley in the proximal clevis; at least one distal pulley in the distal clevis and coupled to the distal axle; a first cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley and the at least one distal pulley; and a second cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley without engaging the at least one distal pulley.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for a bipolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a first end effector, a first set of one or more distal pulleys coupled to the first end effector, and a wrist configured to house the first set of distal pulleys. The medical instrument also includes a plurality of cables extending through the wrist and a first insulating member formed between the first end effector and the first set of one or more distal pulleys.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical anchoring system can include inserting an outer sleeve of a surgical instrument at least partially into a first natural body lumen, the outer sleeve having a working channel. The method can include inserting a channel arm of the surgical instrument through the working channel of the outer sleeve and into a second natural body lumen. The channel arm has at least one first anchor member coupled thereto and a control actuator operatively coupled to the at least one first anchor member. The method can include expanding the at least one first anchor member from an unexpanded state to an expanded state to form an anchor point at a portion of the second natural body lumen. The method can include controlling, by the control actuator, a motion of the channel arm to selectively manipulate an organ associated with the first and second natural body lumens.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided in which an instrument can translate along an insertion axis. Rather than relying primarily on a robotic arm for instrument insertion, the instruments described herein have novel instrument based insertion architectures that allow portions of the instruments themselves to translate along an insertion axis. For example, an instrument can comprise a shaft, an end effector on a distal end of the shaft, and a handle coupled to the shaft. The architecture of the instrument allows the shaft to translate relative to the handle along an axis of insertion. The translation of the shaft does not interfere with other functions of the instrument, such as end effector actuation.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having a first end, a second end, and a lead screw extending between the first and second ends, a carriage movably mounted to the lead screw, and an activating mechanism coupled to the carriage. The activating mechanism includes a motor mounted to the carriage and operable to rotate a drive gear, and a driven gear engageable with the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear causes the driven gear to rotate and thereby actuate the activating mechanism.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for medical robotic systems that leverage a versatile, open kinematic chain together with a set of medical-procedure-specific software-controlled actuation constraints in order to perform a variety of medical procedures. The robotic system can be operated in a first mode by identifying a remote center and constraining the actuation of motorized joints to maintain intersection of at least an insertion axis with the remote center. The robotic system can be operated in a second mode by identifying a virtual rail position and constraining the actuation of motorized joints to maintain alignment of the insertion axis along the virtual rail.

Abstract: A robotic system can include a high force instrument that amplifies input forces such that output forces are greater than input forces. The high force instrument can include an end effector. The high force instrument can further include a first pulley configured to rotate about a pulley axis and a first jaw member connected to the first pulley by a first drive pin. The high force instrument can also include a second pulley configured to rotate about the pulley axis and a second jaw member connected to the second pulley by a second drive pink. A link can provide a first pivot point about which the first jaw member can pivot and a second pivot point about which the second jaw member can pivot.

Abstract: Articulating medical instruments and corresponding techniques can be utilized using a robotically enabled medical system. In a surgical method, a clinician can insert a distal end of a medical instrument into a treatment area of a patient. Once inserted, a first bending section of the medical instrument can be articulated by driving one or more motors of an articulation handle that is positioned at a proximal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having first and second ends, a spline extending between the ends and including a drive gear that rotates with spline rotation, and a carriage mounted to the spline. A shaft extends from the carriage, penetrates the first end, and has an end effector arranged at a distal end. An activating mechanism is housed in the carriage and includes an input gear operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear correspondingly rotates the input gear, and a firing rod defining external threads threadably engageable with internal threads of the input gear. The firing rod is coupled to a knife at the end effector such that movement of the firing rod correspondingly moves the knife in the same direction. The drive gear is rotated to rotate the input gear and thereby move the firing rod and the knife.

Abstract: A cannula reducer can include a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end. The sleeve can be configured to be inserted into a cannula. The sleeve can have an interior passage configured to receive a surgical instrument. The proximal end of the sleeve is configured to attach to the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having a first end, a second end, and a lead screw extending between the first and second ends, a carriage movably mounted to the lead screw at a carriage nut secured to the carriage, and an elongate shaft extending from the carriage and extending through the first end, the shaft having an end effector arranged at a distal end thereof. Rotation of the lead screw moves the carriage and the carriage nut axially between the first and second ends and thereby moves the end effector distally or proximally.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having a first end, a second end, and a lead screw extending between the first and second ends, a carriage movably mounted to the lead screw at a carriage nut secured to the carriage, and an activating mechanism including a drive gear rotatably mounted to the carriage and rotatable to actuate the activating mechanism. A torsion cable extends between the drive gear and a drive input arranged at the first end, wherein rotating the drive input rotates the torsion cable and thereby transmits a torsional load along the torsion cable to the drive gear to actuate the activating mechanism.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical anchoring system can include inserting an outer sleeve of a surgical instrument at least partially into a first natural body lumen, the outer sleeve having a working channel. The method can include inserting a channel arm of the surgical instrument through the working channel of the outer sleeve and into a second natural body lumen. The channel arm has at least one first anchor member coupled thereto and a control actuator operatively coupled to the at least one first anchor member. The method can include expanding the at least one first anchor member from an unexpanded state to an expanded state to form an anchor point at a portion of the second natural body lumen. The method can include controlling, by the control actuator, a motion of the channel arm to selectively manipulate an organ associated with the first and second natural body lumens.

Abstract: A surgical tool comprising a drive housing having a first end and a second end, a spline extending between the first and second ends, a carriage provided in the drive housing and movable between the first and second ends, and a mechanism for manually actuating the spline. The mechanism may be arranged at the first or second end of the drive housing. The mechanism may further include a frame, a spline coupling rotatably mounted to the frame to receive an end of the spline, and a ring gear rotatable about the frame and operatively coupled to a pinion gear attached to the spline coupling such that rotation of the ring gear about the frame correspondingly actuates the spline.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for aligning inputs on medical instruments. In one aspect, the method includes receiving, at a data reader of the instrument drive mechanism, alignment data from the tool when the tool is positioned within a threshold distance of the data reader. The tool include one or more inputs and one or more pull wires configured to be actuated by output shafts of the instrument drive mechanism via the one or more inputs. The method also includes receiving, at a processor, the alignment data from the data reader, and rotating, via the processor, the one or more output shafts of the instrument drive mechanism into alignment with the one or more inputs of the tool based on the alignment data. Each of the output shafts is configured to mechanically couple with a corresponding one of the inputs of the tool.