A SURGICAL APPARATUS INCLUDING A STERILE ADAPTER HAVING MECHANICAL LOCKOUTS
Granted: October 3, 2019
Application Number:
20190298471
A surgical system includes a preload assembly in a surgical instrument surgical instrument manipulator that is under the control of a controller. The controller can automatically cause the preload assembly to engage and disengage a preload. A surgical apparatus includes a surgical instrument manipulator assembly and a sterile adapter assembly. The sterile adapter assembly is mounted in the distal face of the surgical instrument manipulator assembly. When the preload assembly configures…
SURGICAL DRAPE INSTALLATION AID
Granted: October 3, 2019
Application Number:
20190298470
A surgical instrument is provided comprising: a first jaw having a distal end and a proximal end wherein the proximal end of the first jaw is attached to a lever arm that includes a levering cam slot having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a second jaw having a distal end and a proximal end wherein the proximal end of the second jaw is secured to a base that includes a linear cam slot aligned with a longitudinal axis of the second jaw axis and having a proximal portion and a…
MECHANISM FOR MANAGING AND RETAINING A SURGICAL DRAPE
Granted: October 3, 2019
Application Number:
20190298469
A sterile surgical drape includes at least one assembly for managing and retaining sterile surgical drape on a part of a computer-assisted surgical system. For example, an assembly for managing and retaining sterile surgical drape is used to configure the surgical drape on a portion of the computer-assisted surgical system so that the sterility of sterile portions of the surgical drape is not compromised, and so that the physical integrity of the surgical drape is not compromised. Any…
INSTRUMENTS WITH ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED COMPONENTS, RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Granted: October 3, 2019
Application Number:
20190298466
A surgical instrument component for coupling an end effector to a shaft of a surgical instrument may comprise a distal portion made of an electrically conductive first material, a proximal portion made of an electrically conductive second material, and an intermediate portion made of an electrically insulating third material. The intermediate portion is disposed between and integrally connected to the proximal portion and to the distal portion.
SHEATH FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
Granted: October 3, 2019
Application Number:
20190298462
A surgical apparatus comprises an instrument shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft, and a sheath disposed on an external surface of the instrument shaft. The sheath has a first section made of ePTFE and a second section made of a second material, wherein the second section provides a friction seal with the shaft, and wherein the ePTFE is gas-permeable.
GEARED GRIP ACTUATION FOR MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
Granted: October 3, 2019
Application Number:
20190298323
An actuation mechanism for a medical instrument includes a pinion and a face gear that move a push-pull element. The pinion has a mounting that permits rotation of the pinion by an external control system such as a robot. The face gear meshes with the pinion. The push-pull element may have a proximal end coupled to the face gear and a distal end coupled to a tool at a distal end of an instrument shaft. A manipulator coupled for manual rotation of the actuation mechanism may include a…
COMPLIANT MECHANISMS HAVING INVERTED TOOL MEMBERS
Granted: September 26, 2019
Application Number:
20190290375
The embodiments described herein can be used in a variety of grasping, cutting, and manipulating operations. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a shaft, a tool member, and a flexure. The shaft has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal end portion includes a ground portion. The tool member has an engagement portion and an actuation portion. The engagement portion is disposed distally from the actuation portion, and can exert…
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED ACTUATION MEMBERS, RELATED DEVICES, AND RELATED METHODS
Granted: September 26, 2019
Application Number:
20190290310
An actuation member for transmitting force from a drive mechanism to an end effector of a surgical instrument includes an electrically conductive distal flexible portion configured to be operably coupled with an end effector of a surgical instrument and an electrically conductive proximal rod portion connected to the flexible distal portion. The proximal rod portion is configured to be operably coupled to a drive mechanism. An electrically insulating material surrounds at least a portion…
MEDICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SNAKE WRIST STRUCTURE
Granted: September 19, 2019
Application Number:
20190282253
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.
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF CLEANING SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
Granted: September 19, 2019
Application Number:
20190282328
In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a surgical instrument comprises a shaft comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a wall extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the wall surrounding an interior of the shaft. A transmission housing is located at the proximal end of the shaft and the shaft is rotatably coupled to the transmission housing. An actuator in the transmission housing is operably coupled to actuate rotation of the shaft. A port in the…
INSTRUMENT FLUSHING SYSTEM
Granted: September 12, 2019
Application Number:
20190274781
A medical instrument includes an instrument shaft with exit holes near a distal end of the shaft, a tool coupled to the distal end of the shaft, and a backend. The backend may include a mechanism that manipulates a drive element that extends through the shaft and couples to the tool, a fluid inlet, and a fluid channel assembly providing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the proximal end of the shaft. Cleaning fluid is directed into the fluid inlet, through the fluid channel…
INSTRUMENT STERILE ADAPTER DRIVE INTERFACE
Granted: September 12, 2019
Application Number:
20190274766
A surgical system (200) includes a surgical instrument (260) that is sensitive to backlash that would adversely affect the transmission of controlled torque and position to the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument (260) is coupled to motors in a surgical instrument manipulator assembly (240) via a mechanical interface. The combination of the mechanical interface and surgical instrument manipulator assembly (240) have low backlash, e.g., less than 0.7 degrees. The backlash is…
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENTRY POINT LOCALIZATION
Granted: September 5, 2019
Application Number:
20190269470
A method performed by a computing system comprises determining an entry position and entry vector of an entry port in a surgical coordinate space. The entry port provides a passageway for insertion of a first medical instrument into a patient's body. The determination of the entry position and entry vector occurs while the first medical instrument is external to the entry port. The method also comprises positioning the first medical instrument based on the entry position and the entry…
INSTRUMENT RELEASE
Granted: August 22, 2019
Application Number:
20190254763
A medical instrument includes a backend and a pair of release elements. The backend includes a docking feature shaped to engage a docking structure such as a docking port of a surgical robot or a sterile adaptor for a surgical robot. Each release element is coupled to the backend and may include an activation feature on one side of the backend and a push tab extending from either an opposite side or the same side of the backend. Movement of the activation features moves the push tabs…
INSTRUMENT TRANSMISSION CONVERTING ROLL TO LINEAR ACTUATION
Granted: August 15, 2019
Application Number:
20190249759
A force transmission mechanism includes a chassis that supports a rotatable arm, which includes a slot. A rotatable lever is supported by the chassis. A protrusion at an end of the lever engages the slot. A sliding drive element is supported by the chassis. A proximal termination of the drive element engages a second end of the lever. The chassis may support an elongate tube with an end effector fixed to the tube. The drive element may extend through the elongate tube. The elongate tube…
Stapler Beam Architecture
Granted: August 8, 2019
Application Number:
20190239967
An end effector that can have an upper jaw and a lower jaw. A wrist can connect the end effector to an elongated shaft. A beam member can be arranged to translate within the upper and lower jaw. An actuation assembly can have a pushing assembly configured to transfer compressive force to the beam member and a pulling assembly configured to transfer tensile force to the beam member.
JOINTED CONTROL PLATFORM
Granted: August 8, 2019
Application Number:
20190239965
A medical device having a force transmission mechanism that includes a chassis having a pivotal support that defines a first axis. An axle is supported by the pivotal support and is free to rotate around the first axis of rotation. The axle defines a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. A first control arm is coupled to a first end of the axle and is free to rotate around the second axis of rotation. A second control arm is coupled to an opposite second…
Wrist Architecture
Granted: August 8, 2019
Application Number:
20190239877
A surgical device includes an elongated shaft, an end effector, and a wrist assembly. The wrist assembly includes a first outer link, a first inner link, and a second outer link. The first outer link is connected to the shaft and includes first gear teeth. The first inner link is pivotally coupled with the first outer link. The second outer link is pivotally coupled with the first inner link. The second outer link includes second gear teeth that interface with the first gear teeth and…
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INSTRUMENT BUCKLING DETECTION
Granted: August 8, 2019
Application Number:
20190239723
A method comprises measuring, with a sensor, a shape of a section of an elongated flexible instrument and comparing the measured shape of the section of the elongated flexible instrument to an expected shape. The method also comprises determining whether the measured shape of the section of the elongated flexible instrument differs from the expected shape by a predefined threshold.
GEARED ROLL DRIVE FOR MEDICAL INSTRUMENT
Granted: August 1, 2019
Application Number:
20190231451
A medical instrument includes a roll mechanism that rotates an instrument shaft. The roll mechanism may include a first gear coupled to the instrument shaft and meshed with a second gear. One of gears may be a spur gear while the other gear may be a beveloid gear. Further, the spur gear and the beveloid gear may be in a gear train containing a compressible gear, e.g., a gear with an inner center piece, an outer ring, and a flexible interconnecting structure between the inner center piece…
