Roll-pitch-roll surgical tool
Granted: May 29, 2003
Application Number:
20030100892
A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft having a working end and a shaft axis, and a pair of linking arms each having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is pivotally mounted on the working end of the shaft to rotate around a first pitch axis to produce rotation in first pitch. A wrist member has a proximal portion pivotally connected to the distal end of the linking arm to rotate around a second pitch axis to produce rotation in second pitch. An end effector is…
Mechanical actuator interface system for robotic surgical tools
Granted: May 1, 2003
Application Number:
20030083673
Robotic surgical tools, systems, and methods for preparing for and performing robotic surgery include a memory mounted on the tool. The memory can perform a number of functions when the tool is loaded on the tool manipulator: first, the memory can provide a signal verifying that the tool is compatible with that particular robotic system. Secondly, the tool memory may identify the tool-type to the robotic system so that the robotic system can reconfigure its programming. Thirdly, the…
Removable infinite roll master grip handle and touch sensor for robotic surgery
Granted: March 27, 2003
Application Number:
20030060927
An input device for robotic surgery mechanically transmits a grip signal across a first joint coupling a handle to a linkage supporting the handle. The handle is removable and replaceable, allows unlimited rotation about the joint, and may optionally include a touch sensor to inhibit movement of a surgical end effector when the hand of the surgeon is not in contact with the handle.
Performing cardiac surgery without cardioplegia
Granted: March 20, 2003
Application Number:
20030055410
A surgical system or assembly for performing cardiac surgery includes a surgical instrument; a servo-mechanical system engaged to the surgical instrument for operating the surgical instrument; and an attachment assembly for removing at least one degree of movement from a moving surgical cardiac worksite to produce a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. The surgical system or assembly also includes a motion tracking system for gathering movement information on a resultant surgical cardiac…
Surgical tool having positively positionable tendon-actuated multi-disk wrist joint
Granted: February 20, 2003
Application Number:
20030036748
The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. A positively positionable multi-disk wrist mechanism includes a plurality of disks or vertebrae stacked in series. Each vertebra is configured to rotate in pitch or in yaw with respect to each neighboring vertebra. Actuation cables are used to manipulate and control movement of the vertebrae. In specific…
Aspects of a control system of a minimally invasive surgical apparatus
Granted: February 13, 2003
Application Number:
20030029463
A surgical method and a control system is provided. The surgical method and the control system can advantageously be used in a minimally invasive surgical apparatus. The method includes generating a desired surgical instrument movement command signal. It further includes comparing the desired surgical instrument movement command signal with at least one preset surgical instrument movement limitation. Should the desired surgical instrument command signal transgress the preset surgical…
Master having redundant degrees of freedom
Granted: January 30, 2003
Application Number:
20030023346
An input device for robotic surgical techniques and other applications has a handle supported by a linkage with a redundant degree of freedom, the joints being movable with at least one more degree of freedom than the handle. At least one joint of the linkage is actively driven to prevent the linkage from approaching singularities of the joint system, motion limits of the joints, or the like, and also to drive the linkage toward a freely articulatable configuration. A robotic master…
Platform link wrist mechanism
Granted: January 23, 2003
Application Number:
20030018323
The present invention provides a robotic surgical tool for use in a robotic surgical system to perform a surgical operation. The robotic surgical tool includes a wrist mechanism disposed near the distal end of a shaft which connects with an end effector. The wrist mechanism includes a distal member configured to support the end effector, and a plurality of rods extending generally along an axial direction within the shaft and movable generally along this axial direction to adjust the…
Camera referenced control in a minimally invasive surgical apparatus
Granted: January 2, 2003
Application Number:
20030004610
Enhanced telepresence and telesurgery systems automatically update coordinate transformations so as to retain alignment between movement of an input device and movement of an end effector as displayed adjacent the input device. A processor maps a controller workspace with an end effector workspace, and effects movement of the end effector in response to the movement of the input device. This allows the use of kinematically dissimilar master and slave linkages. Gripping an input member…
Robotic tool with monopolar electro-surgical scissors
Granted: December 12, 2002
Application Number:
20020188293
The present invention provides robotic surgical instruments and systems that include electrosurgical cutting/shearing tools and methods of performing a robotic surgical procedure. The surgical instruments can advantageously be used in robotically controlled minimally invasive surgical operations. A surgical instrument generally comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. An end effector, for performing a surgical operation such as cutting, shearing, grasping,…
Robotic surgical tool with ultrasound cauterizing and cutting instrument
Granted: November 28, 2002
Application Number:
20020177843
A surgical instrument for enhancing robotic surgery generally includes an elongate shaft with an ultrasound probe, an end effector at the distal end of the shaft, and a base at the proximal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasound probe tip and the surgical instrument is generally configured for convenient positioning of the probe tip within a surgical site by a robotic surgical system. Ultrasound energy delivered by the probe tip may be used to cut, cauterize, or…
Repositioning and reorientation of master/slave relationship in minimally invasive telesurgery
Granted: September 12, 2002
Application Number:
20020128552
The invention provides robotic surgical systems which allow selectable independent repositioning of an input handle of a master controller and/or a surgical end effector without corresponding movement of the other. In some embodiments, independent repositioning is limited to translational degrees of freedom. In other embodiments, the system provides an input device adjacent a manipulator supporting the surgical instrument so that an assistant can reposition the instrument at the…
Vivo accessories for minimally invasive robotic surgery
Granted: August 29, 2002
Application Number:
20020120254
Surgical accessories are presented in vivo and used by surgical tools in the surgical site to perform additional tasks without the need to remove the tools from the surgical site for tool change or instrument loading. Examples of in vivo accessories include fastening accessories such as surgical clips for use with a clip applier, single working member accessories such as a blade which can be grasped and manipulated by a grasping tool for cutting, sheath accessories that fit over working…
Surgical tools for use in minimally invasive telesurgical applications
Granted: August 15, 2002
Application Number:
20020111621
This invention provides surgical tools or instruments for use in minimally invasive telesurgical applications. The instruments typically include a base whereby the instrument is removably mountable on a robotically controlled articulated arm. An elongate shaft extends from the base. A working end of the shaft is disposed at an end of the shaft remote from the base. A wrist member is pivotally mounted on the working end. At least one end effector element mounting formation is pivotally…
Articulated surgical instrument for performing minimally invasive surgery with enhanced dexterity and sensitivity
Granted: August 1, 2002
Application Number:
20020103476
An articulated surgical instrument for enhancing the performance of minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrument has a high degree of dexterity, low friction, low inertia and good force reflection. A unique cable and pulley drive system operates to reduce friction and enhance force reflection. A unique wrist mechanism operates to enhance surgical dexterity compared to standard laparoscopic instruments. The system is optimized to reduce the number of actuators required and thus…
Multi-component telepresence system and method
Granted: July 11, 2002
Application Number:
20020091374
The present invention provides systems and methods for performing robotically-assisted surgical procedures on a patient. In particular, a three-component surgical system is provided that includes a non-sterile drive and control component, a sterilizable end effector or surgical tool and an intermediate connector component that includes mechanical elements for coupling the surgical tool with the drive and control component and for transferring motion and electrical signals therebetween.…
Arm cart for telerobotic surgical system
Granted: June 27, 2002
Application Number:
20020082612
Improved robotic surgical systems, devices, and methods often include a first assembly with a surgical end effector supported and manipulated relative to a first base by a first robotic linkage, while a second surgical end effector manipulated and supported relative to a second, independent base by a second robotic linkage. One or more of these robotic assemblies may be moved relative to the other. To coordinate the end effector movements with those of input devices being manipulated by…
Surgical robotic tools, data architecture, and use
Granted: June 13, 2002
Application Number:
20020072736
Robotic surgical tools, systems, and methods for preparing for and performing robotic surgery include a memory mounted on the tool. The memory can perform a number of functions when the tool is loaded on the tool manipulator: first, the memory can provide a signal verifying that the tool is compatible with that particular robotic system. Secondly, the tool memory may identify the tool-type to the robotic system so that the robotic system can reconfigure its programming. Thirdly, the…
Alignment of master and slave in a minimally invasive surgical apparatus
Granted: May 9, 2002
Application Number:
20020055795
This invention relates to establishing alignment or a desired orientational relationship between a master and a slave of a telerobotic system. The invention can advantageously be used in a surgical apparatus. A method of establishing a desired orientational relationship between a hand-held part of a master control and an end effector of an associated slave as viewed in an image displayed on a viewer is provided. The method includes causing the end effector to remain stationary,…
Stabilizer for robotic beating-heart surgery
Granted: April 18, 2002
Application Number:
20020045888
Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to…
