An end effector is removably connected to a robot arm under sterile conditions with an arm mount module configured to be permanently connected to the robot arm, and an arm drape module configured to be removably connected to the arm mount module by a first locking mechanism. A third module, which is a passive end effector, may be configured to be removably connected to the arm drape module by a second locking mechanism. In some embodiments, a sterile hand drape module is configured to be removably connected to the arm drape module by the second locking mechanism; and a hand mount module is configured to be removably connected to the hand drape module by a third locking mechanism, and to be permanently connected to the end effector or the hand mount module is the end effector itself.
The systems for connecting an end effector to a robot arm provide a signal or energy transmission pathway between the robot arm and the end effector. The transmitted energy can be electrical or mechanical.

In an embodiment, a method includes determining a given material to manipulate to achieve a goal state. The goal state can be one or more deformable or granular materials in a particular arrangement. The method further includes, for the given material, determining, a respective outcome for each of a plurality of candidate actions to manipulate the given material. The determining can be performed with a physics-based model, in one embodiment. The method further can include determining a given action of the candidate actions, where the outcome of the given action reaching the goal state is within at least one tolerance. The method further includes, based on a selected action of the given actions, generating a first motion plan for the selected action.

A holding arm for medical purposes, in particular for holding surgical mechatronic assistance systems and/or surgical instruments, includes a proximal end for attaching the holding arm to a base and a distal end for receiving a surgical mechatronic assistance system and/or surgical instrument; at least one first and one second arm segment, wherein the first arm segment is connected to a first joint and the second arm segment is connected to a second joint, wherein each joint is releasable and lockable. An operating unit is provided for bringing the holding arm into a desired pose, wherein the operating unit is adapted to release the associated joint upon contact between an operator and one of the first and second arm segments. A corresponding method is also provided.

An operation device for a surgical manipulator includes an input device that operates the surgical manipulator. The input device includes a plurality of joints and a plurality of motors that drives the plurality of joints, and reduction ratios in power transmission paths from the plurality of motors to the plurality of joints, respectively, are 0.5 or more and 30 or less.

Surgical kit inspection systems and methods are provided for inspecting surgical kits having parts of different types. The surgical kit inspection system comprises a vision unit including a first camera unit and a second camera unit to capture images of parts of a first type and a second type in each kit and to capture images of loose parts from each kit that are placed on a light surface. A robot supports the vision unit to move the first and second camera units relative to the parts in each surgical kit. One or more controllers obtain unique inspection instructions for each of the surgical kits to control inspection of each of the surgical kits and control movement of the robot and the vision unit accordingly to provide output indicating inspection results for each of the surgical kits.

A sterile interface for a surgical platform is provided, optionally to be used with a mechanical telemanipulator. The sterile interface is configured to allow for transmission of motion without dimensional inconsistencies between a non-sterile surgical platform and a sterile surgical instrument that are related to one another in a master-slave configuration. The sterile interface is configured to allow for multiple changes of sterile surgical instruments during a surgical procedure without contaminating the sterile field. The sterile interface allows for interchangeable sterile articulated surgical instruments to be attached to the surgical platform without coming into contact with non-sterile portions of the surgical platform.

Provided is a wireless power supply control system including a control apparatus controlling driving of one or more driving devices in accordance with a plurality of predetermined driving patterns, a first radio having a directional antenna, and a second radio driven by power supply radio waves transmitted from the first radio. Target driving directivity information corresponding to a target driving pattern acquired by an acquisition unit is selected from among pieces of driving directivity information relating to a directivity applied to the directional antenna, in a state in which driving of the driving devices is controlled by the control apparatus in accordance with the driving patterns, the selected target driving directivity information is applied to the directional antenna of the first radio, and wireless power supply from the first radio to the second radio is executed.

A robot includes an input link, an output link, and a wire routing. The output link is coupled to the input link at an inline twist joint where the output link is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the output link relative to the input link. The wire routing traverses the inline twist joint to couple the input link and the output link. The wire routing includes an input link section, an output link section, and an omega section. A first position of the wire routing coaxially aligns at a start of the omega section on the input link with a second position of the wire routing at an end of the omega section on an output link.

This industrial robot is provided with: an arm portion having a longitudinal axis; a wrist portion provided to a distal end of the arm portion and swingable about a swing axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; a wire body inserted through the inside of the arm portion and connected to an end effector mounted to the wrist portion; and an energizing unit for energizing the wire body in a separate direction away from the wrist portion along the longitudinal axis of the arm portion. Thus, in an industrial robot in which a wire body is inserted through the inside of an arm portion, a conventional deficiency generated corresponding to a swing motion of a wrist portion can be eliminated.

This industrial robot is provided with: an arm portion having a longitudinal axis; a wrist portion provided to a distal end of the arm portion and swingable about a swing axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; a wire body inserted through the inside of the arm portion and connected to an end effector mounted to the wrist portion; and an energizing unit for energizing the wire body in a separate direction away from the wrist portion along the longitudinal axis of the arm portion. Thus, in an industrial robot in which a wire body is inserted through the inside of an arm portion, a conventional deficiency generated corresponding to a swing motion of a wrist portion can be eliminated.