Touchless control of surgical devices. One example is a method of performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising: receiving, by a touchless-interface controller, a touchless command directly identifying an operational parameter of a target surgical controller of a plurality of surgical controllers used for performing the surgical procedure; generating, by the touchless-interface controller, a command value from the touchless command; and communicating, by the touchless-interface controller, a control command to the target surgical controller of the plurality of surgical controllers based on the command value.

A surgical hub within a surgical hub network may include a controller having a processor, in which the controller may determine a priority of a communication, an interaction, or a processing of information based on a requirement of a system or a device communicating with the hub. The controller may prioritize an order of transmission of communication packets, including packets to a device outside of the network. The packets may include data to update routines, processes, or execute a critical procedural step. The controller may prioritize a communication traffic flow within the hub network. A network of surgical hubs may include a first hub having a first controller and a second hub having a second controller. The first controller may control interactions between the first hub and the second hub based on the capabilities of the first hub and a location of modules within the network.

A control system for controlling a surgical robot by a surgeon console remote from the surgical robot, the control system being configured to: receive one or more state signal associated with a plurality of instruments, each of the plurality of instruments being attachable to the surgical robot, the one or more state signal indicating a selectability of each of the plurality of instruments for control by the surgeon console, and a control mode of each of the plurality of instruments from a group of modes, the group of modes comprising a manipulation mode in which an instrument of the plurality of instruments is controllable by the surgeon console, and a selection mode in which an instrument of the plurality of instruments is selectable for control by the surgeon console; determine a graphical arrangement of icons for display in dependence on the received one or more state signal, where each icon represents a respective one of the plurality of instruments, and output a display signal to cause the graphical arrangement of icons to be displayed; receive a mode change signal indicating a change of mode to the selection mode; modify, in response to the received mode change signal, the graphical arrangement of icons to permit identification of selectable instruments of the plurality of instruments; receive a select signal from the surgeon console indicating a selection of one of the selectable instruments; modify, in response to the received select signal, the graphical arrangement of icons to permit identification of the selected instrument; and enable control of the selected instrument by the surgeon console.

An actuating unit for or of a surgical instrument operated by an electric motor and having a switch housing. The switch housing is separate and spaced apart from the surgical instrument and includes a frame, supports for supporting the switch housing on a substrate, at least one power supply unit for supplying power to at least one motor system of a surgical instrument connected to the actuating unit, a control and monitoring device designed to carry out and/or monitor at least one function, and a cable and/or a cable connection for connecting the cable for electrically coupling the actuating unit to a surgical instrument for operating the surgical instrument.

A surgical instrument is inserted through a guide tube. The surgical instrument exits at an intermediate position of the guide tube and is oriented to be substantially parallel to the guide tube's longitudinal axis as it exits. A stereoscopic image capture component is on the guide tube between the intermediate position and the guide tube's distal end. The image capture component's field of view is generally perpendicular to the guide tube's longitudinal axis. The guide tube is jointed to allow the image capture component to be moved. The surgical instruments and the guide tube are telemanipulatively controlled.

A surgical system for providing an improved video image of a surgical site including a system controller that receives and processes video images to determine a video signature corresponding to a condition that interferes with a quality of the video images, with the system controller interacting with a video enhancer to enhance the video images from a video capturing device to automatically control the video enhancer to enhance the video images. The surgical system can also review the video images for a trigger event and automatically begin or stop recording of the video images upon occurrence of the trigger event.

The console-based surgical system includes a footswitch having a footswitch connector line and an input visual indicator having a light emitter. The console-based surgical system includes a surgical console including instrument ports for coupling to and transmitting an energization signal to a surgical instrument and a footswitch port for coupling to and receiving a signal from the footswitch. Each instrument port includes an instrument visual indicator and the footswitch port includes a footswitch visual indicator. The indicators include a light emitter and a ring-shaped light guide. The surgical console includes a controller, which associates the footswitch port with an instrument port and activates the light emitter of the input visual indicator, the footswitch visual indicator, and the instrument visual indicator of the associated instrument port to emit a matching colored light. The controller receives a signal from the footswitch and generates and transmits an energization signal to the associated instrument port to actuate a function of the surgical instrument coupled to the associated instrument port.

A method for assisting a surgical operator in performing a surgical procedure uses a surgical controlling system includes a controller having a processing means communicable with a controller's database, said controller configured to control the spatial position of a surgical tool. The controller's database is in communication with movement detection means. The controller's database is configured to store a predetermined set of rules according to which allowed and restricted movements of the surgical tool are determined, each detected movement by said movement detection means of said at least one surgical tool being determined as either an allowed movement or as a restricted movement according to said predetermined set of rules. The system automatically real-time analyzes and determines the location of each anatomical element in the surgical environment.

A surgical instrument includes a handle having a handle frame, a microcontroller having at least one program and memory, and a handle interface supported by the handle frame and in electrical communication with the microcontroller. The instrument further includes a loading unit having a body configured for operative coupling to the handle frame of the handle, and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the body and configured to perform a surgical task. A bracket is mounted to the loading unit and includes a microchip having at least one of authentication data and identification data relating to the loading unit.

Provided is a power pack comprising an AC power connector configured to be connectable to an outside AC power source; a rectification and filtering unit configured to be in electronic communication with the AC power connector; a controlling unit; and a medical device connector configured to be connectable to a medical device, the medical device connector configured to be in electronic communication with the controlling unit, wherein the power pack is configured to be capable of detecting a connection of the medical device with the power pack and also capable of demonstrating the connection through an outside indicator disposed on the exterior of the power pack once the medical device is connected to the power pack through the medical device connector.