In some embodiments, a stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a tubular housing having a bore extending longitudinally through the housing. First and second image sensors are disposed proximate a distal end of the bore, each including a light sensitive elements on a face and mounted facing laterally outward. The apparatus further includes a first beam steering element associated with the first image sensor and a second beam steering element associated with the second image sensor. The beam steering elements receive light from first and second perspective viewpoints and direct the received light onto the faces of the image sensors forming first and second images. Either the first and second beam steering elements or the first and second image sensors are moveable to cause a change a spacing between or an orientation of the perspective viewpoints to cause sufficient disparity between the first and second images to provide image data including three-dimensional information.

Systems and devices for resecting and removing tissue or organs from the interior of a patient's body, in a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure while preventing any dispersion of potentially malignant tissue during the resection process.

Various embodiments are directed to surgical instruments comprising an end effector, a shaft and a jaw assembly. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade extending distally substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis. The shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along the longitudinal axis. The jaw assembly may comprise first and second jaw members. The jaw assembly may be pivotable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis from a first position where the first and second jaw members are substantially parallel to the ultrasonic blade to a second position. Additionally, the first and second jaw members may be pivotable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

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 end of the axle and is free to rotate around the second axis of rotation independently of the first control arm. A distal component is coupled to an elongate tube that is coupled to the chassis. Four drive elements coupled to the control arms control motion of the distal component. In one implementation, the medical device is a teleoperated surgical instrument.

A robotic arm control system including a medical instrument to be inserted into a body-part, a force sensor to detect force applied by the instrument to the body-part, a robotic arm attached to the instrument, a first position sensor to track an instrument position of the instrument in the body-part, a second position sensor to track a body position of the body-part, and a controller to compute, responsively to the instrument position and the body position, a location of the instrument relative to the body-part, compare the detected force applied by the instrument to a permitted force level for application to an anatomical feature at the computed location and send a control command to, or cut power of, the robotic arm to loosen a rigidity of at least one robotic joint in response to the detected force applied by the instrument being greater than the permitted force level.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for docking medical instruments. For example, a medical system can include an instrument drive mechanism having a drive output that rotates and engages a corresponding drive input on a robotic medical instrument, a motor configured to rotate the drive output, and a torque sensor configured to measure torque imparted on the drive output. The robotic medical instrument can include a pre-tensioned pull wire actuated by the drive input. The system can activate the motor associated with the drive output to rotate the drive output in response to a torque signal from the torque sensor associated with the drive output in order to align the drive output with the drive input.

A medical support arm includes: a support arm that supports an endoscope; an actuator that drives the support arm; a measurement unit that measures a load applied to the actuator; a generation unit that generates three-dimensional information in a body into which the endoscope is inserted; and a correction unit that corrects the three-dimensional information on a basis of the measured load.

Described here are systems, devices, and methods useful for minimally invasive surgical procedures performed by a single operator. Methods of performing magnetic laparoscopic robotic surgery may comprise coupling an end effector to a support arm within a sterile field using an end effector connector, controlling the end effector within a body cavity of a patient, and decoupling the end effector from the support arm within the sterile field using the end effector connector. Coupling, controlling, and decoupling may all be capable of being performed by a single operator.

A medical system comprises an entry guide, a display, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive state information for an articulatable image capture device controllably extendable out of a distal end of the entry guide. The processor may be configured to generate a view including a graphical representation of a distal end portion of the articulatable image capture device as determined from the received state information and a graphical representation of a field of view of the articulatable image capture device extending distally from the distal end portion of the articulatable image capture device. The processor may also cause the view to be displayed on the display.

A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft extendable through a handle, a drive cable extending along a portion of the shaft, and an actuation system housed within the handle and including an input stack having first and second ends. The input stack includes a drive input arranged at the first end, and an accumulator arranged between the first and second ends and including a differential body defining upper and lower redirect surfaces, and a redirect feature offset from the upper and lower redirect surfaces, wherein the drive cable is threaded through the upper and lower redirect surfaces and the redirect feature, and wherein actuating the actuation system rotates the input stack and thereby acts on the drive cable to cause one or more operations of the surgical tool.