Provided is an operation input device for inputting an operation command to a medical manipulator having a distal-end-side moving portion having at least one joint on a distal end and a proximal-end-side moving portion that is connected to a proximal-end side of the distal-end-side moving portion and moves the distal-end-side moving portion, and the operation input device includes a first operation portion that generates a moving command for driving the distal-end-side moving portion in accordance with an operation command input with a palm or a finger and a second operation portion that is linked to the first operation portion and generates the moving command for driving the proximal-end-side moving portion in accordance with an operation command input with a wrist or an arm.

An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes proximal section having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the proximal section; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the proximal section, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to and after rotation of the suturing needle; and an actuator extending from the proximal end of the proximal section to actuate a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.

A system for surgical planning and assessment of spinal pathology or spinal deformity correction in a subject, the system comprises a control unit configured to align one or more vertebral bodies of a biomechanical model to one or more vertebral bodies of the radiograph. The control unit is configured to receive one or more spinal correction inputs. The control unit is configured to, based on the received one or more spinal correction inputs, simulate the biomechanical model in a predetermined posture. The control unit is configured to provide for display one or more characteristics of the simulated biomechanical model.

A surgical system includes a drive unit on a support. The drive unit includes motors or other actuators and a plurality of output elements arranged such that operation of each drive unit linearly translates a corresponding one of the output elements. A surgical device has an input subsystem carried at the proximal end of the shaft. The input subsystem includes linearly translatable input elements or pistons. The input and output elements are positioned such that operation of an actuator linearly translates an output element, causing linear translation of a corresponding input element. The input elements deliver linear motion to a rotary conversion system which converts the linear motion to rotary motion and delivers the rotary motion to a shaft of the surgical device, causing axial rolling of the surgical device or its distal end effector. A sterile drape is positionable between the input elements and the output elements.

The present invention relates to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for placing screws in the spine using a robot attached to a passive structure. The present invention also related to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for removing volumes in the body of a patient using a robot attached to a passive structure and to a device to carry out said methods. The present invention further concerns a device suitable to carry out the methods according to the present invention.

Endoluminal robotic systems and corresponding methods include subsystems for visualization, navigation, pressure sensing, platform compatibility, and user interfaces. The user interfaces may be implemented by one or more of a console, haptics, image fusion, voice controls, remote support, and multi-system controls.

A dilation assembly comprises an expandable and contractible main body having a corrugated outer surface, a guide cannula configured to be disposed through the main body to guide a movement of the main body, and an anchor configured to fix the main body in a target position.

Disclosed is a flexible surgical instrument system, comprising a distal structural body comprising at least one distal structural segment each comprising a distal spacing disk, a fixing disk and structural backbones; a proximal structural body comprises at least one proximal structural segment each comprising a proximal spacing disk, a proximal fixing disk and structural backbones; a plurality of cable transmission mechanisms each comprising a gear set and a pulley-cable part, the gear set being operable to transfer a rotational motion to the pulley-cable part; and a driving unit comprising a motion transmission part comprising a plurality of proximal segment turning transmission chains to convert a rotational output into mutually reversed rotational motions, and transfer one of the mutually reversed rotational motions to one of the gear sets.

A guidewire manipulation system may include a cylindrical drum, having a cylindrical outer drum surface with a helical groove for housing a flexible guidewire and an anchoring mechanism for attaching the flexible guidewire to the drum. The system may also include an outer shell or belt disposed around the drum, forming an opening through which the flexible guidewire exits. The system may also include a first actuator coupled with the drum for rotating the drum about a first axis, and a second actuator coupled with the drum for rotating the system about a second axis.

This invention relates to a robot to improve the inspection of a pipe or lumen. More particularly, this invention relates to a soft-pneumatic robot for endoscopy that is suitable for performing colonoscopy procedures. The robot of this invention comprises leading and tailing balloons configured for selective inflation to anchor a portion of the robot within the pipe or lumen and a soft-pneumatic actuator that is located between the leading balloon and the trailing balloon. The soft-pneumatic actuator is operable to extend or contract the robot in a longitudinal direction, in addition to positioning the leading balloon in a 360 degree circumference around the longitudinal direction by pneumatically controlling a fluid within a plurality of chambers within the soft-pneumatic actuator.