Robotic medical systems can be capable of kinematic optimization using shared robotic degrees-of-freedom. A robotic medical system can include a patient platform, an adjustable arm support coupled to the patient platform, and at least one robotic arm coupled to the adjustable arm support. The at least one robotic arm can be coupled to a medical tool. The robotic medical system includes a first link and a second link. Each of the first link and the second link includes a first end coupled to the adjustable arm support and a second end coupled to a base of the patient platform, for rotating the adjustable arm support relative to the patient platform. The robotic medical system can also include a processor configured to adjust a position of the adjustable arm support and the at least one robotic arm while maintaining a remote center of movement of the medical tool.

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.

A system and method for ensuring safe and tolerable insertion of a needle into a subject's body according to a preplanned or continuously monitored sequence of insertion steps. The system comprises a gripping device for gripping the needle in order to perform robotic insertion steps, yet for releasing the grip between such insertion steps, until the next insertion step is initiated. Thereby, the robot has full control of the needle during insertion steps, but does not constrain the needle between insertions, such that movement of the subject can cause neither damage nor discomfort. The gripping and insertion steps may be coordinated to keep in synchronization with the subject's breathing cycles, such that the insertion steps may be performed in the same segment of each cycle of motion of the subject's chest. The gripper can either fully disconnect from the needle, or can partially disconnect but constrain motion within limits.

A robotic surgical tool comprises a lead screw and at least one spline extending between first and second end, and a drive puck movably mounted to the lead screw and the spline and movable between the first and second ends. A spline coupling is rotatably coupled to the drive puck and receives the spline such that rotation of the spline correspondingly rotates the spline coupling. An instrument drive output is rotatably coupled to the drive puck and operatively coupled to the spline coupling, such that rotation of the spline coupling correspondingly rotates the instrument drive output. A drive housing is mountable to the drive puck and includes a drive input rotatably mounted to the drive housing and matable with the instrument drive output such that rotation of the instrument drive output correspondingly rotates the drive input.

A tissue segmentation device, controller, and methods therefore are disclosed. The device has an active electrode, a return electrode, a mechanical force application mechanism, voltage and current sensors, and a controller. The controller has a processing component, configured to assign a circuit status to a circuit comprising the at least one electrode. IF (PF≈0) and ((Vrms/Irms)≥T), THEN the circuit status is “open”. IF (PF≈0) and ((Vrms/Irms)<T), THEN the circuit status is “short”. PF is a power factor of power applied to the electrosurgical device. T is a threshold value.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for aligning inputs on medical instruments. In one aspect, the method includes receiving, at a data reader of the instrument drive mechanism, alignment data from the tool when the tool is positioned within a threshold distance of the data reader. The tool include one or more inputs and one or more pull wires configured to be actuated by output shafts of the instrument drive mechanism via the one or more inputs. The method also includes receiving, at a processor, the alignment data from the data reader, and rotating, via the processor, the one or more output shafts of the instrument drive mechanism into alignment with the one or more inputs of the tool based on the alignment data. Each of the output shafts is configured to mechanically couple with a corresponding one of the inputs of the tool.

A medical instrument includes an elongate shaft defining a roll axis and a handle coupled to the elongate shaft. The handle includes a robotic drive input operable to rotate the elongate shaft with respect to the handle about the roll axis and a lockout mechanism movable between an engaged position in which the lockout mechanism impedes rotation of the elongate shaft with respect to the handle about the roll axis, and a disengaged position in which the lockout mechanism permits rotation of the elongate shaft with respect to the handle about the roll axis.

A surgical end effector may comprise first and second jaw members. The second jaw member may comprise an offset proximal supply electrode that is positioned to contact an opposing member of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. The second jaw member may also comprise a distal supply electrode that is positioned distal of the offset proximal electrode and is aligned with a conductive surface of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. When the first and second jaw members are in the closed position, the proximal supply electrode may be in contact with the opposing member and the distal supply electrode is not in contact with the conductive surface of the first jaw member.

A surgical instrument assembly comprising a shaft, an actuator positioned within the shaft, an articulation joint, an attachment interface positioned distal to the articulation joint and an end effector removably attachable to and detachable from said articulation joint by the attachment interface is disclosed. The end effector is configured to be articulated relative to the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, and a firing member configured to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw when the end effector is attached to the attachment interface and control motions are applied to the firing member by the actuator. When the end effector is attached to the articulation joint, the actuator is movable between an engaged position in which the actuator and the firing member are operably engaged and a disengaged position.

A robotic medical system can include a patient platform. The patient platform includes a tilt mechanism. The tilt mechanism can include a lateral tilt mechanism and a longitudinal tilt mechanism. The lateral tilt mechanism can include a tilt plate and a pivot housing. A linear actuator mounted on the tilt plate can apply a linear force to the pivot housing. The lateral tilt mechanism can also include a first linear guide that extends along a first axis, and the pivot housing can translate along the first linear guide. Application of the linear force to the pivot housing tilts the tilt plate by causing the pivot housing to translate along the first linear guide.