An input mechanism includes a first pivoting section that is pivotable with a first axis as a rotational center, a second pivoting section that is pivotable with respect to the first pivoting section with a second axis crossing the first axis, a first link fixed to the first pivoting section and connected to the second pivoting section such that the second pivoting section is pivotable with the second axis, a second link fixed to the second pivoting section, an advance/retreat input section connected to the second link and thereby enable an advance/retreat operation along a third axis passing through an intersection between the first axis and the second axis as an advance/retreat axis, and a sensor unit configured to determine a rotation angle of the first axis, a rotation angle of the second axis and an advance/retreat movement distance of the advance/retreat input section.

An object sizing system sizes an object positioned within a patient. The object sizing system identifies a presence of the object. The object sizing system navigates an elongate body of an instrument to a position proximal to the object within the patient. An imaging sensor coupled to the elongate body captures one or more sequential images of the object. The instrument may be further moved around within the patient to capture additional images at different positions/orientations relative to the object. The object sizing system also acquires robot data and/or EM data associated with the positions and orientations of the elongate body. The object sizing system analyzes the captured images based on the acquired robot data to estimate a size of the object.

A surgical instrument can include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector. The surgical instrument can further include a first articulation joint and a second articulation joint about which the end effector can be articulated. The surgical instrument can include a firing system which traverses the first articulation joint and the second articulation joint. The firing system can be operated by an electric motor.

A vascular intervention robot includes a catheter rotation unit for rotating a catheter on an axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the catheter, a guide wire rotation and supply unit that is provided at one side of the catheter rotation unit and that is provided for transferring a guide wire in a longitudinal direction of the guide wire and for rotating the guide wire on an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide wire in a state in which the guide wire is inserted in the catheter, a transfer unit for transferring the catheter rotation unit and the guide wire rotation and supply unit in the longitudinal direction of the catheter, and an expanding and contracting unit that is provided at another side of the catheter rotation unit and that is expandable and contractible along the longitudinal direction of the catheter while supporting the catheter when the transfer unit transfers the catheter rotation unit and the guide wire rotation and supply unit in the longitudinal direction of the catheter.

A medical system including a manipulator having a longitudinal portion with a proximal end and a distal end; a rotation driving unit connected to the longitudinal portion for rotating the proximal end; an uneven portion disposed on an outer circumference surface in the vicinity of the distal end and being along a helix; a bendable portion disposed at the distal end; a bending driving unit bending the bendable portion; a shape sensor unit detecting a bending amount and a bending direction of the bendable portion; a rotation angle sensor unit detecting a rotation angle and a rotation direction of the longitudinal portion; and a control unit controlling operations of the rotation driving unit and the bending driving unit, wherein the distal end and the uneven portion are rotatable about the longitudinal axis following the rotation of the proximal end when the proximal end is rotated by the rotation driving unit.

Catheter device and driving system configured to navigate the catheter through complex narrow tissue openings such as lung bronchi pathway openings of 3 millimeters or less. The device comprises a proximal catheter portion containing a hollow torque shaft, with a distal catheter portion connected to the proximal portion by an isolation transition coupler connected to this torque shaft. The distal position of the catheter is controlled by at least one steering cable/isolation coil arrangement. The system uses processor-controlled actuators that simultaneously rotate the torque shaft and the at least one steering cable/isolation coil in a 1:1 relationship, while also actuating the steering cable. The catheter is tipped by a tool plate, which can be equipped with various sensors and other instruments, connected to the outside via other conduits.

Catheter device and driving system configured to navigate the catheter through complex narrow tissue openings such as lung bronchi pathway openings of 3 millimeters or less. The device comprises a proximal catheter portion containing a hollow torque shaft, with a distal catheter portion connected to the proximal portion connected to this torque shaft. The distal position of the catheter is controlled by at least one steering cable/tensioning cable arrangement. The system uses processor-controlled actuators that simultaneously rotate the torque shaft and the at least one steering cable/tensioning cable in a 1:1 relationship, while also actuating the steering cable. The catheter is tipped by a tool plate, which can be equipped with various sensors and other instruments and connected to the outside via other conduits.

The present invention is a continuum robot system including a continuum robot including a bendable body and a base portion at which the bendable body is provided; a support base including a moving stage that supports the continuum robot such that the continuum robot is detachable from and attachable to the moving stage and is movable along a straight line; and an arm that supports the support base and that is turnable about a first shaft. The continuum robot moves along a plane perpendicular to the first shaft when the moving stage with the continuum robot mounted on the moving stage is moved.

System and method for using processor-controlled actuators to drive multi-stage catheter devices configured to navigate through complex narrow tissue openings such as lung bronchi pathway openings. The device comprises a proximal catheter portion containing a hollow torque shaft, with a distal catheter portion connected to the proximal portion by a rotatable coupler connected to this hollow shaft. The distal position of the proximal catheter can be controlled by independently controlled proximal stage steering cables positioned outside of the shaft, and the shaft itself can be used to rotate the distal catheter about the rotatable coupler. The position of the distal end of the distal catheter can be further controlled by distal stage steering cables positioned inside of the hollow shaft. The device is tipped by a tool plate, which can be equipped with various sensors and other instruments, connected to the outside via other conduits.

A robotic arm according to various implementations includes: a tool driver configured to hold a surgical tool; a first section comprising a first end coupled to a base, a second end distal from first end; a first link that includes a motor configured to rotate at least a portion of the first section around a pitch axis; a second link coupled to the first link, the second link including a motor configured to rotate at least a portion of the first section around a roll axis; and a second section comprising: a first end coupled to the second end of the first section, a second end distal from the first end, a first link that includes a motor configured to rotate at least a portion of the second section around a roll axis, a second link coupled to the first link.