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.

Apparatuses and systems for enabling electrical communication with a device positionable within a body cavity of a patient. Apparatuses and systems for magnetically positioning a device within a body cavity of a patient. Medical devices. Methods of use.

Instrument device with an elongated, flexible shaft that is configured to both roll and articulate in a controllable manner. The claimed system and apparatus provides endoscopic rolling and articulating capabilities with minimal tradeoffs in control, allowing for greater ease of use and clinical efficacy.

The apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a flexible sheath instrument, a flexible guide instrument, and a tool. The flexible sheath instrument comprises a first instrument base removably coupleable to an instrument driver and defines a sheath instrument working lumen. The flexible guide instrument comprises a second instrument base removably coupleable to the instrument driver and is threaded through the sheath instrument working lumen. The guide instrument also defines a guide instrument working lumen. The tool is threaded through the guide instrument working lumen. For this embodiment of the apparatus, the sheath instrument and guide instrument are independently controllable relative to each other.

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 is configured to control a power output of the segmentation device. The controller has a processing component, responsive to the sensors, configured to execute the following: (a) derive a power factor of power applied to the at least one electrode; and (b) responsive to the deriving a power factor, 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 the power factor. T is a threshold value.

Disclosed is a surgical robotic system comprising a robotic arm holding an end-effector and a control unit for controllably moving the robotic arm and maintaining the end-effector in at least one target position relative to a patient. The control unit can, based on a first input continuously applied onto the robotic arm, activate a hand guiding mode wherein the robotic arm is freely movable by the user; based on a second input different from the first input, continuously applied onto the robotic arm, activate a computed trajectory mode wherein the robotic arm moves to a target position according to a computed trajectory; when the computed trajectory is activated, detect that the end-effector meets a predetermined safety condition and automatically switch to a servo-controlled mode wherein the robotic arm is automatically movable to maintain the end-effector in the target position relative to a tracker attached to the patient.

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 system for performing minimally invasive spinal stabilization, using two screws inserted in oblique trajectories from an inferior vertebra pedicle into the adjacent superior vertebra body. The procedure is less traumatic than such procedures performed using open back surgery, by virtue of the robot used to guide the surgeon along a safe trajectory, avoiding damage to nerves surrounding the vertebrae. The robot arm is advantageous since no access is provided in a minimally invasive procedure for direct viewing of the operation site, and the accuracy required for oblique entry can readily be achieved only using robotic control. This robotic system also obviates the need for a large number of fluoroscope images to check drill insertion position relative to the surrounding nerves. Disc cleaning tools with flexible wire heads are also described. The drilling trajectory is determined by comparing fluoroscope images to preoperative images showing the planned path.

The present invention provides a micro robot including: a drilling body which has a drilling tip formed at an end thereof; a spiral coupling body which has a magnet disposed therein, and is spirally coupled to an outer circumference of the drilling body; and a system control unit which allows the drilling body and the spiral coupling body to spirally move simultaneously or allows the spiral coupling body to spirally move around the drilling body by providing rotational magnetic field to the magnet. In addition, the present invention also provides a micro robot system including the micro robot.

A surgical device (2) having a distal end and a proximal end, and comprising a delivery portion (12) extending from the proximal end and comprising first and second instrument delivery channels, an active portion (4,8) at a distal portion of the device and a plug (10) having a proximal end and a distal end, and engageable with the delivery portion at its proximal end, and with the active portion at its distal end, the plug comprising first and second plug channels (82) each defining a curved path, such that the plug channels diverge from one another towards the distal end of the plug wherein when the plug is engaged with the delivery portion the first plug channel and the first instrument delivery channel form a first instrument channel and the second plug channel and the second instrument delivery channel form a second instrument channel.