Certain aspects relate to biopsy apparatuses, systems and techniques for biopsy using a biopsy pattern. Some aspects relate to moving a distal portion of a medical instrument to one or more sample locations of the biopsy pattern and guiding the instrument to obtain tissue samples from the sample locations within the biopsy pattern. Some aspects relate to obtaining the biopsy pattern and adjusting the sample locations within the biopsy pattern based on various factors such as anatomical features.

Certain aspects relate to biopsy apparatuses, systems and techniques for biopsy using a biopsy pattern. Some aspects relate to moving a distal portion of a medical instrument to one or more sample locations of the biopsy pattern and guiding the instrument to obtain tissue samples from the sample locations within the biopsy pattern. Some aspects relate to obtaining the biopsy pattern and adjusting the sample locations within the biopsy pattern based on various factors such as anatomical features.

A support system, a support method, and a support program in the form of a non-transitory computer readable medium are disclosed that support a medical action during an operation. The support system includes a data acquisition unit configured to acquire, during an operation, use state data on a use state of a medical device during the operation, and target lesion data on a target lesion of a patient during the operation, a learning unit configured to perform machine learning using the use state data and the target lesion data, and a presentation unit configured to present a recommended operation policy based on a result of the machine learning.

A support system, a support method, and a support program in the form of a non-transitory computer readable medium are disclosed that support a medical action during an operation. The support system includes a data acquisition unit configured to acquire, during an operation, use state data on a use state of a medical device during the operation, and target lesion data on a target lesion of a patient during the operation, a learning unit configured to perform machine learning using the use state data and the target lesion data, and a presentation unit configured to present a recommended operation policy based on a result of the machine learning.

A surgical robotic system has a tool drive coupled to a distal end of a robotic arm that has a plurality of actuators. The tool drive has a docking interface to receive a trocar. The system also includes one or more sensors that are operable to visually sense a surface feature of the trocar. One or more processors determine a position and orientation of the trocar, based on the visually sensed surface feature. In response, the processor controls the actuators to orient the docking interface to the determined orientation of the trocar and to guide the robotic arm toward the determined position of the trocar. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

A surgical robotic system has a tool drive coupled to a distal end of a robotic arm that has a plurality of actuators. The tool drive has a docking interface to receive a trocar. The system also includes one or more sensors that are operable to visually sense a surface feature of the trocar. One or more processors determine a position and orientation of the trocar, based on the visually sensed surface feature. In response, the processor controls the actuators to orient the docking interface to the determined orientation of the trocar and to guide the robotic arm toward the determined position of the trocar. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

A hybrid, direct-control and robotic-assisted surgical system may have a stabilizing apparatus configured to at least partially support the weight of the surgical device and having comprising a device attachment unit configured to removably receive a surgical device having an elongate shaft and a distal tip. The stabilizing apparatus can be configured to constrain movement of the device attachment unit about a remote centre of motion. A handle may be mechanically attached to the device attachment unit and manual, Cartesian movement of the handle may results in corresponding Cartesian movement of the distal tip of the surgical device. A robotic assist system may include a sensor assembly configured to monitor at least a first attribute of the handle and generate a corresponding sensor signal, a controller communicably linked to the sensor assembly to receive the sensor signal and generate a corresponding primary control signal and a powered actuation unit communicably linked to the controller to receive the primary control signal and configured to actuate an end effector of the surgical device received in the device attachment unit based on the primary control signal.

A hybrid, direct-control and robotic-assisted surgical system may have a stabilizing apparatus configured to at least partially support the weight of the surgical device and having comprising a device attachment unit configured to removably receive a surgical device having an elongate shaft and a distal tip. The stabilizing apparatus can be configured to constrain movement of the device attachment unit about a remote centre of motion. A handle may be mechanically attached to the device attachment unit and manual, Cartesian movement of the handle may results in corresponding Cartesian movement of the distal tip of the surgical device. A robotic assist system may include a sensor assembly configured to monitor at least a first attribute of the handle and generate a corresponding sensor signal, a controller communicably linked to the sensor assembly to receive the sensor signal and generate a corresponding primary control signal and a powered actuation unit communicably linked to the controller to receive the primary control signal and configured to actuate an end effector of the surgical device received in the device attachment unit based on the primary control signal.

An apparatus for administering a cancer drug, comprising an optical emitter operatively arranged to emit a visible point of light onto a tissue surface to be treated, a robotic arm, operatively arrange to move a drug-delivery device, in sequence, to each of a plurality of predetermined positions within the tissue to be treated, a tactile sensor operatively arranged at the distal end of the drug-delivery device to determine vertical height movement of the robotic arm for contact of the tissue surface to be treated, a reservoir arranged to store the cancer drug, a needle, operatively arranged to be moved to each of the specific positions within the tissue, and to deliver the drug at those positions, and, a torch head for generating non-thermal plasma in proximity to an end of the needle and the area to be treated.

An apparatus for administering a cancer drug, comprising an optical emitter operatively arranged to emit a visible point of light onto a tissue surface to be treated, a robotic arm, operatively arrange to move a drug-delivery device, in sequence, to each of a plurality of predetermined positions within the tissue to be treated, a tactile sensor operatively arranged at the distal end of the drug-delivery device to determine vertical height movement of the robotic arm for contact of the tissue surface to be treated, a reservoir arranged to store the cancer drug, a needle, operatively arranged to be moved to each of the specific positions within the tissue, and to deliver the drug at those positions, and, a torch head for generating non-thermal plasma in proximity to an end of the needle and the area to be treated.