Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for optical strain sensing in medical instruments. In one aspect, a medical instrument includes an elongated shaft, and at least one pull wire extending from a proximal end of the elongated shaft to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The at least one pull wire is configured to cause actuation of the medical instrument in at least one degree of freedom. The at least one pull wire includes an optical fiber configured to provide an indication of strain along the at least one pull wire.

A device and method for operating a lighting system varies a characteristic of visible light emitted by a first lighthead according to a predefined profile, and fixes a characteristic of visible light emitted by a second lighthead. A light sensor configured to view a focal area of the second lighthead detects a characteristic of visible light on a target surface over a period of time, and the characteristic of the light detected by the light sensor over the period of time is compared to the characteristic of light defined in the predetermined profile. A mode of operation of the first and second lighthead is determined based on the comparison.

An apparatus for surgical lighting is disclosed. The apparatus includes a light emitting element formed with a light source encapsulated within an outer layer. The outer layer includes a biocompatible material. A power supply is coupled to the light source. The apparatus includes an actuating mechanism that controls power from the power supply to the light source to emit light along a surgical area. The light emitting element provides enhanced illumination and other surgical advantages.

Embodiments herein provide a method for stereo-visual localization of an object by a stereo-visual localization apparatus. The method includes generating, by a stereo-visual localization apparatus, a stereo-visual interface displaying the first stereo image of the object and the first stereo image of the subject in a first portion and the second stereo image of the object and the second stereo image of the subject in a second portion. Further, the method includes detecting, by the stereo-visual localization apparatus, a movement of the subject to align the subject in the field of view with the object. Furthermore, the method includes visually aligning, by the stereo-visual localization apparatus, the subject with the object based on the movement by simultaneously changing apparent position of the first and the second stereo images of the subject in each of the first portion and the second portion in the stereo-visual interface.

Systems and methods for image detection during grasping and stapling include an end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw, an imaging sensor mounted to the end effector and configured to capture images of a material graspable by the end effector, and one or more processors coupled to the end effector and the imaging sensor. The one or more processors are configured to receive the images from the imaging sensor, determine one or more properties of the material based on the images, and display the one or more properties of the material on an interface. In some embodiments, the end effector is part of a medical tool and the material is anatomical tissue. In some embodiments, the end effector further includes one or more of a stapling mechanism configured to staple the material or a cutting mechanism configured to cut the material.

A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.

An imaging probe comprises a camera or endoscope with an external detector array, in which the probe is sized and shaped for surgical placement in an eye to image the eye from an interior of the eye during treatment. The imaging probe and a treatment probe can be coupled together with a fastener or contained within a housing. The imaging probe and the treatment probe can be sized and shaped to enter the eye through an incision in the cornea and image one or more of the ciliary body band or the scleral spur. The treatment probe may comprise a treatment optical fiber or a surgical placement device to deliver an implant. A processor coupled to the detector can be configured with instructions to identify a location of one or more of the ciliary body band, the scleral spur, Schwalbe's line, or Schlemm's canal from the image.

A lateral retractor system for forming a pathway to a patient’s intervertebral disc space includes a single dilator and a retractable dual-tapered-blade assembly. The dilator may feature a narrow rectangular body for insertion at an insertion orientation parallel to the fibers of the patient’s psoas muscle, at an approximate 45-degree angle to the patient’s spine. The retractable dual-tapered-blade assembly consists of only two blade subassemblies, each having a blade bordered by adjustable wings, along with built-in lighting and video capabilities. The dual-tapered-blade assembly may be passed over the single dilator at the insertion orientation and rotated approximately 45-50 degrees to a final rotated orientation parallel to the intervertebral disc space before the two blade subassemblies are retracted away from one another to create the surgical pathway, while simultaneously and continuously assessing for encroachment upon one or more nerve structures within 360-degrees of the instrument. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

An electrocautery unit for connecting to a handle of an electrocautery device, the unit comprises a body, a light unit and an electrode. The body has a body proximal end and a body distal end, and a body axis extending lengthwise along the center of the body. The body's proximal end comprises a connecting element for connecting said body to a handle having a handle axis extending lengthwise along the center of the handle, so that said body axis is coaxial with said handle axis when said body is connected to said handle. The light unit may be constructed and arranged to emit a light having a central axis coaxial with said body axis. The electrode comprises a proximate end connected to the body distal end, and an electrode tip at a distal said. When the electrode is connected to the body, the electrode lays outside of the body axis and extends into said body axis such that the electrode tip is within said body axis, wherein said light and said electrode tip are coaxial to said body axis and said handle axis.

A robotic surgical system for deploying staples from a staple cartridge into tissue is disclosed. The surgical robotic system comprises an end effector, a drive system, a user interface, and a control circuit. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw from an open configuration toward a closed configuration. The drive system is configured to effect a motion at the end effector. The drive system comprises a motor and a drive member. The control circuit is configured to activate the drive system to effect the motion at the end effector, monitor a current draw of the motor, pause the drive system intermediate the effected motion at the end effector based on the current draw of the motor, restart the drive system to continue the effected motion at the end effector, and cause the user interface to provide feedback to a user.