A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery using a moveable main beam supporting a patient thereon. The surgical frame includes a translating lower beam that is moveable between at least a first lateral position and a second lateral position, and a linkage and/or surgical equipment supportively and moveably attached to the translating lower beam or interconnected with the translating lower beam via the linkage. The linkage and/or the surgical equipment are moveable between a first position at or adjacent a first end of the translating lower beam and a second position at or adjacent a second end of the translating lower beam. The translating lower beam is used to join a first support portion and a second support portion of the surgical frame to one another, and movement of the translating lower beam affords access to a patient receiving area. A linear movement mechanism can be used to facilitate movement of the linkage and/or the surgical equipment along the translating lower beam to avoid interference with the main beam or the translating lower beam.

An apparatus for transferring a supine patient to a prone position on a patient support structure, and for rotating such a prone patient between prone and supine positions without removing the patient from the patient support structure.

An apparatus for transferring a supine patient to a prone position on a patient support structure, and for rotating such a prone patient between prone and supine positions without removing the patient from the patient support structure.

A robotic medical system can include a motorized arm that is supported by a column of the system. The robotic arm can be operated by rotating a link of the motorized arm by actuating an actuator to drive rotation of a rotary joint. A brake can then be applied to the rotary joint to stop rotation of the link. The arm can also include an arbor that can be actuated to increase a torsional stiffness of the rotary joint.

A robotic medical system can include a motorized arm that is supported by a column of the system. The robotic arm can be operated by rotating a link of the motorized arm by actuating an actuator to drive rotation of a rotary joint. A brake can then be applied to the rotary joint to stop rotation of the link. The arm can also include an arbor that can be actuated to increase a torsional stiffness of the rotary joint.

An operating table is proposed that may form a system with a remote control. The operating table has a column and table top comprising at least three elements, at least two of which are movable. Interface joints (40.sub.1-40.sub.3) are provided between adjacent elements and are controlled to move by a controller (100). A light emitting arrangement (42) is arranged at each interface joint and is adapted to display light in a pattern having a characteristic that is visibly unique to the associated interface joint such that the interface joints are visually distinguishable from one another. The remote control (50) has touch controls (60.sub.1-60.sub.3) for communicating signals for controlling movement of the interface joints (40.sub.1-40.sub.3). Each touch control is associated with one interface joint and is provided with a visible pattern having a characteristic that is substantially the same as that displayed at the associated interface joint.

An operating table is proposed that may form a system with a remote control. The operating table has a column and table top comprising at least three elements, at least two of which are movable. Interface joints (40.sub.1-40.sub.3) are provided between adjacent elements and are controlled to move by a controller (100). A light emitting arrangement (42) is arranged at each interface joint and is adapted to display light in a pattern having a characteristic that is visibly unique to the associated interface joint such that the interface joints are visually distinguishable from one another. The remote control (50) has touch controls (60.sub.1-60.sub.3) for communicating signals for controlling movement of the interface joints (40.sub.1-40.sub.3). Each touch control is associated with one interface joint and is provided with a visible pattern having a characteristic that is substantially the same as that displayed at the associated interface joint.

Robotic medical systems can enable manipulation of a single robotic arm and have other robotic arms follow its motion. A robotic medical system can include a first robotic arm for holding a first medical tool and a second robotic arm for holding a second medical tool separated from the first medical tool. The robotic medical system can be configured to obtain data corresponding to movement of the first robotic arm and cause movement of the second robotic arm according to the movement of the first robotic arm.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for articulating medical instruments. In one aspect, the instrument includes a wrist having at least two degrees of freedom of movement, and an end effector coupled to the wrist. The end effector can include an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and a firing mechanism configured to form staples in tissue. Actuation of the firing mechanism can be decoupled from the movement of the wrist in the at least two degrees of freedom.

The object of the invention is a foot portion (2a) of a medical device, such as gynecological examination bed or a birthing bed. The aim of the invention is to provide a method for moving the foot portion into the required position quickly, effectively and not limiting the actions of medical personnel. An advantage of the present invention is moving the foot portion under the rest area (1) without undesirable protrusion. Movement of the foot portion (2a) under the rest area (1) is performed around a column (5), which is attached under the side edge of a seating portion (3). Such arrangement of the column leaves free space under the rest area (1) for moving the foot portion (2a). Movement of the foot portion (2a) is performed with minimum protrusion over the borderline of the rest area (1) by means of a parallelogram. The foot portion according to the present invention may be also positioned horizontally and vertically, according to the patient's need during the procedure. For each movement, there are available separate moving mechanisms and latching mechanisms.