In one embodiment, a surgical rigid arm (100, 150, 200, 900) includes a first portion (102, 152, 202, 902), a second portion (103, 153, 203, 903) and a central portion (105, 154, 205, 906), where the central portion is extends between the first and second portions. A first end of the first portion and a second end of the second portion are each attached to a peripheral side (14) of a surgical bed (10, 30) such that the first portion and the second portion extend from the surgical bed in a first direction. The central portion extends substantially horizontally and is positioned over the surgical bed, the central portion being connected to the surgical instrument such that a load from the surgical instrument is distributed across the central portion to the first portion and second portion to provide rigid support for the surgical instrument.

A system for positioning a patient before, during or after a medical procedure can include an arm assembly having a proximal end, an opposing distal end, and at least one joint therebetween. The joint can be configured to permit the distal end of the arm assembly to move with respect to the proximal end of the arm assembly. The proximal end of the arm assembly can be configured to be fixed with respect to a surgical table. The system can also include a ball joint mechanism attached to the distal end of the arm assembly and to a head support configured to support a patient's head. The ball joint mechanism can include a ball joint and a motor. Activation of the motor can permit or prevent movement of the ball joint.

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.

A system includes a surgical table, a pad disposed on a table portion of the surgical table, and a leg distraction unit configured for modular attachment to the surgical table, the leg distraction unit configured to apply a distraction force to a leg of the patient while the patient is positioned on the pad and the table portion is tilted so that the patient's head is below the patient's hip, wherein the table portion is capable of tilting to a tilt angle in which the distraction force applied to the leg of the patient is counteracted by a combination of a friction force provided by the pad and a force of gravity from the patient being tilted so that the patient is kept from sliding in a direction of the distraction force.

An apparatus for mounting and securing medical/surgical devices may be attached to a litter 40. The medical/surgical devices may include, for example, IV holders 186, aspirators 144, cardiac monitors 148, defibrillators 150, infusion pumps 152, ventilators 146 and other devices. The apparatus frame assembly 10 includes rails 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 46, 48, 50, 52 having cross-sections of standard surgical rails, for attachment of slidable rail clamps 84, 104. Medical device mounts 108, 110, 112 are attached to the slidable rail clamps. The medical device mounts have height and/or rotational adjustment to improve patient access and view. The apparatus may be mounted longitudinally anywhere along the litter to maximize access to the patient.

In one embodiment, a barrier includes two side panels extending on parallel planes and spaced laterally apart. Each side panel including a back end, a front edge opposed to the back end, a bottom edge, and an engagement feature on the bottom edge of each side panel. A back panel connects the side panels at the back ends, and a shield extends from an upper end of the back panel at an oblique angle in an upward and forward direction.

Systems and methods of providing an attendant support on an operating table include obtaining a cushion presenting an attendant support surface and coupling the cushion to a rail of the operating table such that the attendant support surface of the cushion is oriented at least partially laterally outward from the rail. The attendant support surface is operable to provide support to an attendant positioned adjacent to and leaning against the operating table.

A pad assembly, system and method of securing a patient onto an operating table when the patient is in the Trendelenburg position. The pad assembly and system is used to support and hold a patient on a medical procedure table during a medical procedure performed while the table, and thus the patient lying thereon, is in an inclined position, such as the Trendelenburg position. The pad assembly and system has characteristics which promote improved securing to eliminate shifting and/or sliding due to gravitational forces when the patient's body is in the Trendelenburg position, as well as promote a secure holding of the patient in a desired position on the table, in order to minimize injury to the patient. The pad assembly and system further has improved channels to allow for drainage of fluids that may otherwise be trapped between the patient's body and the OR Table during the surgical procedure.

A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient in a prone position during a surgical procedure is provided, including an open fixed frame suspended above a floor and a pair of spaced opposed radially sliding joints cooperating with the frame, each joint including a virtual pivot point and an arc of motion spaced from the virtual pivot point, the joints being movable along the arc providing a pivot ship mechanism for a pair of pelvic pads attached to the joints. A base for supporting and suspending a patient support structure above the floor, for supporting a patient during a surgical procedure, the base including a pair of spaced opposed vertical translation subassemblies reversibly attachable to a patient support structure, a cross-bar, and a rotation subassembly having two degrees of rotational freedom; wherein a location of each vertical translation subassembly is substantially constant during operation of the patient support structure.

Systems and methods for adjusting bone cut positioning are disclosed that can aid in optimizing implant size selection and positioning relative to bone during, e.g., orthopedic surgical procedures such as knee arthroplasty, hip arthroplasty, etc. In one embodiment, such a surgical method can include performing a first bone cut of a first bone using an at least partially robot-assisted surgical instrument, detecting one or more parameters related to bone hardness, selecting a bone hardness index based on the one or more detected parameters, and adjusting a position of a second bone cut of the first bone based on the selected bone hardness index to optimize implant fit relative to bone. Detecting the one or more parameters related to bone hardness can be performed in a number of manners, including by monitoring energy required to perform the first bone cut.