End effectors for driving tools at surgical sites along trajectories maintained by surgical robots. A tool has interface and working ends. An end effector has a mount to attach to the surgical robot, and an actuator configured to generate torque. A drive assembly with a geartrain translates rotation from the actuator into rotation of a drive conduit supported about an axis. A rotational lock operatively attached to the drive conduit releasably secures the tool for concurrent rotation about the axis, and an axial lock releasably secures the tool for concurrent translation with the drive conduit along the trajectory maintained by the surgical robot. The axial lock is operable between a release configuration where relative movement between the drive assembly and the tool is permitted along the axis, and a lock configuration where relative movement between the drive assembly and the tool is restricted along the axis.

Embodiments are directed to a medical robot system including a robot coupled to an end-effectuator element with the robot configured to control movement and positioning of the end-effectuator in relation to the patient. One embodiment is a method for removing bone with a robot system comprising: taking a two-dimensional slice through a computed tomography scan volume of target anatomy; placing a perimeter on a pathway to the target anatomy; and controlling a drill assembly with the robot system to remove bone along the pathway in the intersection of the perimeter and the two-dimensional slice.

Embodiments are directed to a medical robot system including a robot coupled to an end-effectuator element with the robot configured to control movement and positioning of the end-effectuator in relation to the patient. One embodiment is a method for removing bone with a robot system comprising: taking a two-dimensional slice through a computed tomography scan volume of target anatomy; placing a perimeter on a pathway to the target anatomy; and controlling a drill assembly with the robot system to remove bone along the pathway in the intersection of the perimeter and the two-dimensional slice.

A robotic system is described for determining whether a flexible instrument has buckled. The robotic system comprises a medical instrument comprising an elongate body, and further comprises a first sensor placed in a first portion of the elongate body, and a controller. A command is directed to the elongate body. The first sensor generates sensor data providing information regarding a first measured status of the portion of the elongate body. The controller receives sensor data generated from the first sensor, and compare the first measured status with a first expected status expected to be caused by the command; and responsive to the first measured status deviating from the first expected status one of more or less than a first associated threshold, determine that the elongate body has buckled.

Surgical systems including a user console for controlling a surgical robotic tool are described. A witness sensor and a reference sensor can be mounted on the user console to measure an electromagnetic field distortion near a location, and to measure deformation of the location, respectively. Distortion in the electromagnetic field can be detected based on the measurements from the witness sensor and the reference sensor. An alert can be generated, or teleoperation of the surgical tool can be adjusted or paused, when a user interface device used to control the surgical tool is within a range of the distortion. The distortion can be from a known source, such as from actuation of a haptic motor of the user interface device, and the user console can adjust the actuation to reduce the likelihood that the distortion will disrupt surgical tool control. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

An example medical device configured for use with a teleoperated surgical system may include a control system, a movable manipulator arm, and a handle coupled to the manipulator arm, wherein in a first pose of the movable manipulator arm, the handle is oriented at a first convenient hold angle to a clinical user, wherein in a second pose of the movable manipulator arm different from the first pose, the handle is oriented at a second convenient hold angle to the clinical user, different from the first convenient hold angle, and wherein the control system includes programmed instructions to automatically move the handle from the first orientation to the second orientation as the movable manipulator arm moves from the first pose to the second pose.

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for providing coordinated energy outputs of separate but connected modules, in some cases using communication protocols such as the Data Distribution Service standard (DDS). In some aspects, there is provided a communication circuit between a header or main device, a first module, and a second module, each including connection to a segment of a common backplane, where the output from a first module can be adjusted by sensing a parameter from a second module. In some aspects, the signal can pass from the first module through the header to the second module, or in other cases directly from the first module to the second module. Aspects of the present disclosure also include methods for automatically activating a bipolar surgical system in one or more of the modular systems using the DDS standard.

A method for controlling an output of an energy module of a modular energy system. The energy module can comprise a plurality of amplifiers configured to generate a drive signal at a frequency range and a plurality of ports coupled to the plurality of amplifiers. The method includes determining to which port of the plurality of ports the surgical instrument is connected, selectively coupling an amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers to the port of the plurality of ports to which the surgical instrument is connected, and controlling the amplifier to deliver the drive signal for driving the energy modality to the surgical instrument through the port.

A first module configured to engage with a second module in a stacked configuration to define a modular energy system is provided. The second module comprises a second bridge connector portion that comprises a second outer housing and a second electrical connection element. The first module comprises a first bridge connector portion comprising a first outer housing and a first electrical connection element. The first outer housing is configured to engage the second outer housing during assembly of the modular energy system prior to the first electrical connection element engaging the second electrical connection element.

Surgical systems including a user console for controlling a surgical robotic tool are described. A witness sensor and a reference sensor can be mounted on the user console to measure an electromagnetic field distortion near a location, and to measure deformation of the location, respectively. Distortion in the electromagnetic field can be detected based on the measurements from the witness sensor and the reference sensor. An alert can be generated, or teleoperation of the surgical tool can be adjusted or paused, when a user interface device used to control the surgical tool is within a range of the distortion. The distortion can be from a known source, such as from actuation of a haptic motor of the user interface device, and the user console can adjust the actuation to reduce the likelihood that the distortion will disrupt surgical tool control. Other embodiments are described and claimed.