A surgical method is provided for use with a teleoperated surgical system (surgical system), the method comprising: recording surgical instrument kinematic information indicative of surgical instrument motion produced within the surgical system during the occurrence of the surgical procedure; determining respective kinematic signatures associated with respective surgical instrument motions; producing an information structure in a computer readable storage device that associates respective kinematic signatures with respective control signals; comparing, during a performance of the surgical procedure surgical instrument kinematic information during the performance with at least one respective kinematic signature; launching, during a performance of the surgical procedure an associated respective control signal in response to a match between surgical instrument kinematics during the performance and a respective kinematic signature.

A surgical manipulator is disclosed which includes a surgical instrument, an arm comprising a plurality of links and being configured to support and move the surgical instrument, and at least one controller. The at least one controller is configured to model the surgical instrument as a virtual rigid body. Forces and torques are applied externally to the surgical instrument. The at least one controller determines a commanded pose of the surgical instrument based on evaluation of the forces and torques and controls movement of the arm to place the surgical instrument according to the commanded pose.

A display system for performing a predetermined operation with respect to a moving body is disclosed. The display system includes an operation reception unit configured to receive a switching operation to switch an operation mode between a manual operation mode and an autonomous movement mode, the manual operation mode being selected for moving the moving body by manual operation and the autonomous movement mode being selected for moving the moving body by autonomous movement; and a display controller configured to display notification information representing accuracy of the autonomous movement.

Robotic system and method for positioning an energy applicator extending from a surgical instrument. The robotic system includes a surgical manipulator operable in a manual mode or a semi-autonomous mode. The surgical manipulator moves the energy applicator along a tool path in the semi-autonomous mode and reorients the surgical instrument.

A surgical manipulator operates in a manual mode in which a user applies forces and torques to the surgical instrument to cause movement of the energy applicator. The surgical manipulator also operates in a semi-autonomous mode in which the surgical manipulator moves the energy applicator along a tool path. A controller monitors output of a force/torque sensor as the energy applicator is being moved along the tool path in the semi-autonomous mode and transitions from the semi-autonomous mode to the manual mode in response to the output exceeding a limit.

Surgical systems and methods for generating a tool path. A manipulator is configured to support and move a surgical instrument. Controller(s) obtain data that defines a volume of tissue to be removed from a surgical site. The controller(s) operate the manipulator to move the surgical instrument to remove first portions of the volume and acquire data defining the first portions removed from the volume. The controller(s) identify, based on the volume and the acquired data, additional portions of the volume of tissue that require removal. The controller(s) generate a tool path that passes through the additional portions and operate the manipulator to move the surgical instrument along the tool path to remove the additional portions.

A surgical method is provided for use with a teleoperated surgical system (surgical system), the method comprising: recording surgical instrument kinematic information indicative of surgical instrument motion produced within the surgical system during the occurrence of the surgical procedure; determining respective kinematic signatures associated with respective surgical instrument motions; producing an information structure in a computer readable storage device that associates respective kinematic signatures with respective control signals; comparing, during a performance of the surgical procedure surgical instrument kinematic information during the performance with at least one respective kinematic signature; launching, during a performance of the surgical procedure an associated respective control signal in response to a match between surgical instrument kinematics during the performance and a respective kinematic signature.

A method and system for exploring a remote environment from an environment simulator at a local base is disclosed. The system includes: at least one proxy robot in the remote environment with at least one near-field and at least one high resolution 360-degree far field video camera; at least one additional device at the remote environment to capture images and data; a transmitter at the remote environment to transmit the video and data to the local base; a terrain analysis computer at the local base to receive and process the video and data to generate a 360-degree approximated real time (ART) video field representing a terrain surrounding the at least one proxy robot; a display in the environment simulator to display the ART video field for at least one user; a full body motion capture suit marked to the dimensions of the at least one user; and a plurality of motion capture video cameras to capture each position change in the motion capture suit, wherein activities performed virtually in the environment simulator represent the identical activities to be performed by the proxy robot in the terrain of the remote environment.

Surgical systems and methods involve a surgical manipulator with a plurality of links and joints that is configured to support and move a surgical instrument for manipulation of an anatomy. A controller is coupled to the surgical manipulator and is configured to measure an actual torque for at least one active joint and calculate an expected torque for the at least one active joint. The controller compares the actual torque and the expected torque to estimate an external force. The controller determines, based on the external force, that the surgical manipulator and/or the surgical instrument has collided with an object.

A system and method for controlling a manipulator are provided. A manipulator controller measures an actual torque and calculates an expected torque for at least one joint motor of the manipulator. The manipulator controller computes a backdrive force for the at least one joint motor based on the actual torque and expected torque. A surgical tool of the manipulator is modeled as a virtual rigid body. The manipulator controller computes a total force or torque to apply to the virtual rigid body based on the backdrive force. The manipulator controller determines a target position of the surgical instrument based on the total force or torque and commands positioning of the joint motors to advance the surgical instrument to the target position.