The present invention relates to robotic device positioning. By extending the robotic arm into the surgical field, a system is provided that automatically aligns an instrument following a plan, e.g., surgical plan, using only instrument tracking feedback. No tracking markers on the robot are required.

In certain examples, aspects are directed to an ablation tool or other procedure-specific tool to treat or assess biological tissue (e.g., ablate cardiac tissue) having a first tissue side and a second, opposite tissue side at which a magnetic-draw element is to be located. In a specific example, a first magnetic element is associated with or coupled to a catheter tool having an expandable portion to transition from a first state towards a second state for providing an expanded girth, so that the expandable portion surrounds the first magnetic element and moves the procedure-specific tool, in part by the first magnetic element moving via magnetic attraction. While the first magnetic element and the magnetic-draw element align on either side of the biological tissue, the procedure-specific tool may be used for the procedure.

A surgical robot includes a robot arm, an operation device that is operated by a user to perform an operation of the robot arm, an actuator that supplies a driving force to the robot arm, and hardware control logic or a processor that sets a magnitude of an operation reaction force a direction opposite to an operation direction of the operation device, and applies the operation reaction force having the magnitude set by the reaction force setter to the operation device. The magnitude of the operation reaction force is set based on change information about a change in the driving force supplied by the actuator and based on a conversion coefficient.

Systems and methods to monitor and track the treatment of bones using a bone correction system are provided. The method includes implanting growth modulating implants of a bone correction system in two or more bones of a patient. Each growth modulating implant includes an implant body having at least one sensor device embedded in the implant body. The method includes receiving sensor data from the sensor devices and determining an operational status of the growth modulating implants, based on the received sensor data. The method includes determining, by the processor, a longitudinal growth or growth rate between the two or more bones, based on the received sensor data and causing a display device to selectively display a graphical user interface (GUI) representative of at least one of the longitudinal growth and the growth rate of the patient.

One aspect relates to a conductive polymer composite based sensor, a detection unit comprising such sensor, a method for manufacturing a conductive polymer composite based sensor, and a use of the conductive polymer composite based sensor or the detection unit. The conductive polymer composite based sensor includes a substrate and a sensor material. The sensor material includes an insulating polymer matrix component and an electrically conductive component dispersed in the polymer matrix component to form the conductive polymer composite. The sensor material is pre-strained and applied to the substrate to form the sensor.

The invention relates to a detection apparatus and a method for detecting and manipulating a blood vessel under the skin of part of the body of a patient, which comprises a treatment chamber for accommodating the body part, a data processing control device, a vascular structure measuring device for detecting the position and/or dimensions of vascular structure data of the blood vessel in the treatment chamber by measurement, a vascular manipulation device for changing the position and/or dimension of the blood vessel, wherein the control device is designed to control the vascular manipulation device as a function of the vascular structure data.

A method for producing a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a handle, wherein the handle comprises a distal end comprising a shaft interface surface and a first set of magnetic elements. The method further comprises obtaining a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a proximal end comprising a handle interface surface, a second set of magnetic elements, and a third set of magnetic elements. The method further comprises attaching the shaft to the handle, wherein the shaft interface surface is configured to engage the shaft at the handle interface surface, wherein an attractive magnetic force is configured to pull the handle towards the shaft when the first set of magnetic elements interact with the second magnetic elements, and wherein a repulsive magnetic force is configured to repel the handle from the shaft when the first set of magnetic elements interacts with the third set of magnetic elements.

A return pad of an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a plurality of conductive members and a plurality of sensing devices. The conductive members are configured to receive radio frequency current applied to a patient. The sensing devices are configured to detect at least one of the following: a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal.

An integrated system for increasing skin rejuvenation of a region of a patient's skin and treating subcutaneous fat associated with the region is provided. The system includes at least one first applicator having one or more RF electrodes adapted to be placed on the region of the patient's skin without penetrating the skin. At least one of said RF electrodes is configured to apply RF energy to the region of the patient's skin to heat up to a temperature in a specified temperature range. The system also includes at least one second applicator, in communication with an optical system. The optical system includes at least one laser source and is adapted to provide homogeneous illumination to the skin surface to effect at least one target tissue at a given depth range and power density range.

A system having an elongate assembly, an expandable assembly having a fixed end region and a movable end region, the expandable assembly selectively transitioning between an expanded state and an unexpanded state with movement of the movable end region towards the fixed end region, and an advancement aid extending distally from the expandable assembly.