Described herein are robotically coordinated systems and methods for safe and efficient spinal decompression and bone milling. In various embodiments, a robotic spinal surgery system is provided with at least three robotic arms co-located on a single mobile base wherein the movement of the robotic arms is coordinated by a central control unit on the base. The system further comprises tools for spinal decompression, elements for protection of nervous tissue and navigation cameras. The nerve protection elements are placed between bony anatomy structures and nervous structures to prevent contact of the spinal decompression tools with the nervous structures. The nerve protection elements further include safety components that can optionally close electrical circuits with the decompression tools and sense or stimulate the nervous structures. Methods of deploying the inventive system in surgery are also provided.

A system and method of variable velocity control of an instrument by a computer-assisted device includes a computer-assisted device that includes an actuator and one or more processors. To perform an operation with an instrument coupled to the computer-assisted device, the one or more processors are configured to set a velocity set point of the actuator to an initial velocity, monitor force or torque applied by the actuator to actuate the instrument, when the applied force or torque is above a first force or torque limit, determine whether a total duration of a set of pauses occurring during the operation of the instrument is below a maximum pause threshold, and in response to determining that the total duration is below the maximum pause threshold, pause the operation of the instrument.

A robotic surgical instrument comprising a shaft, an end effector, and an articulation connecting the end effector to a distal end of the shaft. The articulation comprises joints permitting the end effector to adopt a range of orientations relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Pairs of driving elements drive the joints, the driving elements extending through the shaft to the joints. An additional element extends through the shaft to the end effector via the articulation. A resilient barrier inside the shaft extends over a cross-sectional area of the shaft, the pairs of driving elements and the additional element passing through the resilient barrier, the resilient barrier being in resilient contact with the additional element so as to provide a resilient force opposing movement of the additional element; wherein each driving element of the pairs of driving elements passes through a hole in the resilient barrier without contacting the resilient barrier.

The invention involves a system and method for controlling the movements of a multi-axis robot to perform a surgery at least on the spinal area of a human in vivo. The system includes controls and software coding to cause the robot to move in desired patterns to complete the surgery, which may include bone, disc and tissue removal, and may also include insertion of hardware for fusing adjacent bony structures.

A robotic system and methods are provided. The robotic system comprises a tool and a manipulator with links for moving the tool. A controller implements a virtual simulation wherein the tool is represented as a virtual volume interacting with a virtual boundary defined by a mesh of polygonal elements. The controller computes a reactive force responsive to penetration of polygonal elements by the virtual volume. The reactive force is computed based on a penetration factor being a function of a geometry of the virtual volume bound relative to a geometry of the polygonal element. The controller applies the reactive force to the virtual volume to reduce penetration of the polygonal element by the virtual volume. The controller commands the manipulator to move the tool in accordance with application of the reactive force to the virtual volume to constrain movement of the tool relative to the virtual boundary.

A navigation, tracking and guiding system for the positioning of operatory instruments inside the body of a patient. The system includes a control unit, a viewer and detecting means for determining the spatial position of the viewer. The system further includes a sensor associated to an operatory instrument and insertable inside the internal portion of the body of the patient. The control unit is configured to project on the viewer an image of the state of the internal portion.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for detection of undesirable forces on one or more surgical robotic arms. In one aspect, there is provided a system including a robotic arm, including: two linkages, a joint, a torque sensor, and an instrument device manipulator (IDM). The system may further include a processor configured to measure a first torque value at the joint based on an output of the torque sensor and determine a second torque value at the joint based on a position of the robotic arm. The second torque value may be indicative of a gravitational component of the torque between the two linkages. The processor may be further configured to determine a force at the IDM based a difference between the first and second torque values and determine whether the robotic arm has collided with an object or misaligned based on the force at the IDM.

A surgical simulation device includes a support structure and animal tissue carried in a tray. A simulated human skeleton is carried by the support structure above the animal tissue and includes simulated human skin. A camera images the animal tissue and an image processor receives images of markers positioned on the ribs and animal tissue and forms a three-dimensional wireframe image. An operating table is adjacent a local robotic surgery station as part of a robotic surgery station and includes at least one patient support configured to support the patient during robotic surgery. At least one patient force/torque sensor is coupled to the at least one patient support and configured to sense at least one of force and torque experienced by the patient during robotic surgery.

A method for intraoperatively measuring joint contact mechanics of a patient's joint is provided. The method includes inserting a sensor between first and second bones of a joint. Then a predetermined force is applied to one of the first and second bones. Afterwards, contact mechanics such as, contact stresses, contact areas and/or forces are measured between the first and second bones in response to the applied predetermined force.

A method includes receiving a torque limit for a motor, monitoring a torque output of the motor, determining an amplitude and a phase of a torque ripple of the torque output, and determining a compensated torque limit for the motor, the compensated torque limit including a first component at the torque limit and a second component at an adjusted torque limit.