The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for a surgical tool or a surgical robotic system. One example method includes providing a redundant degree of freedom (DoF) for an end effector joint of one DoF by driving the joint with two actuators, calculating a position displacement of the joint to effect a desired end effector movement in response to an input command, calculating a first movement of the two actuators based on the position displacement of the joint and a second movement of the two actuators based on a second control objective in a null space corresponding to the redundant DoF, and driving the joint according to the first movement and the second movement to effect the desired end effector movement while accomplishing the second control objective in the null space.

The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for a surgical tool or a surgical robotic system. One example system for detecting disengagement of a surgical tool, includes an end effector connected to and driven by cables of a tool driver, sensors configured to detect forces associated with the cables, and one or more processors. The one or more processors identify cable tensions derived from forces detected by the sensors, compare the tension to a threshold tension value, calculate a velocity norm value based on a vector including the velocity value for each of the cables, compare the velocity norm value to a statistic velocity threshold, and identify a disengagement of at least one of the cables based on the first comparison and the second comparison.

A medical instrument system includes actuators, a medical instrument, and a control system operably connected to the actuators. The medical instrument includes an end portion and transmission systems, each of which couples the end portion to an actuator of the actuators such that the actuators are operable to drive the transmission systems to move the end portion. The control system is configured to execute operations including determining a difference between a current configuration of the end portion and a desired configuration of the end portion, and operating the actuators to apply tensions to the transmission systems based on the difference and based on constant offset tensions. The constant offset tensions are independent of current tensions experienced by the transmission systems.

A surgical visualization system is disclosed. The surgical visualization system is configured to identify one or more structure(s) and/or determine one or more distances with respect to obscuring tissue and/or the identified structure(s). The surgical visualization system can facilitate avoidance of the identified structure(s) by a surgical device. The surgical visualization system can comprise a first emitter configured to emit a plurality of tissue-penetrating light waves and a second emitter configured to emit structured light onto the surface of tissue. The surgical visualization system can also include an image sensor configured to detect reflected visible light, tissue-penetrating light, and/or structured light. The surgical visualization system can convey information to one or more clinicians regarding the position of one or more hidden identified structures and/or provide one or more proximity indicators. In various instances, imaging data from different sources and/or obtained at different times can be integrated.

Methods and apparatus for performing joint laxity measurement are disclosed. A retractor includes a plurality of spacers, such as plates, that are capable of being moved from a central portion of the retractor by a carriage mechanism. In some cases, the carriage mechanism may press against ramps connected to internal sides of the plates, thereby causing the plates to be displaced outwardly. In other cases, the carriage mechanism may include blades that rotate and press against the internal sides of the plates, thereby causing the plates to be displaced outwardly. The retractor is mounted on a surgical device configured to actuate the carriage mechanism. When the retractor is placed in a joint and the carriage mechanism is actuated, a measurement of the joint laxity may be determined based upon characteristics of the retractor and/or the surgical device.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for alignment and docking of robotic arm of a robotic system for surgery. In one aspect, the system includes a robotic arm, a drive mechanism attached to the robotic arm, and a cannula. The system may further include a first sensor coupled to either the robotic arm or the drive mechanism configured to direct automatic movement of the robotic arm towards the cannula, and a second sensor, that is different than the first sensor, coupled to either the robotic arm or the drive mechanism configured to direct manual movement of the robotic arm towards the cannula.

Disclosed are devices and methods for creating a bore in bone. The devices and methods described involve driving a rotating bit in an axial direction such that both rotation and linear movement are controlled and measurable. The instrument is useful for a surgeon to control and simultaneously measure the travel of the tool into the bone and prevent injury to surrounding structures.

An apparatus and method for establishing a global coordinate system to facilitate robotic assisted surgery. The coordinate system may be established using a combination of the robotic data, i.e., kinematics, and optical coherence tomographic images generated by an overhead optical assembly and a tool-based sensor. Using these components, the system may generate a computer-registered three-dimensional model of the patient's eye. In some embodiments, the system may also generate a virtual boundary within the coordinate system to prevent inadvertent injury to the patient.

A computer-assisted medical system includes a display unit configured to provide images to an operator of the display unit, a headrest configured to receive a mechanical input provided by a head of the operator in mechanical contact with the headrest, a headrest sensor interfacing with the headrest and configured to provide sensor signals based on the mechanical input, and a controller. The controller includes a computer processor, and is configured to process the sensor signals to obtain a driving input, drive, by the driving input, a virtual mass to obtain a simulated virtual mass movement, and cause movement of the headrest, the movement of the headrest tracking the virtual mass movement.

The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for a surgical tool or a surgical robotic system. One example system for handling hardstops includes one or more processors configured to calculate an articulation joint position for the articulation drive disk or the one or more corresponding rotary motors corresponding rotary motors, calculate an articulation joint torque for the articulation drive disk or the one or more corresponding rotary motors, determine a torque ratio based on the articulation joint position and the articulation joint torque, and adjust a commanded articulation joint position received from the user based on the torque ratio to compensate for collision involving the end effector.