A tool driver for use in robotic surgery includes a base configured to couple to a distal end of a robotic arm, and a tool carriage slidingly engaged with the base and configured to receive a surgical tool. In one variation, the tool carriage may include a plurality of linear axis drives configured to actuate one or more articulated movements of the surgical tool. In another variation, the tool carriage may include a plurality of rotary axis drives configured to actuate one or more articulated movements of the surgical tool. Various sensors, such as a capacitive load cell for measuring axial load, a position sensor for measuring linear position of the guide based on the rotational positions of gears in a gear transmission, and/or a capacitive torque sensor based on differential capacitance, may be included in the tool driver.

Techniques for controlling an end effector include a computer-assisted device having a drive system configured to actuate a moveable element of an end effector and a control unit coupled to the drive system. The control unit is configured to actuate, using the drive system, the moveable element to a first commanded position; and in response to the moveable element reaching the first commanded position: determine, based on an amount of force or torque applied to actuate the moveable element to the first commanded position, a force or torque limit to be applied when actuating the moveable element to a second commanded position; and further actuate the moveable element to the second commanded position while limiting a force or torque applied by the drive system to the determined force or torque limit.

Methods and systems for monitoring a rod reduction process is provided. The methods and systems include determining, based on at least one parameter, a threshold for forces exerted by a tool on a rod or a pedicle screw and receiving data corresponding to a magnitude of the forces exerted by the tool on the pedicle screw or the rod during reduction of the rod into a head of the pedicle screw. A surgical plan may be updated when the monitored magnitude meets the threshold.

A system for correcting a lateral curvature of a spine that can include a plurality of screws configured to be implanted in a plurality of vertebrae, and a plurality of extensions configured to be removably coupled with the plurality of screws. Some embodiments of the plurality of extensions can be curved, bent, angled, and/or offset along at least a portion thereof and can be removably coupled with a screw head of each of the plurality of screws. The system can include a connecting element or rod that is configured to be coupled with the plurality of screw heads. Some embodiments of the system can be configured such that the rod can be guided along the plurality of extensions from the proximal toward the distal end portions of the extensions and into engagement with the plurality of screws to cause the plurality of vertebrae to move laterally.

Surgical stapling instruments include mechanisms for identifying and/or deactivating stapler cartridges for use with the instruments. The stapling instrument includes a drive member for actuating a staple cartridge and a locking member movable from a disabled position permitting distal translation of the drive member through a staple firing stroke, to a locking position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the staple firing stroke. The staple cartridge may include a switch movable in a lateral direction to either maintain the locking member in the disabled position or to allow the locking member to move into the locking position. The instrument may further include a stapler cartridge including an annular pin configured to be engaged by a drive member at a an axial position to create a detectable resistance for reload detection by a control unit to identify the type of stapler cartridge present in the surgical stapling instrument.

Methods and system for characterizing ligament properties using elastography are disclosed. An ultrasound system capable of performing shear wave elasticity imaging and/or supersonic shear imaging may retrieve one or more images from a proposed surgical site. The one or more images may be provided to a surgical planning system that identifies one or more properties of ligaments proximate to the surgical site. Musculoskeletal simulations may be performed using the identified properties to preoperatively identify a surgical plan. Preoperative identification of a surgical plan may enable a surgeon to select from more fine-tuning options for a joint replacement than conventional systems.

Various systems and methods for controlling an ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the location of tissue grasped within an end effector are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to apply varying power levels, via a generator, to an ultrasonic transducer driving an ultrasonic electromechanical system to oscillate an ultrasonic blade. Further, the control circuit can measure impedances of the ultrasonic transducer corresponding to the varying power levels and determine a location of tissue positioned within the end effector according to a difference between the impedances of the ultrasonic transducer relative to a threshold.

An endoscopic capsule system comprising: an endoscopic capsule having magnetic characteristics; an extracorporeal guiding and moving apparatus having a moveable multi-hinged cantilever arm which is pivotably mounted at a support stand at one end and at an effector having magnetic characteristics at the other end to move the endoscopic capsule in accordance with movement of the effector; a controller device to define the position and orientation of the endoscopic capsule relative to the effector, and a force and/or moment generation device or a braking device to generate counter forces and/or counter moments or braking forces against moving and/or guiding forces that are manually applied to the cantilever arm and/or effector in accordance with the actually defined position and/or orientation of the endoscopic capsule relative to the effector.

A device handle is disclosed for cutting substances inside a body lumen, the device handle includes a motor configured to impart a rotational force to a drive shaft assembly and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: control a driving of the drive shaft at a target rotational speed in a first direction; detect an actual rotational speed of the drive shaft assembly in the first direction; compare the target rotational speed and the actual rotational speed of the drive shaft assembly in the first direction; and stop the driving of the drive shaft assembly in the first direction before a completion of predetermined number of rotations in the first direction when the actual rotational speed decreases a predetermined percentage over a predetermined time frame.

An apparatus includes a base and a support including a non-straight channel extending therethrough. An elongated medical device extends through the channel and imparts a first load to a channel wall causing a reaction load on the support. A sensor is configured to measure a reaction load applied to the support.