Robotic systems and methods employ a virtual simulation wherein a tool is represented as a virtual volume adapted to interact relative to a virtual boundary defined by a mesh of polygonal elements. A reactive force is computed in response to penetration of one of the polygonal elements by the virtual volume in the virtual simulation. The reactive force is computed as a function of a volume of a penetrating portion of the virtual volume that is penetrating a plane of the polygonal element. The reactive force is applied to the virtual volume in the virtual simulation for reducing penetration of the polygonal element by the virtual volume.

A medical holding device includes: an arm configured by coupling a plurality of links to each other by joints, the arm having at least seven or more degrees of freedom by rotational operations on rotation axes, and being configured to support a medical instrument; and an arm controller configured to control an operation of the arm. The arm has six degrees of freedom realized by rotational operations of six passive rotation axes that passively rotate and one or more degrees of freedom realized by rotational operations of one or more active rotation axes that actively rotate, and the arm controller is configured to rotate the active rotation axis so as to avoid a predetermined state of a posture of the arm.

A surgical system for use with a surgical instrument in a surgical procedure performed on an anatomical organ is disclosed. The surgical system comprises at least one imaging device and a control circuit configured to identify anatomical structures relevant to the surgical procedure from visualization data from the at least one imaging device, propose a surgical resection path for removing a portion of the anatomical organ by the surgical instrument, and present parameters of the surgical instrument in accordance with the surgical resection path. The surgical resection path is determined based on the anatomical structures.

Robotic surgical systems and methods for controlling movement of a tool relative to a tool path. An input is received from a force/torque sensor in response to user forces/torques manually applied to the tool by a user. A component of force is calculated tangential to the path based on the input. An effective feed rate is calculated to advance the tool along the path based on the tangential component. Virtual constraints are defined on movement of the tool along the path with respect to three degrees of freedom and based on the effective feed rate to promote movement of the tool along the path. Dynamics of the tool are virtually simulated based on the virtual constraints and the input from the force/torque sensor. The manipulator is commanded to advance the tool along the path based on the virtual simulation.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for docking medical instruments. For example, a medical system can include an instrument drive mechanism having a drive output that rotates and engages a corresponding drive input on a robotic medical instrument, a motor configured to rotate the drive output, and a torque sensor configured to measure torque imparted on the drive output. The robotic medical instrument can include a pre-tensioned pull wire actuated by the drive input. The system can activate the motor associated with the drive output to rotate the drive output in response to a torque signal from the torque sensor associated with the drive output in order to align the drive output with the drive input.

A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical suturing instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a surgical suturing instrument comprising a suturing needle configured to be mechanically advanced through a suturing stroke, analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the surgical suturing instrument, and adjusting the operation of the surgical suturing instrument to improve the operation of the surgical suturing instrument.

End effector position set point correction includes an instrument having an end effector and a control unit. In some embodiments, the control unit actuates the end effector to a first position, determines an actuation level, determines an offset based on the actuation level, adjusts a position set point based on the offset, and actuates the end effector to the adjusted position set point. In some embodiments, the control unit actuates the end effector, determines an actuation level, and determines whether the actuation level is above a threshold. In response to determining that the actuation level is above the threshold, the control unit determines a position of the end effector, identifies a nominal position associated with the determined position, determines an offset based on the nominal position and the determined position, adjusts a position set point based on the offset, and actuates the end effector to the adjusted position set point.

A robotic system and methods are disclosed. A common axis is defined for an instrument and an energy applicator extending from the instrument. A manipulator has a plurality of links and actuators configured to move the links to position the instrument and energy applicator. A force/torque sensor coupled to the manipulator generates an output in response to forces/torques applied to the instrument. Controller(s) defines a centering point that intersects the common axis. Controller(s) model the instrument and the energy applicator as a virtual rigid body and determine forces/torques to apply to the virtual rigid body, which are determined, in part, based on the output of the force/torque sensor. Controller(s) control the manipulator to advance the energy applicator based on the determined forces/torques applied to the virtual rigid body and reorient the instrument such that the common axis pivots about the centering point during advancement of the energy applicator.

Systems and methods for instrument control include first and second actuators and a controller configured to command the first actuator to maintain a first degree of freedom (DOF) of an instrument at a first position; command the second actuator to maintain a second DOF of the instrument at a second position; detect, while the first actuator is maintaining the first DOF at the first position, a first manual actuation of the first actuator that exceeds a first threshold; detect, while the second actuator is maintaining the second DOF at the second position, a second manual actuation of the second actuator that does not exceed a second threshold; and in response to detecting that the first manual actuation exceeds the first threshold and the second manual actuation does not exceed the second threshold, terminate the command to the first actuator to maintain the first DOF at the first position.

A method of engaging a medical instrument with a medical instrument manipulator comprises receiving an indication that a first input coupling of the medical instrument is positioned adjacent to a first drive output of the manipulator. The first drive output is driven by a first actuating element. In response to receiving the indication, the first drive output is rotated in a first rotational direction. A determination is made, by one or more processors, as to whether a resistance torque is experienced by the first actuating element after rotating the first drive output in the first rotational direction. If the resistance torque is not experienced by the first actuating element after rotating of the first drive output in the first rotational direction, the first drive output is rotated in a second rotational direction. A determination is made, by the one or more processors, as to whether a resistance torque is experienced by the first actuating element after rotating of the first drive output in the second rotational direction.