A robot including an end-effector and a robot arm having a proximal link, a distal link, and a joint assembly for controlling the relative position of the two links. The joint assembly includes an actuated linkage joint including a pair of stops and a passive linkage joint including a mechanical positioner for the end-effector located between the stops. The pair of stops are configured to constrain movement of the mechanical positioner to thereby constrain the ability of a user to manipulate the end-effector outside a predetermined range of motion and permit movement of the end-effector within the predetermined range of motion. The drive mechanism is configured to control a location of at least one stop of the pair of stops based on a position of a virtual object in a virtual space. The joint assembly is one of a prismatic joint assembly and a revolute joint assembly.

A method of operating a robotic control system comprising a master apparatus in communication with an input device having a handle and a slave system having a tool having an end effector whose position and orientation is determined in response to a position and orientation of the handle. The method involves producing a desired end effector position and a desired end effector orientation of the end effector, in response to a current position and a current orientation of the handle. The method further involves causing the input device to provide haptic feedback that impedes translational movement of the handle, while permitting rotational movement of the handle and preventing movement of the end effector, when a rotational alignment difference between the handle and the end effector meets a first criterion. The method further involves re-enabling translational movement of the handle when the rotational alignment difference meets a second criterion.

A method for a robotic surgical system includes displaying a graphical user interface on a display to a user, wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of reconfigurable display panels, receiving a user input at one or more user input devices, wherein the user input indicates a selection of at least one software application relating to the robotic surgical system, and rendering content from the at least one selected software application among the plurality of reconfigurable display panels.

A medical manipulator system including: a medical manipulator having a joint; an operating section having an operating system; and a control unit controlling the medical manipulator according to an operation applied to the operating section. The operating section includes a switch enters or releases a command. The control unit determines whether a deviation between the joint and the operating system exceeds a threshold while the command is entered, carries out a first motion for moving the joint by a displacement corresponding to the displacement of the operating system if the deviation is equal to or smaller than the threshold, carries out a second motion for approaching the joint to the operating system angle if the deviation exceeds the threshold, and stops the motion for approaching the joint to the operating system angle when the command is released when the deviation exceeds the threshold.

A system for controlling the position of an articulated robotic arm includes a robotic catheter procedure system having the articulated robotic arm and a controller coupled to the articulated robotic arm. The system further includes a patient table positioned proximate to and separate from the articulated robotic arm and a tracking system coupled to the controller and configured to measure a change in a position of the patient table. The controller is configured to adjust the position of the articulated robotic arm based on the measured change in position of the patient table.

A method for limiting joint velocity of a plurality of joints of a surgical robotic system, the surgical robotic system comprising a robot having a base and an arm extending from the base to an attachment for an instrument, the arm comprising a plurality of joints whereby the configuration of the arm can be altered, the method comprising: obtaining joint states for a first group of k joints of the arm, where k>1; for each of the k joints: determining from the obtained joint state a permitted range of motion for that joint; deriving, using the permitted range of motion, a joint velocity limit for that joint; selecting the minimum joint velocity limit of the k joints to be a common joint velocity limit used to limit each of the k joints individually; and calculating drive signals for driving the k joints wherein the velocity of each of the k joints is limited using the common joint velocity limit.

A manipulator system includes arithmetic logic units for calculating an operation quantity per unit time of a power source mounted on a surgical instrument as a first operation quantity and calculating an operation quantity per unit time of the power source as a second operation quantity. A determining unit is used for outputting a shutoff signal for de-energizing the power source if the first operation quantity is smaller than a first threshold value and the second operation quantity is larger than a second threshold value. A cutoff unit is configured to cut off the drive signal output from the output unit to the power source in response to the shutoff signal output for de-energizing the power source from the determining unit.

A minimally invasive medical system comprises a manipulator having a plurality of joints, each of the plurality of joints including a torque and/or force sensor. The manipulator includes an effector configured to receive a surgical instrument. The system comprises a programmable computing device programmed for moving the surgical instrument while estimating surgical forces applied to the patient by the surgical instrument using torque and/or force measurements from the plurality of torque and/or force sensors located at the joints.

A method, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and an apparatus for operating the robotic control system comprising a master apparatus (64) in communication with an input device (58, 60) having a handle (102) and a slave system (54, 74) having a tool (66, 67) having an end effector (73) whose position and orientation is determined in response to a current position and current orientation of the handle. The method involves producing a desired end effector position and orientation in response to a current position and orientation of the handle. The method involves causing the input device to provide haptic feedback that impedes translational movement of the handle, while permitting rotational movement of the handle and preventing movement of the end effector, when a rotational alignment difference between the handle and the end effector meets a disablement criterion. The method further involves re-enabling translational movement of the handle when the rotational alignment difference meets an enablement criterion.

Systems and methods for automated steering control of a robotic endoscope, e.g., a colonoscope, are provided. The control system may comprise: a) a first image sensor configured to capture a first input data stream comprising a series of two or more images of a lumen; and b) one or more processors that are individually or collectively configured to generate a steering control output signal based on an analysis of data derived from the first input data stream using a machine learning architecture, wherein the steering control output signal adapts to changes in the data of the first input data stream in real time.