A method, apparatus, and system for facilitating bending of an instrument in a surgical or medical robotic environment are provided. In one aspect, a surgical system includes an instrument comprising an end effector, the instrument capable of articulation via a bending section. The bending section includes a body including a first strut and a second strut, and a channel formed through the body. The first strut and the second strut form a gap therebetween, wherein the gap is in communication with the channel formed through the body.

The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. The proximal and distal segments are connected by a set of cables in such a fashion that each proximal segment forms a discrete pair with a distal segment. This configuration allows each segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations. The articulating mechanisms may also be combined in such a way to remotely mimic finger movements for manipulation of an object or body tissue.

A surgical instrument comprises a spacer element comprising a proximal region and a distal region, an end effector coupled to a distal end of the spacer element, a user hand interface at a proximal end of the spacer element, and a securing element for securing the proximal end of the spacer element to a user wrist. The user hand interface comprises an elongate member including a lumen and extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the user hand interface. The user hand interface further comprises an actuation cable extending within the lumen from the distal end to the proximal end of the user hand interface. The proximal region of the spacer element comprises a curved portion extending from the user hand interface. The user hand interface is movable in a manipulation space proximal of the distal region and distal of the proximal end of the spacer element.

A method for constructing a robotic arm includes positioning a wire in a formation zone for the robotic arm; and forming a body of the robotic arm in the formation zone around the wire such that the body of the robotic arm encloses at least a portion of the wire.

In a joint assembly of a walking assistance robot that is capable of performing an operation with 3 degrees of freedom, similarly to a user's joint, a rolling motion and a sliding motion are simultaneously made, and a rotation center changes so that the joint assembly can make a similar motion to that of an actual knee joint of the user. Thus, when the user wears the walking assistance robot and walks, misalignment can be prevented from occurring in the knee joint.

Compliant manipulators are provided, in which the manipulators include a plurality of slideably interlocked filaments each having a proximate end and a distal end. The interlocked filaments can be formed from a flexible material. The compliant manipulators can also include at least one filament-actuating device operatively connected to the respective distal ends of the plurality of slideably interlocked filaments. The at least one filament-actuating device can be manipulated directly or remotely to push and/or pull the respective filaments to impart a desired movement to the manipulator. The stiffness or flexibility of the manipulators can also be controlled to provide varying degrees of stiffness during use.

A robot assembly for transporting a substrate is presented. The robot assembly having a first arm and a second arm supported by a column, the first arm further having a first limb, the first limb having a first set of revolute joint/line pairs configured to provide translation and rotation of the distal most link of the first limb in the horizontal plane. The assembly further having a second arm further having a second limb, the second limb comprising a second set of revolute joint/link pairs configured to provide translation and rotation of a distalmost link of the second limb in the horizontal plane. The first limb and second limb further having proximal revolute joints having a common vertical axis of rotation and a proximal inner joint housed in a common housing. The assembly further having an actuator assembly coupled to the first set of revolute joint/link pairs and to the second set of revolute joint/link pairs to effect rotation and translation of the distalmost links of the first limb and the second limb, each of the first limb and the second limb defining, in conjunction with the actuator assembly, at least three degrees of freedom per limb, whereby the distalmost links of the first limb and the second limb are independently horizontally translatable for extension and retraction.

There is described apparatus and methods for transporting and processing substrates including wafers as to efficiently produce at reasonable costs improved throughput as compared to systems in use today. A linear transport chamber includes linear tracks and robot arms riding on the linear tracks to linearly transfer substrates along the sides of processing chambers for feeding substrates into a controlled atmosphere through a load lock and then along a transport chamber as a way of reaching processing chambers. A four-axis robot arm is disclosed, capable of linear translation, rotation and articulation, and z-motion.

A tension stiffened and tendon actuated manipulator is provided performing robotic-like movements when acquiring a payload. The manipulator design can be adapted for use in-space, lunar or other planetary installations as it is readily configurable for acquiring and precisely manipulating a payload in both a zero-g environment and in an environment with a gravity field. The manipulator includes a plurality of link arms, a hinge connecting adjacent link arms together to allow the adjacent link arms to rotate relative to each other and a cable actuation and tensioning system provided between adjacent link arms. The cable actuation and tensioning system includes a spreader arm and a plurality of driven and non-driven elements attached to the link arms and the spreader arm. At least one cable is routed around the driven and non-driven elements for actuating the hinge.

A system for releasably attaching a steerable disposable multi-linked device to a durable device may include a disposable portion and a durable portion. The disposable portion may include a connecting member connected to the disposable portion and the durable portion and a steerable multi-linked device. The steerable multi-linked device may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links, and a cable which passes through the first link and intermediate links and extends beyond a first end of the first link. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The durable portion may include an axial member which defines an opening therethrough and a feeder mechanism.