A cannula assembly for use in robotic surgery is disclosed that includes a robotic cannula having a housing with an open end and a tubular portion extending distally from the housing, the tubular portion being dimensioned to accommodate passage of a surgical instrument having a 12 mm diameter, an adapter assembly configured for engagement within the open end of the cannula housing and including a tubular body with a passage supporting a primary seal dimensioned to accommodate passage of a surgical instrument having a 12 mm diameter, and an insert tube dimensioned to extend through the passage of the body portion of the adapter assembly and the tubular portion of the robotic cannula, the insert tube including a head portion with a passage supporting a secondary seal dimensioned to accommodate a surgical instrument having an 8 mm diameter.

A surgical manipulator and method of operating the same. The surgical manipulator includes an arm with a plurality of links and joints, wherein an angle between adjacent links forms a joint angle. The arm includes a distal end configured to support a surgical instrument with an energy applicator. At least one controller is coupled to the arm and models the surgical instrument and the energy applicator as a virtual rigid body. The controller(s) determine a commanded pose for the surgical instrument and the energy applicator based on a summation of a plurality of forces and/or torques, wherein the plurality of forces and/or torques are selectively applied to the virtual rigid body to emulate orientation and movement of the surgical instrument and the energy applicator. The controller(s) determine commanded joint angles for the arm that place the surgical instrument and the energy applicator according to the commanded pose.

A holding arm for holding a surgical mechatronic assistance system or a surgical instrument is described. The holding arm includes a proximal end for attaching the holding arm to a base and a distal end for receiving the surgical mechatronic assistance system or the surgical instrument. The holding arm also includes a first arm segment connected to a first joint and a second arm segment connected to a second joint. The first joint and the second joint are releasable and lockable. The holding arm also includes a switch adapted to release both the first and second joints. The holding arm also includes a first contacting device with two contact elements arranged substantially opposite one another on the first arm segment. The first contacting device is adapted to release the first joint only when both of the two contact elements of the first contacting device are contacted.

An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes a housing, jaws that include opposed first and second jaw members, each comprising an independent structure movable relative to the other, the first jaw member defining a first inner surface and the second jaw member defining a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface, and an actuation mechanism arranged within the housing and operable to move the jaws between open and closed positions. The actuation mechanism includes an actuation plate longitudinally movable within the housing, and a transition pin extending from the actuation plate and received within corresponding slots defined in each jaw member. Linear movement of the actuation plate drives the transition pin through the corresponding slots and thereby moves the jaws between the open and closed positions.

A control system for controlling manipulation of a surgical instrument in response to manipulation of a remote surgeon input device. The surgical instrument comprises opposable first and second end effector elements connected to a shaft by an articulated coupling. The control system: transforms commands from the surgeon input device to alter the opening angle between the first and second end effector elements according to a first control relationship to drive signals to drive the first and second end effector elements to rotate; receives sensed forces applied to the first and second end effector elements, and compares the sensed forces to a threshold force; and upon determining that the threshold force has been exceeded, transforms subsequent commands from the surgeon input device to alter the opening angle between the first and second end effector elements according to a second control relationship to drive signals to drive the first and second end effector elements to rotate, wherein the second control relationship is different to the first control relationship.

Provided is a bending structure and a joint function part, capable of ensuring sufficient flexibility and rigidity in an axial direction. The bending structure is provided with an outer coiled part formed of a wire wound in a coiled shape and an inner coiled part formed of a wire wound in a coiled shape and arranged in the outer coiled part, wherein the outer coiled part has a plurality of gaps to distance adjacent coils, and coils of the inner coiled part are provided so as to correspond to the gaps of the outer coiled part and fit between the adjacent coils while being in contact with the adjacent coils of the outer coiled part.

Apparatus and methods are described for performing a procedure using a robotic unit. A tool-actuation arm is driven to move linearly, to thereby move at least the portion of the tool linearly with respect to the end effector. The tool-actuation arm is driven to become retracted to a given distance from the tool mount, thereby causing the tool-actuation arm to fold automatically by actuating an automatic tool-actuation arm folding mechanism. Other applications are also described.

A system and method are provided for aligning a tool with a targeted axis in tissue to perform a medical procedure. medical plan is registered to the location of the tissue using a computer-assisted medical system, where the medical plan include a planned position for the targeted axis based on pre-procedure data. The tool is aligned with the planned position for the targeted axis using a computer- assisted medical system. The computer-assisted medical system includes a hand- held device having a handle and a working portion adjustable relative to the handle so as to orient the tool. A computing system is also provided comprising a tracking system and a control system for registering the medical plan to the location of the tissue, tracking the hand-held device relative to the tissue and the medical plan, and adjusting the working portion of the hand-held device relative to its handle.

A device sized and shaped for insertion into a body comprising: at least one mechanical limb comprising: a support segment; a first flexible section extending from the support segment and terminating in a coupling section; and a second flexible section extending from the coupling section and terminating in a tool or a connector for a tool; wherein a long axis of one or more of the flexible sections is bendable in a single bending plane; wherein a long axis length of the first flexible section is at least double a maximum extent of the first flexible section perpendicular to a flexible section long axis; wherein a long axis length of the second flexible section is at least double a maximum extent of the second flexible section perpendicular to a flexible section long axis.

A surgical system includes a surgical instrument that is sensitive to backlash that would adversely affect the transmission of controlled torque and position to the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument is coupled to motors in a surgical instrument manipulator assembly via a mechanical interface. The combination of the mechanical interface and surgical instrument manipulator assembly have low backlash, e.g., less than 0.7 degrees. The backlash is controlled in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly. From the drive output disk in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly to the driven disk of the surgical instrument, the mechanical interface has zero backlash for torque levels used in surgical procedures.