A surgical drill for drilling a hole in a workpiece includes a housing, a probe moveably mounted to the housing, and a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly includes a gear coupled to the probe and at least two rotational sensor devices coupled to the gear to determine an amount of movement of a probe relative to a housing to determine a bore depth of the hole. The gear has a reference point having an angular path of rotation about a gear axis subdivided into separate first and second arcuate regions. A first sensor device is configured to detect a rotational position of the reference point in the first arcuate region, and a second sensor device is configured to detect a rotational position of the reference point in at least the second arcuate region, with the first sensor device incapable of detecting the reference point in the second arcuate region.

A floating drive for a medical robot includes an actuator that drives a rod forward and backward in a first direction, a manipulation member that operates with driving force of the actuator, and a transmission member that is located between the actuator and the manipulation member and that is engaged with the rod to transmit an operation of the rod to the manipulation member. The transmission member is restricted in its displacement having a component in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the transmission member is separated from the rod in the second direction and transmitting force in the first direction from the rod to the manipulation member.

A bone resection instrument, comprising means of support and positioning for the correct alignment of the tool with respect to the bone to be cut, a cutting guide, connected to the means of support and positioning, comprising a support attachable to a bone to be cut. The cutting guide comprises a gauge block having a cutting surface and removably connected to said support. The instrument is part of a bone resection kit comprising a plurality of gauge blocks, each differing in height from one another.

An orthopedic system to monitor a parameter related to the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The orthopedic system includes electronic circuitry, at least one sensor, and a computer to receive measurement data in real-time. The orthopedic system comprises a first plurality of shims of a first type, a second plurality of a second type, a measurement module, and the computer. The measurement module houses the electronic circuitry and at least one sensor. The measurement module is adapted to be used with the first plurality of shims and the second plurality of shims. The measurement module has a medial surface that differs from a lateral surface by shape, size, or contour.

A Robotic control system has a wand, which emits multiple narrow beams of light, which fall on a light sensor array, or with a camera, a surface, defining the wand's changing position and attitude which a computer uses to direct relative motion of robotic tools or remote processes, such as those that are controlled by a mouse, but in three dimensions and motion compensation means and means for reducing latency.

A measuring device and methods of use for measuring a section of a bowel of a patient. The measuring device includes a tubular section having a longitudinal axis and at least one wing normally projecting outward transverse to the longitudinal axis. The tubular section is configured for mounting on a conventional or robotic laparoscopic grasper adjacent the grasper's movable jaws. The at least one wing is are pivotable to a closed position so that grasper with the measuring device mounted thereon can be inserted through a conventional trocar, whereupon the at least one wing projects outward transversely to the longitudinal axis. The at least one wing is of a predetermined length to serve as a measurement tool enabling a surgeon to measure off a desired length of the bowel.

A load sensing assembly for a spinal implant includes a set screw having a central opening that extends from a first end of the set screw toward a second end of the set screw. The second end of the set screw is configured to engage with an anchoring member. The load sensing assembly includes an antenna, an integrated circuit in communication with the antenna, where the integrated circuit is positioned within the central opening of the set screw, and a strain gauge in connection with the integrated circuit. The strain gauge is located within the central opening of the set screw in proximity to the second end of the set screw.

A method for performing an efficient and thorough percutaneous discectomy includes making into the patient a percutaneous incision, which is a small stab wound, no more than approximately 10 mm in length. A stimulated combination neuro-monitoring dilating probe is passed through an approximately 10 mm or less skin incision and into a patient's disc space to establish a safe path and trajectory through Kambin's Triangle. Once a neuro-monitoring dilating probe is in the disc space, a second dilator is placed over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe and impacted into the disc space. Neuro-monitoring dilating probe may then be removed. An access portal optionally combined with a force dissipation device may then be placed over the second dilator and into the disc space. The second dilator is removed and then discectomy instruments may be placed through the access portal to perform the discectomy.

A surgical device includes a tool assembly and a handle assembly. The tool assembly includes a distal portion including a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly movable relative to the distal portion from an open position to a clamped position. The handle assembly includes an approximation mechanism coupled to the anvil assembly and configured to move the anvil assembly from the open position to the clamped position, a force sensor disposed at a distal end of the surgical device, and a controller. The force sensor is configured to sense a change in resistance indicating a force imparted on compressed tissue and on the approximation mechanism. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a force measured by the force sensor and provide an indication of the sensed force.

A gap gauge is disclosed for facilitating an arthroplasty procedure on a first bone and a second bone of a patient. The gap gauge may include a first plate positionable in contact with the first bone, a second plate positionable in contact with the second bone. The second plate may be displaced from the first plate by a displacement. The gap gauge may further include a separator connected to the first plate and the second plate, a separation indicator coupled to the separator and configured to indicate the displacement, and a balance indicator connected to at least one of the first plate and the second plate. The balance indicator may indicate a balance status between the first plate and the second plate. The separator can be actuated to adjust the displacement.