A master controller assembly for a robotic surgery system has a slave robot assembly having a slave surgical grip device providing a grip degree-of-freedom of motion lying in a predefined slave grip plane and a control unit. The master controller assembly has a portable hand-held master input tool operatively connected to the slave robot assembly. The master input tool has a master tool body having a manipulandum surface, to be hand-held by the surgeon's fingers. The master input tool is mechanically unconstrained from the slave robot assembly and has a grip command detector device having an operative portion. The operative portion is manually operable by radially directed pressure action exerted at an operative surface. A sensing assembly detects the radially directed pressure action so that the radially directed pressure action exerted at the operative surface determines a paired slave grip motion action of the surgical slave grip device.

Surgical support instruments are described herein that can couple to, e.g., an implanted anchor and provide a platform for coupling other surgical implements thereto. In one embodiment, an instrument can include an elongate body having opposed projections extending laterally from a distal portion thereof that can at least partially surround a shank of an implantable anchor such that a longitudinal axis of the elongate body is laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the anchor. The instrument can further include a lock configured to exert a drag force on a head of the anchor to control polyaxial movement of the instrument relative to the anchor. Further, a proximal portion of the elongate body can be configured to receive a retractor assembly including a plurality of tissue manipulating implements and selectively lock the retractor assembly at any of a plurality of positions along a length of the elongate body.

Surgical support instruments are described herein that can couple to, e.g., an implanted anchor and provide a platform for coupling other surgical implements thereto. In one embodiment, an instrument can include an elongate body having opposed projections extending laterally from a distal portion thereof that can at least partially surround a shank of an implantable anchor such that a longitudinal axis of the elongate body is laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the anchor. The instrument can further include a lock configured to exert a drag force on a head of the anchor to control polyaxial movement of the instrument relative to the anchor. Further, a proximal portion of the elongate body can be configured to receive a retractor assembly including a plurality of tissue manipulating implements and selectively lock the retractor assembly at any of a plurality of positions along a length of the elongate body.

A foot pedal apparatus for use with a workstation operated by a seated user in controlling a robotic surgery system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a platform mountable to the workstation proximate a floor surface on which the workstation is located. The apparatus also includes a first pedal mounted on the platform and having an upwardly disposed actuation surface, and a second pedal mounted vertically elevated with respect to the first pedal and having an upwardly disposed actuation surface, the second pedal having at least a proximate portion vertically overlapping a distal portion of the first pedal such that the first and second pedals have a mounted depth in a direction away from the user that is less than a sum of the respective individual depths of the first and second pedals.

A neuromuscular enhancement system comprising engineered textile structures is worn by a user to increase strength, preserve energy, and increase motion accuracy. The system can be used in surgery and interface with operating room technology, together providing the surgeon with the ability to perform surgery for longer hours and with increased accuracy. The enhancement system is a flexible structure, worn over the user's body, comprising engineered textile materials that apply forces to different areas of the user's body. The engineered materials can be activated in order to apply a force to a particular region of the body to assist in a desired user output. The engineered materials can be embedded with sensors to detect and monitor motion and other physical properties. The engineered materials can also be embedded with a communication system that conveys information between a computer system and the neuromuscular enhancement system and its various sensors and components. The enhancement system here can be configured for use in applications other than surgery.

A neuromuscular enhancement system comprising engineered textile structures is worn by a user to increase strength, preserve energy, and increase motion accuracy. The system can be used in surgery and interface with operating room technology, together providing the surgeon with the ability to perform surgery for longer hours and with increased accuracy. The enhancement system is a flexible structure, worn over the user's body, comprising engineered textile materials that apply forces to different areas of the user's body. The engineered materials can be activated in order to apply a force to a particular region of the body to assist in a desired user output. The engineered materials can be embedded with sensors to detect and monitor motion and other physical properties. The engineered materials can also be embedded with a communication system that conveys information between a computer system and the neuromuscular enhancement system and its various sensors and components. The enhancement system here can be configured for use in applications other than surgery.

A hyperdexterous surgical system is provided. The system on include one or more surgical arms coupleable in a fixture and configured to support one or more surgical tools. The system can include an electronic control system configured to communicate electronically with the one or more robotic surgical tools. The control system can electronically control the operation of the one or more surgical tools. The system can include one or more portable handheld controllers actuatable by a surgeon to communicate one or more control signals to the one or more surgical tools via the electronic control system to operate the one or more surgical tools. The one or more portable handheld controllers can provide said one or more control signals from a plurality of locations of an operating arena, allowing a surgeon to be mobile during a surgical procedure and to remotely operate the one or more surgical tools from different locations of the operating arena.

A hyperdexterous surgical system is provided. The system on include one or more surgical arms coupleable in a fixture and configured to support one or more surgical tools. The system can include an electronic control system configured to communicate electronically with the one or more robotic surgical tools. The control system can electronically control the operation of the one or more surgical tools. The system can include one or more portable handheld controllers actuatable by a surgeon to communicate one or more control signals to the one or more surgical tools via the electronic control system to operate the one or more surgical tools. The one or more portable handheld controllers can provide said one or more control signals from a plurality of locations of an operating arena, allowing a surgeon to be mobile during a surgical procedure and to remotely operate the one or more surgical tools from different locations of the operating arena.

The present invention relates to ergonomic supports in medical environment. In order to provide improved ergonomic support while providing a minimum impact of the user's activities, an ergonomic support device (10) for users in medical environment is provided. The support device comprises a seating support arrangement (14), an X-ray shielding arrangement (18) and a base support structure (12). The base support structure provides mechanical support for the seating support arrangement and the X-ray shielding arrangement. The seating support arrangement comprises a seat support surface (16) that is configured for supporting a buttocks area of a user. The X-ray shielding arrangement comprises at least one X-ray shield (20) that is configured for shielding at least a part of an X-ray radiation to which a user is exposed to while supported by the support surface. The at least one X-ray shield is movably mounted to the base support structure to be adjustable in its position relative to a user at least partly resting on the seat support surface.

The present invention relates to ergonomic supports in medical environment. In order to provide improved ergonomic support while providing a minimum impact of the user's activities, an ergonomic support device (10) for users in medical environment is provided. The support device comprises a seating support arrangement (14), an X-ray shielding arrangement (18) and a base support structure (12). The base support structure provides mechanical support for the seating support arrangement and the X-ray shielding arrangement. The seating support arrangement comprises a seat support surface (16) that is configured for supporting a buttocks area of a user. The X-ray shielding arrangement comprises at least one X-ray shield (20) that is configured for shielding at least a part of an X-ray radiation to which a user is exposed to while supported by the support surface. The at least one X-ray shield is movably mounted to the base support structure to be adjustable in its position relative to a user at least partly resting on the seat support surface.