Methods and devices for positioning a surgical instrument at a surgical site
First Claim
1. A surgical manipulator for moving an instrumentabout a desired spherical center of rotation at a desired fixed location along the instrument, the manipulator comprising:
- a base support adapted to be fixedly mounted to a surface;
a first linkage, including at least a first rod, pivotally mounted on the base support for rotation about a first axis;
an instrument holder having a longitudinal second axis wherein the instrument is held parallel to the second axis, such that the desired remote center of spherical rotation of the instrument is at the intersection of the first and second axes;
a second linkage having a proximal end and a distal end, including at least a second rod, the proximal end of the second linkage being pivotally connected to the first linkage and the distal end of the second linkage being pivotally connected to the instrument holder for moving the instrument holder in a parallel plane relationship to the first linkage such that the spherical center of rotation is maintained at the desired fixed location; and
an instrument drive unit coupled to the instrument holder, the instrument drive unit controlling movement of the instrument relative to the spherical center of rotation, the instrument drive unit comprising a linear actuator for reciprocating the instrument in a direction parallel to the second axis;
the instrument drive unit further comprising a first drive coupled to the instrument holder, the first drive having an actuator for rotating the instrument about the second axis, said instrument having an end effector for interacting with a surgical site;
wherein the instrument drive unit further comprises a second drive coupled to the instrument holder for actuating the end effector about a third axis.
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Abstract
For positioning a surgical instrument at a surgical site, an elongate tubular structure is coupled to the distal portion of a robotic arm. This structure is adapted to be inserted in the body cavity of a patient and is adapted to receive the surgical instrument and serve as a guide for the surgical instrument into the patient'"'"'s body. The robotic arm may have a parallelogram center of motion linkage and actuators for driving various degrees of freedom of movement of the arm and the surgical instrument. The robotic arm may be remotely controlled by an operator manipulating an input device.
1333 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A surgical manipulator for moving an instrument
about a desired spherical center of rotation at a desired fixed location along the instrument, the manipulator comprising: -
a base support adapted to be fixedly mounted to a surface; a first linkage, including at least a first rod, pivotally mounted on the base support for rotation about a first axis; an instrument holder having a longitudinal second axis wherein the instrument is held parallel to the second axis, such that the desired remote center of spherical rotation of the instrument is at the intersection of the first and second axes; a second linkage having a proximal end and a distal end, including at least a second rod, the proximal end of the second linkage being pivotally connected to the first linkage and the distal end of the second linkage being pivotally connected to the instrument holder for moving the instrument holder in a parallel plane relationship to the first linkage such that the spherical center of rotation is maintained at the desired fixed location; and an instrument drive unit coupled to the instrument holder, the instrument drive unit controlling movement of the instrument relative to the spherical center of rotation, the instrument drive unit comprising a linear actuator for reciprocating the instrument in a direction parallel to the second axis; the instrument drive unit further comprising a first drive coupled to the instrument holder, the first drive having an actuator for rotating the instrument about the second axis, said instrument having an end effector for interacting with a surgical site; wherein the instrument drive unit further comprises a second drive coupled to the instrument holder for actuating the end effector about a third axis.
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2. A surgical manipulator system comprising:
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a surgical instrument having a longitudinal instrument axis, the instrument further comprising a shaft having proximal and distal ends and an end effector coupled to the distal end, wherein the end effector is movably coupled to the distal end of the shaft at a pivot; an instrument holder for positioning the instrument in a direction so the instrument axis intersects a desired point; a base; a first linkage, including at least a first rod having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the first linkage is mounted to the base; a second linkage, including at least a second rod pivotally connected to the distal end of the first linkage, the second linkage being pivotally connected to the instrument holder such that the first linkage and second linkage can rotate the instrument about the desired point; and an instrument drive unit mounted on the second linkage and coupled to the surgical instrument, the instrument drive unit manipulating the instrument relative to the desired point, wherein the instrument drive unit comprises a linear actuator for reciprocating the instrument along the instrument axis and a first drive coupled to the instrument holder, the drive having an actuator for rotating the instrument about the instrument axis, and wherein the instrument drive unit further comprises a second drive coupled to the instrument holder for actuating the end effector.
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3. A surgical manipulator system comprising:
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a base support adapted to a fixedly mounted to a surface; a surgical instrument having an elongate shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, an instrument axis therebetween, and an end effector movably coupled to the distal end at a pivot; a first linkage, including at least a first rod having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the first linkage is mounted to the base support; a second linkage, including at least a second rod pivotally connected to the distal end of the first linkage, the second linkage pivotally supporting the instrument such that the first linkage and second linkage can position the end effector about a desired center of rotation; and an instrument drive unit mounted on the second linkage near the surgical instrument, the drive unit having a linear actuator for reciprocating the instrument in a direction parallel to the instrument axis, a first drive for rotating the instrument about the instrument axis, and a second drive for rotating the end effector about the pivot. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A robotic surgical apparatus for delivering an endoscopic surgical instrument to a surgical site in a patient comprising:
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an articulate arm assembly having a plurality of linkages and joints and a distal portion; and an elongate tubular structure having a longitudinal aperture therethrough, said tubular structure coupled to said distal portion of said articulate arm assembly, said tubular structure adapted to be inserted through an aperture in a body wall of said patient, wherein said longitudinal aperture of said tubular structure is able to slidably engage an elongate shaft of an endoscopic surgical instrument having an end effector. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of delivering an endoscopic surgical instrument to a surgical site in a patient comprising:
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providing an articulate arm assembly having a plurality of linkages and joints and a distal portion, said articulate arm assembly having an elongate tubular structure coupled to said distal portion, said tubular structure having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal aperture extending between said proximal and distal ends; inserting said tubular structure into a body aperture; and slidably engaging an elongate shaft of an endoscopic surgical instrument through said tubular structure longitudinal aperture so that said instrument extends through said body aperture distal of said distal end of said tubular structure; and positioning an end effector of said instrument adjacent said surgical site. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification