×

Software center and highly configurable robotic systems for surgery and other uses

  • US 8,624,537 B2
  • Filed: 07/01/2011
  • Issued: 01/07/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A tele-surgical system comprising:

  • a first manipulator assembly comprising a first surgical instrument supported by a first manipulator, wherein the first surgical instrument includes a proximal end, a distal end effector suitable for insertion into a patient, and an intermediate portion between the proximal end and the distal end effector, wherein thefirst manipulator is configured to support the proximal end of the first surgical instrument so as to move the first surgical instrument from outside the patient wherein the first manipulator assembly includes a plurality of driven joints, the plurality of driven joints providing sufficient degrees of freedom to allow a range of joint states for a position of the end effector while the intermediate portion passes through an access site, and wherein a range of configurations for the first manipulator assembly includes a first pre-determined configuration;

    an input for receiving a movement command to effect a desired movement of the end effector of the first surgical instrument within a surgical workspace;

    a second manipulator assembly comprising a second surgical instrument supported by a second manipulator, wherein a range of configurations for the second manipulator assembly includes a second pre-determined configuration that is different from the first pre-determined configuration such that when the first manipulator assembly having the first configuration is disposed adjacent the second manipulator assembly in the second configuration, overall configurations of the system in which first and second manipulators collide are reduced; and

    a processor coupling the input to the first manipulator assembly,wherein the processor is configured to determine movements of the plurality of driven joints in response to the movement command so that the intermediate portion of the first surgical instrument is within the access site during the desired movement of the end effector, wherein the processor is configured to move the second manipulator assembly in response to commands of the processor, andwherein the processor is configured to calculate movements of the plurality of driven joints in response to signals associated with movement of the second manipulator assembly so that the first manipulator assembly driven to the first pre-determined configuration is disposed adjacent the second manipulator assembly driven to the second pre-determined configuration so as to inhibit collisions between the first manipulator and the second manipulator.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×