Did You Know...
...that the Slinky toy was the result of a failed attempt by engineer Richard James to produce an antivibration device for ship instruments? His goal was to develop a spring that would instantaneously counterbalance the wave motion that rocks a ship at sea. Instead, he developed the Slinky.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7720322 | Fiber optic shape sensor A shape sensing system to determine the position and orientation of one link with respect to another link in a kinematic chain. An optical fiber is coupled to two or more links in a kinematic chain. A shape sensing segment is defined to start at a proximal link and ... | 05/18/2010 |
| 7695481 | Medical robotic system with different scaling factors A system for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures includes a pair of surgical instruments coupled to a pair of robotic arms with end effectors that can be manipulated to hold and suture tissue. The robotic arms are coupled to a pair of master handles by ... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7691098 | Platform link wrist mechanism The present invention provides a robotic surgical tool for use in a robotic surgical system to perform a surgical operation. The robotic surgical tool includes a wrist mechanism disposed near the distal end of a shaft which connects with an end effector. The wrist m... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7682357 | Tele-medicine system that transmits an entire state of a subsystem A tele-medicine system that includes an input device which can control a medical system. The input device may be the handle of a surgeon console. The medical system may include a robotically controlled medical device. A transmitter may transmit information relating ... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7677129 | Multiaxis counterbalance and positioning system using a spatial linkage A spatial linkage including an inboard gimbal plate that provides a ground for the spatial linkage, an outboard gimbal plate, and three links that couple the outboard gimbal plate to the inboard gimbal plate. Each link has a longitudinal axis and two pivotal couplin... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7666191 | Robotic surgical system with sterile surgical adaptor A sterile drape with integrated sterile adaptor, a telerobotic surgical system, and method of use are provided for draping portions of a telerobotic surgical system to maintain a sterile barrier between the sterile surgical field and the non-sterile robotic system w... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7607440 | Methods and apparatus for surgical planning Methods and apparatus for enhancing surgical planning provide enhanced planning of entry port placement and/or robot position for laparoscopic, robotic, and other minimally invasive surgery. Various embodiments may be used in robotic surgery systems to identify adva... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7594912 | Offset remote center manipulator for robotic surgery Medical, surgical, and/or robotic devices and systems often including offset remote center parallelogram manipulator linkage assemblies which constrains a position of a surgical instrument during minimally invasive robotic surgery are disclosed. The improved remote ... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7574250 | Image shifting apparatus and method for a telerobotic system An input device of a teleoperator system can be operatively associated with an image of a surgical worksite. Movement of the image may correspond to movement of the input device so that the worksite image appears substantially connected to the input device. The oper... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7559891 | Endoscope Improved optical devices and methods transmit optical images along elongate optical paths with relatively limited cross-sectional dimensions using an improved objective, relay, and ocular systems. In a first aspect, at least one intermediate image formed within an o... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7543588 | Multi-functional surgical control system switching interface An interface which allows a surgeon to operate multiple surgical devices from a single input device. The input device may be a foot pedal that provides output signals to actuate a number of different surgical devices. The surgical devices may include a robotic arm, ... | 06/09/2009 |
| 7533892 | Steering system for heavy mobile medical equipment In one embodiment of the invention, a steering system for mobile medical equipment is disclosed including left and right steerable wheel assemblies including left and right steerable wheels, left and right parallelogram linkages coupled to the left and right steerab... | 05/19/2009 |
| 7524320 | Mechanical actuator interface system for robotic surgical tools Robotic surgical tools, systems, and methods for preparing for and performing robotic surgery include a memory mounted on the tool. The memory can perform a number of functions when the tool is loaded on the tool manipulator: first, the memory can provide a signal v... | 04/28/2009 |
| 7507199 | Method and apparatus for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures A system for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures includes a pair of surgical instruments that are coupled to a pair of robotic arms. The instruments have end effectors that can be manipulated to hold and suture tissue. The robotic arms are coupled to a ... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7453227 | Medical robotic system with sliding mode control A medical robotic system has a joint coupled to medical device or a slave manipulator or robotic arm adapted to hold and/or move the medical device for performing a medical procedure, and a control system for controlling movement of the joint according to user manip... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7422592 | Bipolar cauterizing instrument A bipolar surgical instrument that includes opposing grips that can engage the tissue. A current is delivered from an electrosurgical power source to electrodes disposed on the grips to cauterize the tissue. The electrode configurations provide efficient cauterizati... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7413565 | Minimally invasive surgical training using robotics and telecollaboration A medical system that allows a mentor to teach a pupil how to use a robotically controlled medical instrument. The system may include a first handle that can be controlled by a mentor to move the medical instrument. The system may further have a second handle that c... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7408439 | Method and apparatus for accessing medical data over a network A method and apparatus for retrieving, accessing, and storing medical data relating to a patient during a medical procedure. The invention provides a single interface to many disparate forms of medical data, which is accessible over a local area network; wide area n... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7398707 | Roll-pitch-roll surgical tool A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft having a working end and a shaft axis, and a pair of linking arms each having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is pivotally mounted on the working end of the shaft to rotate around a first pitch axi... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7395249 | Speech interface for an automated endoscope system A robotic system which controls the movement of a surgical instrument in response to voice commands from the user. The robotic system has a computer controlled arm that holds the surgical instrument. The user provides voice commands to the computer through a microph... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7390325 | Apparatus for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures with a robotic arm that has a passive joint and system which can decouple the robotic arm from the input device A system for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures. The system includes a pair of surgical instruments that are coupled to a pair of robotic arms. The instruments have end effectors that can be manipulated to hold and suture tissue. The robotic arms are c... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7391173 | Mechanically decoupled capstan drive A capstan drive includes a first capstan that moves a device on a carriage and a second capstan that receives a second rotary motion to move the carriage. A first power transmission has a driven shaft coupled to the first capstan, a first drive shaft coaxial with th... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7386365 | Tool grip calibration for robotic surgery Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while mon... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7379790 | Tool memory-based software upgrades for robotic surgery Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in robotic surgery and other robotic applications, and/or medical instrument devices, systems, and methods includes both a reusable processor and a limited-use robotic tool or medical treatment probe. A memory the limite... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7373219 | Grip strength with tactile feedback for robotic surgery Surgical robots and other telepresence systems have enhanced grip actuation for manipulating tissues and objects with small sizes. A master/slave system is used in which an error signal or gain is artificially altered when grip members are near a closed configuratio... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367973 | Electro-surgical instrument with replaceable end-effectors and inhibited surface conduction Improved robotic surgery end-effectors include at least one insulation material for inhibiting surface conduction of electrical current in a proximal direction, from a distal active electrode toward the proximal end of the end-effector and toward the rest of the sur... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7357774 | Multi-component telepresence system and method The present invention provides systems and methods for performing robotically-assisted surgical procedures on a patient. In particular, a three-component surgical system is provided that includes a non-sterile drive and control component, a sterilizable end effector... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7320700 | Flexible wrist for surgical tool The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. In one embodiment, a minimally invasive surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft ... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7316681 | Articulated surgical instrument for performing minimally invasive surgery with enhanced dexterity and sensitivity An articulated surgical instrument for enhancing the performance of minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrument has a high degree of dexterity, low friction, low inertia and good force reflection. A unique cable and pulley drive system operates to reduce ... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7306597 | Robotic tool with monopolar electro-surgical scissors The present invention provides robotic surgical instruments and systems that include electrosurgical cutting/shearing tools and methods of performing a robotic surgical procedure. The surgical instruments can advantageously be used in robotically controlled minimall... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7277120 | Stereo imaging system and method for use in telerobotic systems This invention relates to a stereo imaging system for use in telerobotic systems. A method of imaging a target site in a stereo imaging system is provided. The method typically includes capturing a right and a left optical image of the target site and transforming t... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7276065 | Minimally invasive surgical hook apparatus A cautery hook includes a proximal portion, a shank portion, and a distal hook portion. The shank portion is connected to the proximal portion at a bent knee protruding generally on a front side of the cautery hook. The distal hook portion is connected to the shank ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7259652 | General purpose distributed operating room control system The present invention pertains to control systems and provides a run time configurable control system for selecting and operating one of a plurality of operating room devices from a single input source, the system comprising a master controller having a voice contro... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7250028 | Endoscopic beating-heart stabilizer and vessel occlusion fastener Devices, systems and methods related to endoscopic surgery, particularly related to robotic surgical operations, provide a tissue stabilizer for endoscopically stabilizing a target tissue within a patient's body. For stabilizing a beating heart during a closed-chest... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7239940 | Modularity system for computer assisted surgery A medical system that allows a medical device to be controlled by one of two input devices. The input devices may be consoles that contain handles and a screen. The medical devices may include robotic arms and instruments used to perform a medical procedure. The sys... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7217240 | Heart stabilizer A heart stabilizer that may include a wrist which couples an end effector to a first linkage. The end effector and wrist may be inserted through an incision in the chest of a patient to assist in performing a minimally invasive coronary procedure. The wrist provides... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7155315 | Camera referenced control in a minimally invasive surgical apparatus Enhanced telepresence and telesurgery systems automatically update coordinate transformations so as to retain alignment between movement of an input device and movement of an end effector as displayed adjacent the input device. A processor maps a controller workspac... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7125403 | In vivo accessories for minimally invasive robotic surgery Surgical accessories are presented in vivo and used by surgical tools in the surgical site to perform additional tasks without the need to remove the tools from the surgical site for tool change or instrument loading. Examples of in vivo accessories include fastenin... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7121781 | Surgical instrument with a universal wrist A robotically controlled endoscopic medical instrument that includes an end effector coupled to a wrist. The wrist provides two separate degrees of freedom about the same pivot point. The end effector can be moved and actuated by pins. The pins allow for a compact m... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7107090 | Devices and methods for presenting and regulating auxiliary information on an image display of a telesurgical system to assist an operator in performing a surgical procedure Systems and methods for performing robotically-assisted surgical procedures on a patient enable an image display device to provide an operator with auxiliary information related to the surgical procedure, in addition to providing an image of the surgical site itself... | 09/12/2006 |
