Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Harsukhdeep Singh Ratia

Zhou Ye

Samuel T Crews

Nicole Kernbaum

Lawrence Kerver

David I Moreira Ridsdale

Craig R Gerbi

Craig Tsuji

Alain Sadaka

Gabriel Francis Brisson

Grant Duque

Jason W Hemphill

Ashwinram Suresh

Joseph P Orban

Alain F Sadaka

Michael Hurst

Jason Miao

Mathew Nussbaum

Angelica Ruszkowski

Sharathchandra Somayaji

Lizmarie Comenencia Ortiz

Joseph P Iii Orban

An instrument includes a movable end effector component coupled to a shaft; a force transmission mechanism; and an actuation mechanism coupled to the force transmission mechanism and the end effector, the actuation mechanism comprising a first actuation member segment and a second actuation member segment. The force transmission mechanism comprises: a first pulley coupled to a rotatable drive input and having a first axis of rotation, and a second pulley having a second axis of rotation non-parallel to the first axis of rotation of the first pulley. The first actuation member segment is routed over the first pulley. In response to rotation of the rotatable drive input, at least a portion of the first actuation member segment is wound onto the first pulley and unwound from the second pulley, and the second actuation member segment is translated along the shaft to actuate the movable end effector component.

Force transmission mechanism for surgical instrument, and related devices, systems, and methods

A surgical instrument for applying surgical clips to tissue comprises an end effector having first and second jaws that are movable between open and closed positions and configured to receive first and second rows of clips in the open position. The instrument further includes an actuator coupled to the end effector and configured to move the jaws into the closed position and to discharge the first and second rows of clips. This allows an operator to apply multiple rows of clips to tissue with a single instrument insertion, which obviates the need to remove the surgical instrument from the cannula to manually reload a new cartridge, thereby reducing the overall time of the surgical procedure.

Surgical instruments for applying multiple clips

A medical device comprises an end effector, a mechanical structure, a connector, and a force sensor unit. The connector extends from a drive component of the mechanical structure to the end effector. Motion of the drive component produces a tension force within the connector, which is associated with an end effector torque or force exerted by the end effector. The force sensor unit comprises a body, and the body is coupled in-line with the connector so that strain in the connector is imparted to the body. A strain sensor measures the strain on the body as an indication of strain in the connector, which is an indication of torque or force at the end effector. The connector may be continuous, and coupled to the body with a slack relief portion of the connector within the body. Alternatively, the connector may be discontinuous and coupled to opposite ends of the body.

Devices and methods for crimp interface for cable tension sensor

A low-friction medical device includes a first link, a second link, and a tension member. The first link is coupled to an instrument shaft and a first guide path is defined in the first link. The second link is rotatable relative to the first link through an angular range. A distal end portion of the second link is rotatably coupled to a tool member. A curved guide path is defined within the second link between the tool member and the first guide path. A curved guide surface of the second link defines a portion of the second guide path. A first portion of the tension member is parallel to a centerline of the first guide path, and a second portion is coupled to the tool member. A third portion of the tension member between the first and second portions is in contact with the curved guide surface throughout a portion of the angular range.

Low-friction, small profile medical tools having easy-to-assemble components

A medical device includes a shaft, a beam, a hard stop structure, and a link. A proximal end portion of the beam is coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft and a distal end portion of the beam is coupled to the link. A strain sensor is on the beam. A hard stop structure includes a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and first opposing stop surfaces. The proximal end portion of the hard stop structure is coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft, and the distal end portion of the hard stop structure is coupled to the link. The first opposing stop surfaces are positioned to limit a lateral range of motion of the distal end of the beam with reference to the proximal end of the beam in a first direction by the first stop surfaces contacting one another.

Hard stop that produces a reactive moment upon engagement for cantilever-based force sensing

A surgical instrument includes a chassis, an outer tube having a proximal end operably coupled to the chassis, and an inner tube extending within the outer tube. The inner tube has a proximal end operably coupled to the chassis to allow slidable movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube in response to a force imparted to a distal end of the inner tube, and such that frictional force imparted to an outer surface of the outer tube is not imparted to the inner member.

Surgical tool with nested shaft tubes

Systems and methods of assembling a wrist assembly are provided. The wrist assembly includes a tension member, a first link, and a second link. The second link includes an assembly path, a guide path, and a retention pocket. A first end portion of the tension member is inserted through the assembly path within the second link. The tension member is configured to be rotated to transition the first tension member portion from the assembly path to be within the guide path. The retention member is retained within the retention pocket on a condition that the first tension member portion is rotated to be within the guide path such that movement of the tension member relative to the second link is limited. Movement of the first tension member portion within the second guide path urges the second link to rotate relative to the first link.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft, a force transmission mechanism disposed at a first end of the shaft, an end effector disposed at a second end of the shaft, an actuation element that extends along the shaft from the force transmission mechanism to the end effector, and an actuation element guide extending along the shaft. The actuation element guide defines a lumen in which the actuation element guide is received. The actuation element guide is compressed into a pre-compressed state along at least a portion of an axial length of the shaft. The actuation element guide can be compressed between first and second blocks of the instrument. The instrument can include a flush tube configured to receive a cleaning fluid, with the actuation element guide being in flow communication with the flush tube to receive the cleaning fluid in the lumen of the actuation element guide.

Surgical instrument with flexible shaft and actuation element guide

Systems and methods for grip adjustment during energy delivery include an instrument comprising an end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw. Each of the first jaw and the second jaw have a corresponding electrode, The systems and methods further include one or more control units configured to actuate the end effector to grip a material, determine whether a force or torque limit of the actuation is above a first threshold, in response to determining that the force or torque limit is above the first threshold, reduce the force or torque limit, and apply electrical or thermal energy to the material using the electrodes. In some embodiments, the one or more control units are further configured to restore the force or torque limit after application of the electrical or thermal energy to the material is complete. In some embodiments, the force or torque limit is reduced over time.

Systems and methods for automatic grip adjustment during energy delivery

An articulable medical device includes a link, a transfer member, a tool member, and a non-drive wire. The tool member has a base portion movably coupled to the transfer member, and a contact portion configured to engage a target tissue. The transfer member is rotatably coupled to the link to rotate with the tool member relative to the link from a first orientation to a second orientation. The non-drive wire has a first end portion coupled to an energy source, a second end portion coupled to the tool member contact portion, and a central portion between the first and second end portions that includes a transition portion disposed within a cavity defined within the base portion of the tool member, a distal portion of the link, or the transfer member, which has a compact first configuration in the first orientation and an expanded second configuration in the second orientation.

Articulable medical devices having flexible wire routing

A force transmission mechanism for a teleoperated surgical instrument includes a drive pulley, a drive cable operably coupled with the drive pulley, a driven pulley operably coupled with the drive cable, and an actuation member operably coupled to the driven pulley. The actuation member is configured to transmit force to actuate an end effector of the surgical instrument. Rotational motion of the driven pulley causes translational movement of the actuation element to actuate the end effector. Methods relate to operating a force transmission mechanism.

A surgical instrument may include a shaft, a force transmission mechanism, and an end effector. The shaft may have a proximal end and a distal end. The force transmission mechanism may be coupled to the proximal end of the shaft. The end effector may be coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The shaft may include a body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface may surround a lumen configured to receive a drive member that extends through the lumen. The outer surface of the body may form an outer surface of the shaft. The body may be made of a single material from the inner surface of the body to the outer surface of the body.

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Foster City, CA, United States of America

Harsukhdeep Singh Ratia