Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Hubert Stein

David W Bailey

Michael Ikeda

Margaret M Nixon

Tao Zhao

Brandon D Itkowitz

Giuseppe Maria Prisco

Wenyi Zhao

William C Nowlin

Catherine J Mohr

Christopher J Hasser

Thomas R Nixon

Paul Millman

Joseph Orban, Iii

Simon P Dimaio

Jeffrey A Smith

Ralph M Wadensweiler

Amy E Kerdok

Glenn C Stante

Gregory K Toth

Kyle R Miller

Myriam J Curet

Christina J Shuh

Simon Di Maio

Markus Rheinwald

Myrian J Curet

A slave manipulator manipulates a medical device in response to operator manipulation of an input device through joint control systems. The stiffness and strength of the slave manipulator are adjustable according to criteria such as the mode of operation of the slave manipulator, the functional type of the medical device currently being held by the slave manipulator, and the current phase of a medical procedure being performed using the slave manipulator by changing corresponding parameters of the control system. For safety purposes, such changes are not made until it is determined that it can be done in a smooth manner without causing jerking of the medical device. Further, an excessive force warning may be provided to surgery staff when excessive forces are being commanded on the slave manipulator for more than a specified period of time.

Medical robotic system with dynamically adjustable slave manipulator characteristics

A medical device includes a clevis, a first blade, a second blade, and a tension member. The first and second blades are rotatably coupled to the clevis. The first blade includes a first coupling portion. The tension member is coupled to the first blade and applies a torque to the first blade to rotate the first blade about the clevis between a first, second, and third orientation. The second blade includes a second coupling portion. The second coupling portion is coupled to the first coupling portion such that A) the second blade remains in a fixed position relative to the clevis when the first blade is between the first and second orientation, and B) rotation of the first retractor blade between the second and third orientation transfers at least a portion of the torque to the second retractor blade causing rotation of the second blade about the clevis.

Medical devices having multiple blades and methods of use

A vessel sealer has a stepped jaw that allows the jaw to have an overall shape and a width that provides desired strength, shape, and functionality while permitting a smaller raised portion to apply the sealing pressure. The smaller area applying the sealing pressure allows an actuating mechanism to apply a clinically desired sealing pressure without exceeding the force or torque limitations of the actuating mechanism and can limit thermal spread during a sealing procedure.

Vessel sealing instrument with stepped jaw

Minimaily invasive surgical retractors and methods of using the retractors are provided. This retractor may be introduced through a sealed port, controlled by a robotic system, have full articulation, and need not require assembly within the patient's body. As a result, fully endoscopic mitral valve surgery may be performed.

Robotic endoscopic retractor for use in minimally invasive surgery

Robotic and/or measurement devices, systems, and methods for telesurgical and other applications employ input devices operatively coupled to tools so as to allow a system user to manipulate tissues and other structures being measured. The system may make use of three dimensional position information from stereoscopic images. Two or more discrete points can be designated in three dimensions so as to provide a cumulative length along a straight or curving structure, an area measurement, a volume measurement, or the like. The discrete points may be identified by a single surgical tool or by distances separating two or more surgical tools, with the user optionally measuring a structure longer than a field of view of the stereoscopic image capture device by walking a pair of tools 'hand-over-hand' along the structure. By allowing the system user to interact with the tissues while designating the tissue locations, and by employing imaging data to determine the measurements, the measurement accuracy and ease of measurement may be enhanced.

Virtual measurement tool for minimally invasive surgery

Minimally invasive surgical retractors and methods of using the retractors are provided. This retractor may be introduced through a sealed port, controlled by a robotic system, have full articulation, and need not require assembly within the patient's body. As a result, fully endoscopic mitral valve surgery may be performed.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Hubert Stein