Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Matthew D Rohr Daniel

David W Bailey

Stephen J Blumenkranz

Matthew David Inouye

Timothy D Boucher

Scott L Cassell

Christopher R Carlson

Mark Earl Froggatt

Randall L Schlesinger

Edward P Donlon

Troy K Adebar

Christopher M Major

An apparatus for movably coupling a robotic medical instrument system to an anatomic orifice device comprises a hollow medial portion including a first end, a second end, and a passageway therebetween. The apparatus further comprises a coupling member coupled to the medial portion along a longitudinal axis of the medial portion. The passageway extends through the coupling member, and the coupling member comprises a curved surface configured to rotatably connect the anatomic orifice device to the robotic medical instrument system.

Systems and methods for coupling components of a medical system

A support structure comprises a base joint coupling a proximal link of the support structure to a base. The proximal link is configured to rotate about a first axis associated with the base joint. The support structure further comprises a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism maintains an orientation of an instrument support relative to the base as the support structure is moved from a first configuration to a second configuration. In the second configuration, the support structure is rotated relative to the base about the first axis.

Systems and methods for using a robotic medical system

A medical instrument system comprises an instrument manipulator configured to control a position of a medical instrument with respect to a base. The instrument manipulator comprises an instrument carriage comprising a medical instrument connector configured to engage the medical instrument. The instrument carriage is configured to translate along a linear axis to advance or retract the medical instrument with respect to the base. The medical instrument system also comprises an insertion stage slideably engaged with the instrument carriage along the linear axis. The insertion stage has a drive assembly comprising a drive belt and a drive motor configured to drive the drive belt. The base is fixedly coupled to the drive belt. The medical instrument system also comprises a connecting element having a distal end fixedly coupled to the drive belt and a proximal end fixed to the instrument carriage.

Systems and methods for positioning medical instruments

An apparatus for guiding an elongated flexible instrument comprises a variable-length support assembly. The variable-length support assembly includes a first end, a second end, a plurality of support member pairs, and a plurality of eyelets configured to receive the elongated flexible instrument. Each support member pair comprises a first support member linked to a second support member, and each of the plurality of eyelets is movably coupled to at least one of the plurality of support member pairs along a longitudinal central axis between the first end and the second end. The variable-length support assembly is configured to selectively transition from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration along the longitudinal central axis, and the plurality of eyelets are adapted to support the elongated flexible instrument as the elongated flexible instrument is advanced along the longitudinal central axis. Each of the plurality of eyelets includes a tapered alignment member configured to contact a tapered alignment member of an adjacent eyelet to move the plurality of eyelets into alignment along the longitudinal axis as the variable length assembly transitions from the expanded configuration to the compressed configuration.

Guide apparatus for delivery of an elongate device and methods of use

An optical fiber cleaning assembly includes a cleaning tape, a first spool having the cleaning tape wound thereon, a second spool onto which the cleaning tape is drawn, a drive mechanism configured to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool, and one or more first connectors configured to mate with one or more connectors of a system, the system including a first optical fiber. The optical fiber cleaning assembly further includes one or more second connectors configured to mate with one or more optical fiber connectors of a device while the optical fiber cleaning assembly is attached to the system by the one or more first connectors, the device including a second optical fiber. The drive mechanism is configured to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool to wipe the face of the first or second optical fiber.

Systems and methods for optical fiber cleaning and interface particle reduction

A support structure for supporting an instrument manipulator comprises a proximal link and a distal link configured to extend from the proximal link. The support structure further comprises a base joint coupling the proximal link of the support structure to a base, and the proximal link is configured to rotate about a first axis associated with the base joint. The support structure further comprises a counterbalance mechanism comprising a counterweight block configured to move linearly within the support structure. The counterweight block has a counterweight mass to counterbalance a combined mass of the support structure and the instrument manipulator as the distal link extends from the proximal link.

The systems and methods of the present disclosure are for use in a medical procedure, in which a connection mechanism is provided with a first end connected to a medical system interface at a first joint and a second end connected to an anatomic orifice device at a second joint. The anatomic orifice device is fixedly coupled to a patient. A flexible portion is provided between the first and second ends, the flexible portion being able to provide flexibility in at least one degree of freedom in response to movement of the anatomic orifice device.

A medical system including a support structure including a proximal link and a distal link, and a base joint coupling the proximal link of the support structure to a base, wherein the proximal link is configured to rotate about a first axis associated with the base joint. The system also includes a linkage mechanism coupling the proximal link to the distal link. The system also includes an instrument support coupled to the distal link, wherein the instrument support has an orientation relative to the base in a first configuration of the support structure, and wherein the linkage mechanism maintains the orientation of the instrument support relative to the base as the support structure is moved into a second configuration in which the support structure is rotated relative to the base about the first axis and the distal link is extended from the proximal link.

An apparatus for guiding an elongated flexible instrument comprises a variable-length support assembly including a first end, a second end, a plurality of support member pairs, and a plurality of eyelets movably coupled to at least one support member pair and configured to receive the elongated flexible instrument. The variable-length support assembly is configured to selectively transition from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration along a longitudinal central axis, and the plurality of eyelets are adapted to support the elongated flexible instrument as the elongated flexible instrument is advanced along the longitudinal central axis. Each of the plurality of eyelets includes a tapered alignment member configured to contact a tapered alignment member of an adjacent eyelet to move the plurality of eyelets into alignment along the longitudinal axis as the variable length assembly transitions from the expanded configuration to the compressed configuration.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Matthew D Rohr Daniel