Titan Medical Inc.

Covidien LP

Peter John Kenneth Cameron

Rene Robert

Andrea Bajo

David Allen Zitnick

Leonard M Faria

Daniel Patrick Smith

Thomas Andrew Lutzow

A laparoscopic surgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure through a single incision in a patient's body includes a gross positioning arm supported on a moveable platform, the gross positioner including a head; at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus coupled via a tool controller to an underside of the head, the articulated tool positioning apparatus being configured to receive a tool for performing surgical operations, the tool controller being actuated by the head to cause movements of the articulated tool positioning apparatus for performing surgical operations; and wherein the gross positioner is configured to permit the head to be positioned to facilitate insertion of the articulated tool positioning apparatus through the incision into the patient's body.

Articulated tool positioner and system employing same

A hand grip apparatus for receiving operator input includes a body having a proximal end and a distal interface end for coupling to an input apparatus. A first control lever is attached to the body and extends away from the proximal end and terminates in a finger grip for receiving one of the operator's fingers. A second control lever is attached to the body and extends away from the proximal end terminating in a thumb grip for receiving the operator's thumb. Movement of at least one of the control levers is operable to produce a first control signal representing the movement. An input control is included on the body between the grip ends and has an actuator surface angled towards the finger grip end and configured to produce a second control signal in response to actuation by one of the operator's fingers.

Hand grip apparatus for receiving operator input in a robotic surgery system

An articulated tool positioning apparatus comprising a base member, an intermediate member, an end member and a first tool holder arranged in succession, each of the base member, intermediate member, end member and tool holder having a respective central opening. A first plurality of coupled guides id positioned between the base member and the intermediate member and a second plurality of coupled guides is positioned between the intermediate member and the end member. A third plurality of coupled guides is diposed between the end member and the tool holder. The base member, intermediate member, end member, first tool holder and first second and third pluralities of coupled guides all have a central opening and guide openings or securing points for securing pluralities of flexible control links to the base member or to an object separated from the base member. Pushing or pulling control links of a first plurality of control links causes the base member, the first plurality of coupled guides, the intermediate member, the second plurality of coupled guides and the end member to selectively define a continuous curve. A second plurality of control links causes the end member to maintain an orientation generally the same as the base member, when any of the other flexible control links is pushed or pulled. Pushing or pulling control links of a third plurality of control links causes the tool holder to be selectively moved into any of a plurality of orientations, such that the third plurality of coupled guides between the end member and the tool holder defines a continuous curve from the end member to the tool holder. At least one mechanism for pushing and pulling the flexible control links is described and a use of the apparatus for positioning a tool for laparoscopic surgery applications is described.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis Park, MN, United States of America

Peter John Kenneth Cameron