Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Theodore C Walker

David S Mintz

Tracey Ann Morley

Roman L Devengenzo

David Q Larkin

Michael Lee Hanuschik

Michael Bernard Druke

Philip L Graves

A surgical manipulator assembly comprises a manipulator movably supporting a tool holder and an indicator section operably coupled to the manipulator for indicating state or identity information. The indicator section includes a multiple-color light emitting diode (LED) and a first fastener for operably coupling a second fastener of a sterile drape used to substantially cover the surgical manipulator assembly.

Indicator for tool state and communication in multi-arm robotic telesurgery

Medical and/or robotic devices, systems and methods can provide an indicator associated with each manipulator assembly of a multi-arm telerobotic or telesurgical system. The exemplary indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) mounted to a manipulator moving an associated surgical instrument, allowing the indicator to display any of a wide variety of signals. The invention may provide an additional user interface to facilitate communications between the telesurgical system and/or members of a telesurgical team.

A method comprises receiving an input at a control system indicating a status change for a first tool coupled to a first manipulator assembly of a telesurgical system. The status change is correlated to a procedure to decouple the first tool from the first manipulator assembly or manually reconfigure the first manipulator assembly. The method also includes transmitting a command to the first manipulator assembly. Responsive to the transmitted command, a multiple-color light emitting diode array in an indicator section on the first manipulator assembly is activated to generate a signal indicating a reconfiguration action for the first tool or the first manipulator assembly to a first user.

Indicator for tool state and communication in multiarm robotic telesurgery

Medical and/or robotic devices, systems and methods provide an indicator associated with a manipulator assembly of a multi-arm telerobotic or telesurgical system. An example of an indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) mounted to a manipulator moving an associated surgical instrument, allowing the indicator to display any of a wide variety of signals. The invention may provide an additional user interface to facilitate communications between the telesurgical system and/or members of a telesurgical team.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for transmitting first-priority data and second-priority data. The first-priority data and second-priority data are stored in separate data buffers, and the first-priority data is transmitted preferentially over the second-priority data.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Theodore C Walker