U.S. patent application number 17/215749 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-15 for robotically controlling remote center of motion with software and guide tube.
The applicant listed for this patent is Covidien LP. Invention is credited to William Peine.
Application Number | 20210212781 17/215749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005482091 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210212781 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peine; William |
July 15, 2021 |
ROBOTICALLY CONTROLLING REMOTE CENTER OF MOTION WITH SOFTWARE AND
GUIDE TUBE
Abstract
A robotic surgical system includes a surgical robot and a guide
tube. The surgical robot includes a robot arm and a controller. The
controller is configured to establish a software-based remote
center of motion of a surgical instrument attached to the robot arm
based on a location of a surgical portal in a patient through which
the surgical instrument is inserted. The guide tube having a
trailing end supported by the robot arm of the surgical robot, a
leading end inserted in the surgical portal and maintaining
alignment between the robotic arm and the surgical portal during a
surgical instrument exchange, and an elongated tubular body through
which an elongated shaft of the surgical instrument is inserted or
removed during the surgical instrument exchange.
Inventors: |
Peine; William; (Ashland,
MA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Covidien LP |
Mansfield |
MA |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
1000005482091 |
Appl. No.: |
17/215749 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16717482 |
Dec 17, 2019 |
10959794 |
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17215749 |
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15548473 |
Aug 3, 2017 |
10517684 |
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PCT/US2016/014219 |
Jan 21, 2016 |
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16717482 |
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62121283 |
Feb 26, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 34/35 20160201;
A61B 90/50 20160201; A61B 2034/305 20160201; A61B 17/3421 20130101;
A61B 46/10 20160201; A61B 2034/301 20160201; A61B 17/34 20130101;
A61B 17/3462 20130101; A61B 17/3403 20130101; A61B 2034/302
20160201; A61B 34/30 20160201 |
International
Class: |
A61B 34/35 20060101
A61B034/35; A61B 34/30 20060101 A61B034/30; A61B 17/34 20060101
A61B017/34; A61B 46/10 20060101 A61B046/10 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A surgical system, comprising: a surgical instrument; a
surgical portal; a controller configured to establish a
software-based remote center of motion of the surgical instrument
based on a location of the surgical portal; and a guide tube
supported by the surgical system and including an elongated tubular
body positioned to receive the surgical instrument, the guide tube
insertable in the surgical portal.
22. The surgical system of claim 21, wherein the guide tube is
slidably movable relative to the surgical portal.
23. The surgical system of claim 22, wherein the guide tube defines
a first longitudinal axis and the surgical portal defines a second
longitudinal axis, the first longitudinal axis configured to
maintain coaxial alignment with the second longitudinal axis during
a surgical instrument exchange.
24. The surgical system of claim 21, wherein the guide tube
includes an internal seal configured to maintain a sealed
relationship with the surgical instrument when the surgical
instrument is received within the elongated tubular body of the
guide tube.
25. The surgical system of claim 21, wherein the guide tube
includes an electrically conductive material.
26. The surgical system of claim 21, further including a sterile
drape positioned adjacent to the guide tube.
27. The surgical system of claim 21, further comprising an
endoscope and a second surgical portal positioned to receive the
endoscope to enable the endoscope to maintain the guide tube within
a field of view of the endoscope when the guide tube is inserted
within a patient.
28. The surgical system of claim 21, wherein the surgical
instrument is robotically controlled.
29. The surgical system of claim 28, further comprising a robotic
arm, the surgical instrument coupled to the robotic arm.
30. The surgical system of claim 29, wherein the guide tube is
supported by the robotic arm.
31. The surgical system of claim 30, wherein the guide tube
maintains alignment between the robotic arm and the surgical portal
when the guide tube is inserted in the surgical portal.
32. The surgical system of claim 31, wherein the surgical
instrument is selectively removable from the robotic arm.
33. The surgical system of claim 32, wherein movement of the
robotic arm causes the guide tube to move relative to the surgical
portal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/717,482, filed Dec. 17, 2019, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/548,473, filed
Aug. 3, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,517,684, and which is a U.S.
National Stage Application filed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371(a) of
International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2016/014219,
filed Jan. 21, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 62/121,283, filed on Feb. 26, 2015, the
entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Robotic surgical systems have been used in minimally
invasive medical procedures in which surgical instruments were
inserted through surgical portals at fixed entry points into the
patient's body. These systems incorporated a Remote Center of
Motion (RCM) to ensure that the surgical instruments did not move
beyond these fixed entry points as the instruments were manipulated
inside the patient's body. Many of these surgical robots used a
mechanical RCM with a portion of robotic arm attaching directly to
the surgical portal. Unlike surgical robots using mechanical RCM's,
software-based RCM's typically did not mechanically connect to the
surgical portal in order to provide an increased range of motion
and reduce collisions between robotic arms of the surgical robot.
Unfortunately, many of the surgical robots with software-based
RCM's tend to complicate instrument exchanges as the surgical
portals moved out of alignment with the robotic arms when the
surgical instruments were removed.
[0003] During an instrument exchange, the surgical instrument was
pulled out of the surgical port and removed from the robotic arm. A
new or different surgical instrument was then connected to the
robotic arm and introduced back through the surgical portal.
Surgical robots with mechanical based RCM's facilitated the
exchange because the surgical portal was continually held in
alignment with the linear axis of the instrument motion by a
linkage or connection to the surgical portal. In contrast, surgical
robots with software-based RCM's did not have a connection or
linkage to the surgical portal and therefore lost alignment when
the surgical instrument was removed from the surgical portal.
Inserting another surgical instrument required the clinician to
manually align the surgical portal with the surgical instrument.
This process increased the time required for conducting the
instrument exchange.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for robotic surgical systems
with software-based RCM's that facilitate instrument exchange by
maintaining alignment of the surgical portal and robotic arm.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure is directed to a guide tube that
speeds up the instrument exchange process and eliminates the need
for a clinician to hold the surgical portal during an insertion of
the surgical instrument into the surgical portal.
[0006] The described guide tube can cover an entire instrument
shaft of the surgical instrument with only the distal wrist
assembly thereof exposed at a surgical site so that a distal end of
the guide tube remains in a field of view of an in vivo endoscope
while the surgical instrument is removed. Thus, with the benefit of
the guide tube, a final, exact in vivo location of the end effector
of the new or different instrument will be known by the clinician
prior to reinsertion. Knowing this final location of the end
effector in vivo advantageously increases safety of the instrument
exchange. Safety is further increased because the guide tube
provides a barricaded conduit for the surgical instrument all the
way to the surgical site visible by the endoscopic camera. Ideally,
under normal circumstance of an instrument exchange, the clinician
should always move or adjust the endoscope away from the surgical
site to view the surgical portal during the instrument exchange to
ensure that the surgical instrument does not catch or puncture
organs/connective tissues while the new or different surgical
instrument is inserted. The presently described guide tube
eliminates the need to make such movement or adjustment of the
endoscope. Further, the guide tube provides mechanical
reinforcement to the instrument shaft of the surgical instrument to
reduce bending and can be connected to ground to provide electrical
isolation for improving safety while using electrosurgery.
[0007] In one aspect, a robotic surgical system includes a surgical
robot and a guide tube.
[0008] The surgical robot includes a robot arm and a controller.
The controller is configured to establish a software-based remote
center of motion of a surgical instrument attached to the robot arm
based on a location of a surgical portal in a patient through which
the surgical instrument is inserted.
[0009] The guide tube has a trailing end supported by the robot arm
of the surgical robot, a leading end inserted in the surgical
portal and maintaining alignment between the robotic arm and the
surgical portal during a surgical instrument exchange, and an
elongated tubular body through which an elongated shaft of the
surgical instrument is inserted or removed during the surgical
instrument exchange. The guide tube is slidably movable relative to
surgical portal in response to movement of the robotic arm.
[0010] The guide tube and the robotic arm define a first
longitudinal axis that extends between the leading and trailing
ends of the guide tube. The surgical portal defines a second
longitudinal axis that extends between the leading and trailing
ends thereof. The first longitudinal axis is configured to maintain
coaxial alignment with the second longitudinal axis during the
surgical instrument exchange.
[0011] In embodiments, guide tube includes an internal seal
configured to maintain a sealed relationship with surgical
instruments received within the guide tube. The guide tube may be
formed of an electrically conductive material. The guide tube can
be grounded.
[0012] The robotic surgical system may further include a sterile
drape positioned between the guide tube and the robotic arm.
[0013] According to another aspect, a method comprises setting a
software-based remote center of motion (RCM) of a robot arm of a
surgical robot after the robot arm is moved into a position in
which a leading end of a guide tube supported by the robot arm is
inserted in a surgical portal in a patient. Setting the
software-based RCM may include storing a location of the surgical
portal. The guide tube has an elongated tubular body through which
an elongated shaft of the surgical instrument passes through as a
surgical instrument controlled by the robot arm is inserted in or
removed from the surgical portal.
[0014] The method involves robotically moving the robot arm and the
surgical instrument about the set software-based RCM and
maintaining an alignment between the robotic arm and the surgical
portal during a surgical instrument exchange when the surgical
instrument is not in the surgical portal. Robotically moving the
robot arm and the surgical instrument about a set software-based
RCM may include sliding the guide tube relative to the surgical
portal.
[0015] The method may include electrically communicating the
location of the surgical portal to the robotic arm.
[0016] The method may further include advancing an endoscope
through a second surgical portal adjacent to the surgical portal,
and positioning the endoscope to maintain a leading end of the
guide tube within a field of view of the endoscope. The method may
involve maintaining the leading end of the guide tube within the
field of view of the endoscope during the surgical instrument
exchange.
[0017] Further details and aspects of exemplary embodiments of the
present disclosure are described in more detail below with
reference to the appended figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the disclosure and, together with a general description of the
disclosure given above, and the detailed description of the
embodiment(s) given below, serve to explain the principles of the
disclosure, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a robotic surgical
system in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view, with parts
separated, of a surgical assembly of the robotic surgical system of
FIG. 1; and
[0021] FIGS. 3-11 are progressive views illustrating an instrument
exchange procedure conducted in connection with the surgical
assembly of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in
detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference
numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of
the several views. As used herein, the term "distal" refers to that
portion of a device that is farther from the user, while the term
"proximal" refers to that portion of a device that is closer to the
user.
[0023] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a surgical system, such as,
for example, a robotic surgical system is shown generally as
robotic surgical system 1 and generally includes a plurality of
robotic arms 2, 3; a controller or control device 4; and an
operating console 5 coupled with control device 4. Operating
console 5 includes a display device 6, which is set up in
particular to display three-dimensional images; and manual input
devices 7, 8, by means of which a person (not shown), for example a
surgeon, is able to telemanipulate robotic arms 2, 3 in a first
operating mode, as known in principle to a person skilled in the
art.
[0024] Robotic surgical system 1 also includes a surgical assembly
100 connected to a distal end of each of robotic arms 2, 3.
Surgical assembly 100 may support one or more surgical instruments
such as surgical instruments 200, 300, as will be described in
greater detail below.
[0025] Each of the robotic arms 2, 3 is composed of a plurality of
members, which are connected through joints. Referring also to FIG.
2, robotic arm 2 (and/or robotic arm 3) includes a mounting portion
2a having an outer surface 2b and an inner surface 2c. Inner
surface 2c defines a receiving passage 2d therethrough and outer
surface 2b that may support a sterile drape 2e thereon. Sterile
drape 2e can be disposable and/or replaceable. Inner surface 2c may
form a shoulder 2g that functions to support one of surgical
instruments 200, 300.
[0026] Robotic arms 2, 3 may be driven by electric drives (not
shown) that are connected to control device 4. Control device 4
(e.g., a computer) is set up to activate the drives, in particular
by means of a computer program, in such a way that robotic arms 2,
3, their surgical assemblies 100 and/or surgical instruments 200,
300 execute a desired movement according to a movement defined by
means of manual input devices 7, 8. Control device 4 may also be
set up in such a way that it regulates movement of robotic arms 2,
3 and/or of the drives. While electrically coupled to controller or
control device 4, as described above, robotic arms 2, 3 are
configured to receive signals from controller 4, which may be
software-based, to establish a remote center of motion at any
suitable location as described in greater detail below.
[0027] Robotic surgical system 1 is configured for use on a patient
"P" lying on a patient table 12 to be treated in a minimally
invasive manner by means of an end effector of one or more of the
surgical instruments. Surgical system 1 may also include more than
two robotic arms 2, 3, the additional robotic arms likewise being
connected to control device 4 and being telemanipulatable by means
of operating console 5. One or more additional surgical assemblies
100 and/or surgical instruments 200, 300 may also be attached to
the additional robotic arm.
[0028] Control device 4 may control a plurality of motors (Motor 1
. . . n) with each motor configured to drive a pushing or a pulling
of one or more cables of surgical instruments 200, 300. As
described below, the plurality of motors can include a plurality of
motors 202a of an instrument drive unit 202 of surgical instruments
200, 300 as shown in FIG. 2. In use, as these cables are pushed
and/or pulled, the one or more cables effect operation and/or
movement of end effectors 210, 310 of surgical instruments 200,
300. It is contemplated that control device 4 coordinates the
activation of the various motors (Motor 1 . . . n) to coordinate a
pushing or a pulling motion of these cables in order to coordinate
an operation and/or movement of end effectors 210, 310. Reference
may be made to International Application No. PCT/US2014/61329,
filed on Oct. 20, 2014, entitled "Wrist and Jaw Assemblies for
Robotic Surgical Systems," the entire content of which is
incorporated herein by reference, for a detailed discussion of the
construction and operation of end effectors 210, 310.
[0029] In embodiments, each motor can be configured to actuate a
drive rod or a lever arm to effect operation and/or movement of end
effectors 210, 310 in addition to, or instead of one or more
cables.
[0030] Control device 4 can include any suitable logic control
circuit adapted to perform calculations and/or operate according to
a set of instructions. Control device 4 can be configured to
communicate with a remote system "RS," either via a wireless (e.g.,
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, etc.) and/or wired connection. Remote system
"RS" can include data, instructions and/or information related to
the various components, algorithms, and/or operations of work
station 1. Remote system "RS" can include any suitable electronic
service, database, platform, cloud "C," or the like. Control device
4 may include a central processing unit operably connected to
memory. The memory may include transitory type memory (e.g., RAM)
and/or non-transitory type memory (e.g., flash media, disk media,
etc.). In some embodiments, the memory is part of, and/or operably
coupled to, remote system "RS."
[0031] Control device 4 can include a plurality of inputs and
outputs for interfacing with the components of robotic surgical
system 1, such as through a driver circuit. Control device 4 can be
configured to receive input signals and/or generate output signals
to control one or more of the various components (e.g., one or more
motors) of robotic surgical system 1. The output signals can
include, and/or can be based upon, algorithmic instructions which
may be pre-programmed and/or input by a user. Control device 4 can
be configured to accept a plurality of user inputs from a user
interface (e.g., switches, buttons, touch screen, etc. of operating
console 5) which may be coupled to remote system "RS."
[0032] A database 14 can be directly and/or indirectly coupled to
control device 4. Database 14 can be configured to store
pre-operative data from living being(s) and/or anatomical
atlas(es). Database 14 can include memory which can be part of,
and/or or operatively coupled to, remote system "RS."
[0033] Reference may be made to U.S. Patent Publication No.
2012/0116416, filed on Nov. 3, 2011, entitled "Medical
Workstation," the entire content of which is incorporated herein by
reference, for a detailed discussion of the construction and
operation of components of robotic surgical system 1.
[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 2-11, surgical assembly 100 includes
a guide tube 110, a first surgical instrument 200, a second
surgical instrument 300, and one or more surgical portals 400.
First and second surgical instruments 200, 300 can be the same
and/or different types of instruments (e.g., a grasper, stapler,
cutter, sealer, or the like). In some embodiments, surgical
assembly 100 includes a second surgical portal 500 and a further
second surgical instrument 600 such as an endoscope, for
example.
[0035] Guide tube 110 extends between a proximal or trailing end
110a of guide tube 100 and a distal or leading end 110b of guide
tube 110. A housing 112 is disposed at trailing end 110a of guide
tube 110, and an elongated tubular body 114 extends distally from
housing 112 to distal end 110b of guide tube 110. Guide tube 110
can be formed from any suitable material such as stainless steel
for example to enable sterilization and reuse of guide tube 110.
Additionally, and or alternatively guide tube 110 or portions
thereof can be formed of transparent material. For example, leading
end 110b can be transparent to provide visualization for
determining a location/position of surgical instruments advanced
therethrough. Guide tube 110 can also be grounded (e.g., via a
grounding rod or the like not shown) during electrosurgery, for
example, to provide electrical isolation. Guide tube 110 may be
electrically configured to detect faulty insulation of an
electrosurgery instrument.
[0036] Housing 112 includes an outer surface 112a and an inner
surface 112b. Housing 112 includes a top surface 112c and a bottom
surface 112d. Top surface 112c can form an annular flange 112e that
extends radially outwardly from housing 112, and bottom surface
112d can form an annular shoulder 112f that couples elongated
tubular body 114 to housing 112.
[0037] Elongated tubular body 114 includes an outer surface 114a
and an inner surface 114b. Inner surface 114b of elongated tubular
body 114 and inner surface 112b of housing 112 define a passage 116
that opens through leading and trailing ends 110a, 110b of guide
tube 110.
[0038] An internal seal 118, such as a disc seal and/or duckbill
valve, for example, is supported in housing 112 and extends from
inner surface 112b of housing 112. Internal seal 118 is positioned
within housing 112 to receive first and/or second surgical
instruments 200, 300 therethrough in a sealed relationship with a
respective one of the first and/or second surgical instruments 200,
300.
[0039] Each of surgical instruments 200, 300 includes an instrument
drive unit 202 supported at a proximal end thereof and a shaft
assembly 204 that extends distally from instrument drive unit 202.
Shaft assembly 204 includes one or more cables such as cables 206,
208 that extend therealong and/or therethrough to an end effector
210 and/or an end effector 310 coupled to a distal end of shaft
assembly 204. For example, end effectors 210, 310 can include any
suitable end effector known in the art such as a grasper, stapler,
sealer or the like that functions to manipulate, fasten, cut,
and/or seal tissue. Proximal ends of cables 206, 208 are coupled to
instrument drive unit 202 and actuatable in response to activation
of one or more motors 202a supported within instrument drive unit
202 to operate end effectors 210, 310.
[0040] Surgical portals 400, 500 are substantially identical and
thus in the interest of brevity, only surgical portal 400 is
described in detail herein. As shown in FIG. 2, surgical portal 200
includes a body 410 having an outer surface 410a and an inner
surface 410b. Inner surface 410b defines a passage 412 that opens
at trailing and leading ends 410c, 410d of body 410. Body 410
includes an annular flange 414 that extends radially outwardly from
body 410 at trailing end 410c of body 410. An internal seal 416,
such as a disc seal and/or a duck-bill valve, for example, is
supported in passage 412 that functions to establish a sealed
relationship with instruments such as first and second instruments
200, 300 and/or endoscope 600 advanced therethrough into a surgical
site "S" while body 410 is positioned within a tract of tissue
"T."
[0041] In use, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-11, for example, during a
laparoscopic procedure, in which an abdominal region of a patient
is insufflated to create a working space at the surgical site "S"
(although the presently described surgical system can be used in
any suitable open or minimally invasive procedure), surgical
portals 400, 500 are positioned within tissue "T." As shown in FIG.
2, with endoscope 600 advanced through surgical portal 500 into
surgical site "S" adjacent to surgical portal 400, endoscope 600
functions to establish a field of view "F" within surgical site "S"
to view surgical site "S," first instrument 200, second instrument
300, guide tube 110, and/or surgical portal 400.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, mounting portion 2a of robotic arm 2 is
positioned adjacent to, and in alignment with, surgical portal 400
to establish/set a remote center of motion (RCM), for example, a
set software-based RCM, based upon the location of surgical portal
400. The location of surgical portal 400 can be stored (e.g.,
electronically via controller) as desired. The RCM and/or location
of robotic arm 2 can be based on a longitudinal axis "L" that
extends through leading and trailing ends 410c, 410d of surgical
portal 400. Mounting portion 2a of robotic arm 2 may be positioned
relative to surgical portal 400 such that a longitudinal axis "L2"
that extends through receiving passage 2d of robotic arm 2 is
coaxial with longitudinal axis "L" of surgical portal 400.
Positioning of robotic arm 2 may be based on electrical
communications from control device 4 corresponding to the location
of surgical portal 400 and/or longitudinal axis "L" thereof
[0043] Elongated tubular body 114 of guide tube 110 is then
advanced through receiving passage 2d of robotic arm 2 such that
mounting portion 2a and sterile drape 2e support housing 112 on
robotic arm 2 and leading end 110b of guide tube 110 extends into
passage 412 of surgical portal 400 with internal seal 416 of
surgical portal 400 sealingly engaged with outer surface 114a of
guide tube 110. Housing 112 of guide tube 110 can be received in
receiving passage 2d of robotic arm 2 such that annular flange 112e
of housing 112 engages sterile drape 2e to provide a sterile
connection between guide tube 110 and robotic arm 2.
[0044] With guide tube 110 supported by robotic arm 2, guide tube
110 can be positioned relative to surgical portal 400 such that
leading end 110b of guide tube 110 can extend distally beyond
leading end 410d of surgical portal 400 and into surgical site "S."
Robotic arm 2 can be moved axially relative to longitudinal axes
"L" and "L2," as indicated by arrow "A1," (FIG. 3) to adjust axial
positioning of guide tube 110 relative surgical portal 400 while
maintaining alignment between robotic arm 2 and surgical portal 400
via guide tube 110. For example, axial movement of guide tube 110
may be effectuated at any time during a procedure to provide access
to different areas within surgical site "S" based upon a location
of leading end 110b of guide tube 110.
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, guide tube 110 receives, for
example, first surgical instrument 200 and establishes a sealed
relationship with shaft 204 of first surgical instrument 200 via
internal seal 118 as first surgical instrument 200 is received by
guide tube 110. First surgical instrument 200 is advanced through
guide tube 110 so that end effector 210 of first surgical
instrument 200 extends distally beyond leading ends 110b, 410d of
guide tube 110 and surgical portal 400, respectively, and into
field of view "F" of endoscope 600 within surgical site "S." End
effector 210 can then be utilized to operate within surgical site
"S" as desired.
[0046] With reference to FIGS. 7-11, should a clinician determine
that an instrument exchange is required, first surgical instrument
200 can be withdrawn and replaced with second surgical instrument
300. To facilitate effectiveness of the instrument exchange,
alignment between robotic arm 2 and surgical portal 400 can be
maintained with guide tube 110 (via the software-based RCM) during
the entirety of the instrument exchange and including when no
surgical instrument is positioned within surgical portal 400.
Leading end 110b of guide tube 110 remains within the field of view
"F" of endoscope 600 during the procedure and during instrument
exchange to enable clinician to determine a final, exact in vivo
location of end effector 310 of second surgical instrument 300. One
or more subsequent instrument exchanges can be effectuated as
desired, similar to that described above, with first surgical
instrument 200, second surgical instrument 300, and/or other
suitable surgical instruments in order effectuate various
steps/procedures with the various instruments. As any of these
surgical instruments are advanced in and/or out of guide tube 110,
guide tube 110 provides a barricaded conduit to protect surrounding
patient tissue from undesired tissue damage resulting from snagging
or the like.
[0047] It is also contemplated that guide tube 110 can be utilized
without surgical portal 400 such that guide tube 110 advances
directly through the tissue "T." In embodiments, guide tube 110
includes one or more markings, light emitting diodes, and/or light
pipes for various identification purposes. For example, light
communicated from a diode or light pipe may communicate information
such as whether or not a robotic arm is active, an instrument
exchange is being undergone, an instrument is armed, etc. Guide
tube 110 may also include one or more sensors for measuring force
such as force exerted by tissue (e.g., abdominal wall) which can be
subtracted from measured forces applied to a proximal end of one of
the instruments.
[0048] To improve safety of removing and inserting endoscope 600,
guide tube 110 can also be utilized in conjunction with surgical
portal 500 to facilitate use of one or more endoscopes 600 in a
manner similar to that described with respect to surgical portal
400 and instruments 200, 300. In one embodiment, guide tube 110 may
define a separate lumen that receives a fluid (e.g. saline) for
cleaning a lens of endoscope 600.
[0049] Persons skilled in the art will understand that the
structures and methods specifically described herein and shown in
the accompanying figures are non-limiting exemplary embodiments,
and that the description, disclosure, and figures should be
construed merely as exemplary of particular embodiments. It is to
be understood, therefore, that the present disclosure is not
limited to the precise embodiments described, and that various
other changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in
the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the
disclosure. Additionally, the elements and features shown or
described in connection with certain embodiments may be combined
with the elements and features of certain other embodiments without
departing from the scope of the present disclosure, and that such
modifications and variations are also included within the scope of
the present disclosure. Accordingly, the subject matter of the
present disclosure is not limited by what has been particularly
shown and described.
* * * * *