Remotely Controlled Surgical Robots

Abstract

A surgical robotic system is provided including at least one robotic unit that is mechanically self-contained such that the robotic unit is movable on a bodily surface inside a patient's body independently of any structure positioned outside of the patient's body, and a control device positioned remotely from the at least one robotic unit, wherein said control device transmits commands that manipulate the at least one robotic unit inside the patient's body. A method of performing a robotically assisted medical procedure is also provided, including positioning at least one robotic unit inside a patient's body, moving the robotic unit on a bodily surface inside the patient's body by transmitting commands thereto via a control device that is positioned remotely from the at least one robotic unit, and actuating at least one medical tool positioned on the robotic unit via the control device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.