Medical robotic work station

A robotic work station for seating a patient during a treatment procedure comprising:

• a robotic manipulator mounted on a frame for performing the treatment procedure;
• a chair for seating the patient in a seating posture in proximity to the frame;
• a means for supporting bony members of the patient, which bony members locate a work space;
• a means for sensing a location of the work space relative to the robotic manipulator;
• a camera mounted on and manipulated by the robotic manipulator for imaging selected features of the work space when the patient is seated on the chair;
• a cover for sanitary isolation of the robotic manipulator from the patient;
• and
• wherein the robotic manipulator is guided to perform the treatment procedure on the patient with surgical tools in response to signals generated by the means for sensing and the camera and is guided into the work space in response to the signals generated by the means for sensing.

A method for performing a treatment procedure autonomously at a work site of a patient seated in an upright posture using a medical robotic work station, the work station including a robotic manipulator connected to a robot controller and a plurality of sensors comprising the following steps:

• a. inputting a procedure program corresponding to the treatment procedure into the robot controller;
• b. fitting the robotic manipulator with a tool appropriate for performing the treatment procedure;
• c. seating the patient at the work station facing the robotic manipulator with a bony member of the head of the patient resting on a support of the work station;
• d. adjusting a chin locator to touch a bottom of a patient chin with a mouth of the patient being open;
• e. energizing the robot controller and the robotic manipulator to perform the treatment procedure;
• f. detecting signals from the sensors indicating a presence of the patient seated in the upright posture and with the mouth open;
• g. taking an image of the procedure site with a camera to identify a geometry and location of the work site relative to a location of the robotic manipulator;
• h. using the image to generate a patient-specific program to suit the geometry and characteristics of the work site;
• and
• i. performing the treatment procedure wherein the robotic manipulator manipulates the tool according to the patient-specific program.