Automated surgical system and apparatus
OwnerPeter J. Wilkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical system comprises an endoscopic instrument, a camera on the endoscopic instrument for obtaining video images of internal body tissues inside a patient's body via the endoscopic instrument, and a transmitter operatively connected to the camera for transmitting, over a telecommunications link to a remote location beyond a range of direct visual contact with the patient's body, a video signal encoding the video image. A receiver is provided for receiving actuator control signals from the remote location via the telecommunications link. The receiver feeds the signals to a robot actuator mechanism for controlling that mechanism to operate a surgical instrument insertable into the patient's body.
Claims20
A surgical method, comprising the steps of:
- providing an endoscopic instrument assembly with a flexible insertion member, said endoscopic instrument assembly having a plurality of biopsy channels extending parallel to said insertion member;
- also providing a plurality of flexible endoscopic tools having distal end portions;
- inserting said insertion member into a patient's body;
- obtaining a video image of internal body tissues inside said patient's body via said endoscopic instrument assembly;
- transmitting, over an electromagnetic signaling link, a video signal encoding said video image to a remote location beyond a range of direct manual contact with said patient's body and said endoscopic instrument;
- receiving actuator control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link;
- automatically inserting distal end portions of said tools into the patient's body via respective ones of said biopsy channels in response to the received actuator control signals;
- and
- automatically operating said tools in response to the received actuator control signals to effect a surgical operation on said internal body tissues.
A surgical system comprising:
- an endoscopic instrument;
- camera means attached to said endoscopic instrument for obtaining video images of internal body tissues inside a patient's body via said endoscopic instrument;
- transmission means operatively connected to said camera means for transmitting, over an electromagnetic signaling link to a remote location beyond a range of direct manual contact with said patient's body and said endoscopic instrument, a video signal encoding said video image;
- receiver means for receiving actuator control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link;
- a surgical instrument insertable into the patient's body and movable relative to the patient's body and said endoscopic instrument, said surgical instrument having a replaceable operative tip;
- robot actuator means operatively connected to said surgical instrument and said receiver means for actuating said surgical instrument in response to the actuator control signals received by said receiver means from said remote location;
- and
- robot selector means operatively connected to said surgical instrument and said receiver means for removing said operative tip and replacing said operative tip with a different operating tip in response to the actuator control signals received by said receiver means from said remote location.
A surgical system comprising:
- an endoscopic instrument;
- camera means connected to said endoscopic instrument for obtaining stereoscopic video images of internal body tissues inside a patient's body via said endoscopic instrument;
- transmission means operatively connected to said camera means for transmitting, over an electromagnetic signaling link to a remote location beyond a range of direct manual contact with said patient's body and said endoscopic instrument, a video signal encoding said video images;
- receiver means for receiving actuator control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link;
- a surgical instrument insertable into the patient's body and movable relative to the patient's body and said endoscopic instrument;
- and
- robot actuator means operatively connected to said surgical instrument and said receiver means for actuating said surgical instrument in response to the actuator control signals received by said receiver means from said remote location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.