Methods and devices for remotely controlling movement of surgical tools

A surgical control system, comprising:

• a master tool configured to be manually manipulated by a user to provide an input thereto, the master tool being coupled to one or more sensors;
• and
• a controller configured to
• electronically receive data indicative of movement of the one or more sensors caused by the user's manual manipulation of the master tool,
• cause a first surgical tool coupled to a movement assembly to move based on the movement of the one or more sensors as indicated by the received data,
• compare the movement of the one or more sensors as indicated by the data with preprogrammed patterns of sensor movement, and
• based on a result of the comparing, cause a viewing element of a second surgical tool to adjust in at least one of orientation and zoom level.

A surgical system, comprising:

• a mechanical frame configured to couple to a surgical tool, including first, second, and third rails that are perpendicular to one another and that each have a longitudinal axis, and including a controller configured to wirelessly receive an instruction from a second controller, wherein
• the longitudinal axis of the first rail defining an x axis of a coordinate system,
• the longitudinal axis of the second rail defining a y axis of the coordinate system,
• the longitudinal axis of the third rail defining a z axis of the coordinate system,
• the first and second rails being configured to slide as a unit along the longitudinal axis of the third rail and relative to the third rail so as to linearly translate the surgical tool coupled to the mechanical frame in a z direction,
• the first rail being configured to linearly slide along its longitudinal axis relative to the third rail so as to linearly translate the surgical tool coupled to the mechanical frame in an x direction,
• the second rail being configured to linearly slide along its longitudinal axis relative to the third rail so as to linearly translate the surgical tool coupled to the mechanical frame relative in a y direction, and
• the instruction received by the controller from a second controller causes the controller to cause at least one of (i) the first and second rails to slide as the unit along the longitudinal axis of the third rail and relative to the third rail, (ii) the first rail to linearly slide along its longitudinal axis relative to the third rail, and (iii) the second rail to linearly slide along its longitudinal axis relative to the third rail.