In vivo accessories for minimally invasive robotic surgery

US8551116B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Christopher Julian · Los Gatos, US
• Daniel T. Wallace · Redwood City, US
• Frederick H. Moll · San Francisco, US
• Dean Hoornaert · San Jose, US
• David J. Rosa · San Jose, US
• John Freund · Redwood City, US
• John W. Hill · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 24, 2012
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2013
• Expiry date: Apr 24, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2034/305
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Surgical accessories are presented in vivo and used by surgical tools in the surgical site to perform additional tasks without the need to remove the tools from the surgical site for tool change or instrument loading. The accessories can be introduced into the surgical site by a dedicated accessory introducer, or can be supported on the body of a surgical tool inserted into the surgical site and be manipulated using another surgical tool in the surgical site. The accessory introducer can be resiliently biased to bias the accessories toward a predetermined position in the surgical site.