Remotely Controlled Surgical Robots
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.
1 . A surgical robotic system, comprising:
at least one robotic unit that is mechanically self-contained such that said 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 said at least one robotic unit, wherein said control device transmits commands that manipulate said at least one robotic unit inside the patient's body.
2 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises at least one imaging device positioned thereon.
3 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 2 , further comprising a processor receiving image data from said at least one imaging device.
4 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 3 , further comprising a display receiving processed image data from said processor and displaying the image data to a user.
5 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises at least one illumination device generating light for illuminating surrounding tissue.
6 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , further comprising a power source providing electrical power to said at least one robotic unit.
7 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein said control device transmits commands to said at least one robotic unit via a wireless connection.
8 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein said control device transmits commands to said at least one robotic unit via a cable.
9 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises at least one medical tool that receives commands from said control device.
10 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one medical tool comprises at least one of a cutting tool, a grasping tool, a fluid delivery tool, a suturing tool, a suctioning tool, and a wedging tool.
11 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises a movable positioning device coupled to said at least one medical tool that positions said medical tool adjacent target tissue.
12 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises a storage compartment that receives a tissue sample.
13 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises a moving device configured to make contact with the bodily surface to move said at least one robotic unit on the bodily surface inside the patient's body.
14 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one transporter unit configured to transport said at least one robotic unit in and out of the patient's body and within the patient's body.
15 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 14 , wherein said at least one transporter unit comprises a moving device that moves the unit and a lifting device that positions said at least one robotic unit adjacent target tissue.
16 . A surgical robotic system, comprising:
at least one robotic unit, said robotic unit comprising a moving device configured to make contact with and to push off a bodily surface inside a patient's body to propel said robotic unit; and
a control station positioned remotely from said at least one robotic unit, said control station comprising a control device that transmits commands that manipulate said at least one robotic unit inside the patient's body.
17 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises at least one imaging device positioned thereon.
18 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 17 , further comprising a processor that receives image data from said at least one imaging device.
19 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 17 , further comprising a display receiving processed image data from said processor and displaying the image data to a user.
20 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises at least one illumination device generating light for illuminating surrounding tissue.
21 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , further comprising a power source providing electrical power to said at least one robotic unit.
22 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , wherein said control device transmits commands to said at least one robotic unit via a wireless connection.
23 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , wherein said control device transmits commands to said at least one robotic unit via a cable.
24 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises at least one medical tool that receives commands from said control device.
25 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 24 , wherein said at least one medical tool comprises at least one of a cutting tool, a grasping tool, a fluid delivery tool, a suturing tool, a suctioning tool, and a wedging tool.
26 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 24 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises a movable positioning device coupled to said at least one medical tool that positions said medical tool adjacent target tissue.
27 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , wherein said at least one robotic unit comprises a storage compartment that receives a tissue sample.
28 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , further comprising at least one transporter unit configured to transport said at least one robotic unit in and out of the patient's body and within the patient's body.
29 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 28 , wherein said at least one transporter unit comprises a moving device that moves the unit and a lifting device that positions said at least one robotic unit adjacent target tissue.
30 . A method of performing a robotically assisted medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
positioning at least one robotic unit inside a patient's body;
moving said at least one robotic unit on a bodily surface inside the patient's body by transmitting commands thereto via a control device that is positioned remotely from said at least one robotic unit; and
actuating at least one medical tool positioned on said at least one robotic unit via said control device.
31 . The method according to claim 30 , further comprising the step of visualizing surrounding tissue via at least one imaging device positioned on said at least one robotic unit.
32 . The method according to claim 31 , further comprising the step of transmitting image data from said at least one imaging device to a display for display to a user.
33 . The method according to claim 30 , further comprising the step of illuminating surrounding tissue via at least one illumination device positioned on said at least one robotic unit.
34 . The method according to claim 30 , wherein said at least one medical tool comprises at least one of a cutting tool, a grasping tool, a fluid delivery tool, a suturing tool, a suctioning tool, and a wedging tool.
35 . The method according to claim 30 , wherein said control device is transmitting commands to said at least one robotic unit via a wireless connection.
36 . The method according to claim 30 , wherein said control device is transmitting commands to said at least one robotic unit via a cable.