Articulated tool positioner and system employing same

1. A laparoscopic surgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure through a single incision in a patient's body, the apparatus comprising:

a gross positioning arm supported on a moveable platform, the gross positioning arm including a head having:

at least a first motor;

a first gear segment being drivable by the first motor to actuate a tool to perform surgical operations;

at least a second motor; and

a second gear segment being drivable by the second motor to actuate the tool to perform additional surgical operations, wherein the first gear segment and the second gear segment are spaced apart and coaxial with one another;

at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus coupled via a tool controller to an underside of the head, the articulated tool positioning apparatus being configured to receive the tool and couple the tool to the first gear segment and the second gear segment of the head, the tool controller being actuated by the head to cause movements of the at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus for performing surgical operations; and

wherein the gross positioning arm is configured to permit the head to be positioned to facilitate insertion of the at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus through the incision into the patient's body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gross positioning arm is supported on a mobile platform and wherein the head is at least in part positioned by maneuvering the mobile platform to position the head to facilitate insertion of the at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus through the incision into the patient's body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the patient is supported on a surgical table during the surgical procedure and wherein the mobile platform, once maneuvered into position, is coupled to the surgical table.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein once positioned, the head remains in a fixed location with respect to the patient during the surgical procedure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus has a portion enclosed by a delivery tube, the delivery tube being coupled to an underside of the head and having a distal end, the delivery tube being configured to receive the at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus through the delivery tube such that the tool protrudes beyond the distal end of the delivery tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head of the gross positioning arm includes:

an optical connector for selective connection with a camera assembly extending through a tube assembly; and

an electrical connector for selective connection with the camera assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head includes a plurality of first motor and second motor pairs, wherein each motor pair cooperates to actuate the tool connected to the head.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the delivery tube has a proximal end which permits the loading of the at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus and tool controller from behind the head for facilitating loading from a location that is removed from the patient.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the delivery tube comprises a connector portion and wherein the head comprises a coupler portion including a corresponding connector portion for removably coupling the delivery tube to the head.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the delivery tube when connected via the connector to the connector of the head, causes the tool controller to be coupled for actuation by the head to move the at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus.

11. A laparoscopic surgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure through a single incision in a patient's body, the apparatus comprising:

a head including:

at least a first motor;

a first gear segment being drivable by the first motor to actuate a tool to perform surgical operations;

at least a second motor; and

a second gear segment being drivable by the second motor to actuate the tool to perform additional surgical operations, wherein the first gear segment and the second gear segment are spaced apart and coaxial with one another;

an articulated tool positioning apparatus coupled via a tool controller to an underside of the head, the articulated tool positioning apparatus being configured to receive the tool and couple the tool to the first gear segment and the second gear segment of the head, the tool controller being actuated by the head to cause movements of the articulated tool positioning apparatus for performing surgical operations; and

wherein the articulated tool positioning apparatus has a portion enclosed by a delivery tube, the delivery tube being coupled to an underside of the head and having a distal end, the delivery tube being configured to receive the articulated tool positioning apparatus through the delivery tube such that the tool protrudes beyond the distal end of the delivery tube.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head comprises a coupler portion for coupling to the tool controller and wherein the coupler portion includes a sterile cover removably connected about a periphery of the coupler portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sterile cover has an open end that initially drapes downwardly while connecting a sterile tool controller and at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus to the coupler portion, and wherein following connecting of the sterile tool controller and the at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus, the sterile cover is configured to be raised over the head and a distal portion of the gross positioning arm to provide a sterile barrier between the head and the distal portion of the gross positioning arm and the patient.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the head includes a plurality of first motor and second motor pairs, wherein each motor pair cooperates to actuate the tool connected to the head.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the delivery tube is sized to receive more than one articulated tool positioning apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the delivery tube is sized to receive a camera, the camera being positionable inside a patient through the single incision to provide a view that encompasses locations of the tool within the patient.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the delivery tube is coupled to an underside of the head and wherein the delivery tube has a proximal end which permits the loading of the articulated tool positioning apparatus and tool controller from behind the head for facilitating loading from a location removed from the patient.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the delivery tube comprises a connector portion and wherein the head comprises a coupler portion including a corresponding connector portion for removably coupling the delivery tube to the head.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the delivery tube when connected to the head, causes the tool controller to be coupled for actuation by the head to move the articulated tool positioning apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the head is included on a gross positioning arm, and wherein the head includes:

an optical connector for selective connection with a camera assembly extending through a tube assembly; and

an electrical connector for selective connection with the camera assembly.