IP Library Granted Patent US 11,633,185
Granted Patent B2
US 11,633,185 · App. 17/370,818 · Granted Apr 25, 2023

Systems and methods for end effector position set point adjustment

Inventors: Andrew D. Wilson (Hamden, CT); Amir Chaghajerdi (San Jose, CA); David W. Weir (San Carlos, CA)
Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
A61B17/07207A61B34/35A61B2017/00017A61B2017/00367A61B2017/07271
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,633,185
App. No.
17/370,818
Granted
Apr 25, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

End effector position set point adjustment includes an instrument and a control unit. The instrument includes an end effector and a drive mechanism for actuating the end effector. The control unit is configured to actuate the end effector using the drive mechanism, determine an actual position of the end effector, identify an expected position associated with the determined actual position of the end effector, determine a position offset based on the expected position and the determined actual position of the end effector, adjust a position set point based on the position offset, and actuate the end effector to the adjusted position set point using the drive mechanism.

Claims (42)

1. A system for actuating an instrument, the system comprising:

an instrument comprising an end effector and a drive mechanism for actuating the end effector; and

a control unit configured to:

actuate the end effector using the drive mechanism;

determine an actual position of the end effector;

identify an expected position associated with the determined actual position of the end effector;

determine a position offset based on the expected position and the determined actual position of the end effector;

adjust a position set point based on the position offset, the position set point corresponding to a desired position for the end effector; and

actuate the end effector to the adjusted position set point using the drive mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the end effector is a stapling device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the stapling device is configured to receive replaceable stapling cartridges.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein, to actuate the end effector, the control unit is configured to provide a current, a voltage, or a pulse-width modulated signal to an actuator.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a motor or a servo.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein to determine the actual position of the end effector, the control unit is configured to track a position of the actuator.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the position offset is a difference between the expected position and the determined actual position of the end effector.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein to adjust the position set point, the control unit is configured to add the position offset to the position set point.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to actuate the end effector to the position set point before actuating the end effector to the adjusted position set point.

10. A method of actuating an end effector of an instrument using a control unit, the method comprising:

actuating the end effector using a drive mechanism;

determining an actual position of the end effector;

identifying an expected position associated with the determined actual position of the end effector;

determining a position offset based on the expected position and the determined actual position of the end effector;

adjusting a position set point based on the position offset, the position set point corresponding to a desired position for the end effector; and

actuating the end effector to the adjusted position set point using the drive mechanism.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the end effector is a stapling device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein actuating the end effector comprises providing a current, a voltage, or a pulse-width modulated signal to an actuator.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the actuator is a motor or a servo.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the actual position of the end effector comprises tracking a position of the actuator.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the position set point comprises adding the position offset to the position set point.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon a plurality of machine-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors associated with a computer-assisted device, are adapted to cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

actuating an end effector using a drive mechanism;

determining an actual position of the end effector;

identifying an expected position associated with the determined actual position of the end effector;

determining a position offset based on the expected position and the determined actual position of the end effector;

adjusting a position set point based on the position offset, the position set point corresponding to a desired position for the end effector; and

actuating the end effector to the adjusted position set point using the drive mechanism.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein the end effector is a stapling device.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein:

actuating the end effector comprises providing a current, a voltage, or a pulse-width modulated signal to an actuator; and

the actuator is a motor or a servo.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17 , wherein determining the actual position of the end effector comprises tracking a position of an actuator.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein adjusting the position set point comprises adding the position offset to the position set point.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2021
From: WILSON, ANDREW D.; CHAGHAJERDI, AMIR; WEIR, DAVID W.
To: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057482/0217 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16760895
Provisional Application 62580751 · Nov 2, 2017
Related Publication 20210330325A1 · Oct 28, 2021
Cited By (21)
US 12,185,946 US 12,213,666 US 12,213,671 US 12,239,316 US 12,245,901 US 12,256,930 US 12,262,888 US 12,274,445 US 12,290,261 US 12,324,581 US 12,369,911 US 12,383,267 US 12,414,768 US 12,433,584 US 12,440,208 US 12,446,877 US 12,453,557 US 12,458,455 US 12,521,116 US 12,527,571 US 12,636,006