METHODS FOR PERFORMING MEDICAL PROCEDURES USING A SURGICAL ROBOT
Embodiments are directed to a medical robot system including a robot coupled to an end-effectuator element with the robot configured to control movement and positioning of the end-effectuator in relation to the patient. One embodiment is a method for removing bone with a robot system comprising: taking a two-dimensional slice through a computed tomography scan volume of target anatomy; placing a perimeter on a pathway to the target anatomy; and controlling a drill assembly with the robot system to remove bone along the pathway in the intersection of the perimeter and the two-dimensional slice.
1 . A method for aligning vertebrae for a surgical procedure using a robot system comprising:
inserting a tubular element into a patient and next to a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies;
attaching the tubular element to an end-effectuator of the robot system; and
controlling a vertebral alignment tool with the robot system to insert the vertebral alignment tool through the tubular element such that the vertebral alignment tool is inserted between the adjacent vertebral bodies to distract the adjacent vertebral bodies.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the end-effectuator of the robot system to align the vertebral alignment tool with disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a locking dial portal is used to align the vertebral alignment tool.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the tubular element is inserted into the patient while attached to the end-effectuator, the tubular element being controlled by the robot system.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertebral alignment tool has a working channel.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising inserting one or more additional surgical tools through the working channel and into disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing disc material from between the adjacent vertebral bodies through a working channel in the vertebral alignment tool.