Systems and methods for performing a surgical procedure

1. A system for performing a surgical procedure within a cavity of a living body, the system comprising:

a cannula having a tubular body and proximal and distal ends, the distal end being sized and configured to be inserted into the cavity;

at least first and second tools that individually pass through first and second ports located at the proximal end of the cannula, extend through the body of the cannula, and individually protrude from the distal end of the cannula through additional ports located at the distal end of the cannula, each of the first and second tools comprising a shaft and a working element on a distal end of the shaft, at least a portion of the working element of the first tool being capable of articulation relative to the shaft and rotation relative to the cannula, the working element of the first tool being configured to perform tasks in the cavity, the first and second tools being adapted for translation and rotation relative to the cannula independently of each other;

a control system and actuator that articulate a tip of the working element of the first tool relative to the shaft of the first tool; and

a translation unit and a rotation unit disposed within the cannula, the translation unit and the rotation unit comprising mechanisms internal of the cannula for achieving independent translational and rotational motions of the first and second tools within the cannula and to independently translate and rotate the first and second tools and the working elements thereof, the rotation unit comprising a roller that is engageable and disengageable from the shaft of the first tool and an actuator that engages and disengages the roller from the shaft of the tool;

wherein the working element of the first tool is produced with an additive manufacturing technique that forms components of the working element of the first tool as a single integral component by fusing particles together;

wherein the working element of the first tool comprises a base configured to removably secure the working element of the first tool to the shaft of the first tool, a tip configured to assist in performance of the surgical procedure, and a joint connecting the base to the tip, the joint being sufficiently flexible such that the tip is capable of articulating relative to the base; and

wherein the joint is formed of a flexible material such that the tip is able to articulate relative to the base, and the base and the tip are formed of materials that are different than the flexible material of the joint so that the base and the tip are more rigid than the flexible material of the joint.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a surgical robot that controls the articulation of the working element of the first tool.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises an endoscopic hand-piece for controlling the articulation of the working element of the first tool.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising computer-controlled means comprising the translation unit for translating the first and second tools relative to the cannula.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the translation unit is disposed within the cannula at the distal end thereof.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the translation unit is disposed at one of the additional ports located at the distal end of the cannula.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising computer-controlled means comprising the rotation unit for rotating the first tool relative to the cannula.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the rotation unit is disposed within the cannula at the distal end thereof.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the rotation unit is disposed at one of the additional ports located at the distal end of the cannula.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising computer-controlled means comprising the translation and rotation units for translating and rotating the first tool relative to the cannula.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the translation unit and the rotation unit are disposed within the cannula at the distal end thereof.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the translation and rotation units is disposed at one of the additional ports located at the distal end of the cannula.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the working element of the first tool is chosen from the group consisting of graspers and nerve retractors.

14. A system for performing a surgical procedure within a cavity of a living body, the system comprising:

a cannula having a tubular body and proximal and distal ends, the distal end being sized and configured to be inserted into the cavity;

at least first and second tools that individually pass through ports located at the proximal end of the cannula, extend through the body of the cannula, and individually protrude from the distal end of the cannula through additional ports located at the distal end of the cannula, each of the first and second tools comprising a shaft and a working element on a distal end of the shaft, at least a portion of the working element of the first tool being capable of articulation relative to the shaft, the working element of the first tool being configured to perform surgical tasks in the cavity, the first and second tools being adapted for translation and rotation relative to the cannula independently of each other;

a control system and actuator that articulate a tip of the working element of the first tool relative to the shaft of the first tool; and

computer-controlled means for translating and rotating the first tool relative to the cannula, the computer-controlled means comprising a translation unit and a rotation unit disposed within the cannula at the distal end thereof, the translation unit and the rotation unit comprising mechanisms internal of the cannula for achieving independent translational and rotational motions of the first and second tools within the cannula and to independently translate and rotate the first and second tools and the working elements thereof, the rotation unit comprising a roller that is engageable and disengageable from the shaft of the first tool and an actuator that engages and disengages the roller from the shaft of the tool;

wherein the working element of the first tool is produced with an additive manufacturing technique that forms components of the working element of the first tool as a single integral component by fusing particles together;

wherein the working element of the first tool comprises a base configured to removably secure the working element of the first tool to the shaft of the first tool, a tip configured to assist in performance of the surgical procedure, and a joint connecting the base to the tip, the joint being sufficiently flexible such that the tip is capable of articulating relative to the base; and

wherein the joint is formed of a flexible material such that the tip is able to articulate relative to the base, and the base and the tip are formed of materials that are different than the flexible material of the joint so that the base and the tip are more rigid than the flexible material of the joint.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control system comprises a surgical robot that controls the articulation of the working element of the first tool.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control system comprises an endoscopic hand-piece for controlling the articulation of the working element of the first tool.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the working element of the first tool is chosen from the group consisting of graspers, nerve retractors, and cameras.