Single-arm robotic device with compact joint design and related systems and methods

1. A robotic device comprising:

(a) a first elongate device body comprising first and second motors;

(b) a second elongate device body coupled to a distal end of the first elongate device body;

(c) a first driveshaft disposed through the second elongate device body and operably coupled to the first motor;

(d) a second driveshaft disposed through the second elongate device body and operably coupled to the second motor, the second driveshaft operably coupled at a distal end to a first bevel gear, wherein the first driveshaft is rotatably disposed within and being radially concentric with the second driveshaft;

(e) a shoulder joint comprising:

(i) a differential yoke rotationally coupled to the first driveshaft, the differential yoke comprising a yoke body and a yoke lumen defined in the differential yoke, wherein the lumen has a longitudinal axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body;

(ii) a dual shaft rotatably disposed within the yoke lumen, the dual shaft comprising:

(A) a rotational shaft rotatably disposed within the yoke lumen, the rotational shaft rotationally coupled to the first bevel gear; and

(B) an extension shaft extending from the rotational shaft such that a longitudinal axis of the extension shaft is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rotational shaft; and

(iii) an output body rotatably disposed over the extension shaft; and

(f) an arm operably coupled to the output body.

2. The robotic device of claim 1 , further comprising a third driveshaft operably coupled to a third motor, the third driveshaft operably coupled at a distal end to a second bevel gear, wherein the second bevel gear is operably coupled to the output body.

3. The robotic device of claim 2 , wherein the first driveshaft is rotatably disposed within and being radially concentric with the third driveshaft, and wherein the third driveshaft is rotatably disposed within and being radially concentric with the second driveshaft.

4. The robotic device of claim 1 , wherein the device has no second arm.

5. The robotic device of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder joint is a unitary shoulder joint.

6. The robotic device of claim 1 , wherein the second elongate device body has a cross-sectional diameter that is less than a cross-sectional diameter of the first elongate device body.

7. The robotic device of claim 1 , wherein the second elongate device body is sized and structured to be positionable through a trocar port.

8. The robotic device of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder joint is an in-line joint that is collinear with the second elongate device body.

9. A robotic device comprising:

(a) a first elongate device body comprising first, second, and third motors disposed within the first elongate device body;

(b) a second elongate device body coupled to a distal end of the first elongate device body;

(c) a first driveshaft disposed through the second elongate device body and operably coupled to the first motor;

(d) a second driveshaft disposed through the second elongate device body and operably coupled to the second motor, the second driveshaft operably coupled at a distal end to a first bevel gear, wherein the first driveshaft is rotatably disposed within and radially concentric with the second driveshaft;

(e) a third driveshaft disposed through the second elongate device body and operably coupled to the third motor, the third driveshaft operably coupled at a distal end to a second bevel gear;

(f) a shoulder joint comprising:

(i) a differential yoke rotationally coupled to the first driveshaft, the differential yoke comprising a yoke body and a yoke lumen defined in the differential yoke, wherein the yoke lumen has a longitudinal axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body;

(ii) a T shaft rotatably disposed within the yoke lumen, the T shaft comprising:

(A) a rotational shaft rotatably disposed within the yoke lumen, the rotational shaft rotationally coupled to the second bevel gear; and

(B) an extension shaft extending from the rotational shaft; and

(iii) an output body rotatably disposed over the extension shaft, the output body rotationally coupled to the first bevel gear; and

(g) an arm operably coupled to the output body.

10. The robotic device of claim 9 , wherein the second driveshaft is rotatably disposed within and radially concentric with the third driveshaft.

11. The robotic device of claim 9 , wherein the yoke lumen is defined by opposing first and second yoke lumen walls, the first yoke lumen wall comprising a first slot and the second yoke lumen wall comprising a second slot.

12. The robotic device of claim 11 , wherein the extension shaft is capable of being disposed within the first and second slots.

13. The robotic device of claim 9 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the extension shaft is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rotational shaft.

14. The robotic device of claim 9 , wherein the first elongate device body has a cross-sectional diameter that is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of the second elongate device body.

15. The robotic device of claim 9 , wherein the arm comprises an upper arm body; a forearm body; an elbow joint coupling the forearm body to the upper arm body; an end effector; and a wrist joint coupling the end effector to the forearm body, wherein the upper arm body is operably coupled to the output body.

16. A robotic device comprising:

(a) a first elongate device body comprising first, second, and third motors disposed within the first elongate device body;

(b) a second elongate device body coupled to a distal end of the first elongate device body;

(c) a first driveshaft disposed through the second elongate device body and operably coupled to the first motor;

(d) a second driveshaft disposed through the second elongate device body and operably coupled to the second motor, the second driveshaft operably coupled at a distal end to a first bevel gear, wherein the first driveshaft is rotatably disposed within and radially concentric with the second driveshaft;

(e) a third driveshaft disposed through the second elongate device body and operably coupled to the third motor, the third driveshaft operably coupled at a distal end to a second bevel gear, wherein the second driveshaft is rotatably disposed within and radially concentric with the third driveshaft;

(f) a shoulder joint comprising:

(i) a differential yoke rotationally coupled to the first driveshaft, the differential yoke comprising a yoke body and a yoke lumen defined in the differential yoke by opposing first and second curved shells, wherein the first curved shell comprises a first slot and the second curved shell comprises a second slot, wherein the yoke lumen has a longitudinal axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body; and

(ii) a T shaft rotatably disposed within the yoke lumen, the T shaft comprising:

(A) a rotational shaft rotatably disposed within the yoke lumen, the rotational shaft rotationally coupled to the second bevel gear; and

(B) an extension shaft extending from the rotational shaft;

(iii) an output body rotatably disposed over the extension shaft, the output body rotationally coupled to the first bevel gear; and

(g) an arm operably coupled to the output body.

17. The robotic device of claim 16 , wherein the extension shaft is disposable within the first and second slots.

18. The robotic device of claim 16 , wherein the first elongate device body has a cross-sectional diameter that is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of the second elongate device body.

19. The robotic device of claim 16 , wherein the shoulder joint has a cross-sectional diameter that is less than or substantially similar to a cross-sectional diameter of the second elongate body.