Automated surgical system and apparatus

Claim 2

A surgical method, comprising the steps of: inserting an endoscopic instrument into a patient's body; obtaining a video image of internal body tissues inside said patient's body via said endoscopic instrument; transmitting, over an electromagnetic signaling link, a video signal encoding said video image to a remote location beyond a range of direct manual contact with said patient's body and said endoscopic instrument; receiving actuator control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link; inserting into the patient's body a surgical instrument movable relative to the patient's body and said endoscopic instrument; and automatically operating said surgical instrument in response to the received actuator control signals to effect a surgical operation on said internal body tissues.

Claim 3

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said endoscopic instrument includes a laparoscope, further comprising the step of inflating a body cavity of the patient.

Claim 4

The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving additional control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link and automatically operating said endoscopic instrument in response to said additional signals.

Claim 5

The method recited in claim 3 wherein said step of automatically operating said endoscopic instrument includes the step of operating said endoscopic instrument to vary said video image.

Claim 6

The method recited in claim 4 wherein said step of automatically operating said endoscopic instrument includes the step of mechanically moving said endoscopic instrument with respect to the patient's body, thereby varying said video image.

Claim 7

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said step of automatically operating said surgical instrument includes the step of mechanically moving said surgical instrument with respect to the patient's body and with respect to said endoscopic instrument.

Claim 8

The method recited in claim 6 wherein said step of mechanically moving said surgical instrument includes the steps of pivoting said surgical instrument with respect to the patient's body and with respect to said endoscopic instrument.

Claim 9

The method recited in claim 6 wherein said step of mechanically moving said surgical instrument includes the steps of translating said surgical instrument with respect to the patient's body and with respect to said endoscopic instrument.

Claim 10

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said surgical instrument is a laparoscopic instrument partially inserted into the patient separately from said endoscopic instrument.

Claim 11

A surgical system comprising: an endoscopic instrument; camera means on said endoscopic instrument for obtaining video images of internal body tissues inside a patient's body via said endoscopic instrument; transmission means operatively connected to said camera means for transmitting, over an electromagnetic signaling link to a remote location beyond a range of direct manual contact with said patient's body and said endoscopic instrument, a video signal encoding said video image; receiver means for receiving actuator control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link; a surgical instrument insertable into the patient's body and movable relative to the patient's body and said endoscopic instrument; and robot actuator means operatively connected to said surgical instrument and said receiver means for actuating said surgical instrument in response to the actuator control signals received by said receiver means from said remote location.

Claim 12

A surgical system comprising: an endoscopic instrument; camera means on said endoscopic instrument for obtaining video images of internal body tissues inside a patient's body via said endoscopic instrument; transmission means operatively connected to said camera means for transmitting, over an electromagnetic signaling link to a remote location beyond a range of direct manual contact with said patient's body and said endoscopic instrument, a video signal encoding said video image; receiver means for receiving actuator control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link; a surgical instrument insertable into the patient's body and movable relative to the patient's body and said endoscopic instrument; and robot actuator means operatively connected to said surgical instrument and said receiver means for actuating said surgical instrument in response to the actuator control signals received by said receiver means from said remote location.

Claim 13

The system recited in claim 10 wherein said endoscopic instrument includes a laparoscope.

Claim 14

The system recited in claim 10, further comprising means for automatically operating said endoscopic instrument in response to additional signals received by said receiver means from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link.

Claim 15

The system recited in claim 12 wherein said means for automatically operating said endoscopic instrument includes means for automatically operating said endoscopic instrument to vary said video image.

Claim 16

The system recited in claim 13 wherein said means for automatically operating said endoscopic instrument includes means for mechanically moving said endoscopic instrument with respect to the patient's body, thereby varying said video image.

Claim 17

The system recited in claim 10 wherein said robot actuator means includes means for pivoting said surgical instrument with respect to the patient's body and with respect to said endoscopic instrument.

Claim 18

The system recited in claim 10 wherein said robot actuator means includes means for translating said surgical instrument with respect to the patient's body and with respect to said endoscopic instrument.

Claim 19

A surgical system comprising: a trocar sleeve adapted for insertion through a patient's skin surface into an internal body cavity of the patient; an endoscopic instrument having an at least partially rigid insertion portion, said endoscopic instrument being slidably inserted through said trocar sleeve so that a distal end of said endoscopic instrument is extendible into the internal body cavity of the patient; camera means on said endoscopic instrument for obtaining video images of internal body tissues inside a patient's body via said endoscopic instrument; transmission means operatively connected to said camera means for transmitting, over an electromagnetic signaling link to a remote location beyond a range of direct manual contact with said patient's body and said endoscopic instrument, a video signal encoding said video image; receiver means for receiving actuator control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link; and robot actuator means operatively connected to said receiver means and at least one of said endoscopic instrument and said trocar sleeve for automatically pivoting and translating said insertion portion relative to the patient's body in response to the actuator control signals received by said receiver means from said remote location.

Claim 20

A surgical system comprising: a trocar sleeve adapted for insertion through a patient's skin surface into an internal body cavity of the patient; an endoscopic instrument having an at least partially rigid insertion portion, said endoscopic instrument being slidably inserted through said trocar sleeve so that a distal end of said endoscopic instrument is extendible into the internal body cavity of the patient; camera means on said endoscopic instrument for obtaining video images of internal body tissues inside a patient's body via said endoscopic instrument; transmission means operatively connected to said camera means for transmitting, over an electromagnetic signaling link to a remote location beyond a range of direct manual contact with said patient's body and said endoscopic instrument, a video signal encoding said video image; receiver means for receiving actuator control signals from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link; and robot actuator means operatively connected to said receiver means and at least one of said endoscopic instrument and said trocar sleeve for automatically pivoting and translating said insertion portion relative to the patient's body in response to the actuator control signals received by said receiver means from said remote location.

Claim 21

The system recited in claim 17 wherein said endoscopic instrument includes a laparoscope.

Claim 22

The system recited in claim 17, further comprising means for automatically operating said endoscopic instrument in response to said actuator signals received by said receiver means from said remote location via said electromagnetic signaling link.

Claim 23

The system recited in claim 19 wherein said means for automatically operating said endoscopic instrument includes means for automatically operating said endoscopic instrument to vary said video image.