Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of surgically removing a quantity of tissue from a patient, the tissue being removed from a region having a predetermined three dimensional shape, the method comprising the steps of: representing the three dimensional shape as a volumetric model or as a portion of a volumetric model; determining a location of the volumetric model relative to the tissue that is to be removed; and operating a multiple degree of freedom manipulator arm means having a surgical tool coupled thereto such that the tissue is removed, the step of operating including the steps of: monitoring an output of a force sensor means that is coupled to the surgical tool; detecting a position of the manipulator arm means; determining a position of the surgical tool relative to the detected position of the manipulator arm means in accordance with a predetermined transformation function; processing the volumetric model for determining if the determined position of the surgical tool is outside of the volumetric model; and suspending a further movement of the surgical tool if the surgical tool is determined to be positioned outside of the volumetric model or if the step of monitoring the output of the force sensor means indicates that a sensed force has exceeded a first predetermined threshold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of surgically removing a quantity of tissue from a patient, the tissue being removed from a region having a predetermined three dimensional shape, the method comprising the steps of: representing the three dimensional shape as a volumetric model or as a portion of a volumetric model; determining a location of the volumetric model relative to the tissue that is to be removed; and operating a multiple degree of freedom manipulator arm means having a surgical tool coupled thereto such that the tissue is removed, the step of operating including the steps of: monitoring an output of a force sensor means that is coupled to the surgical tool; detecting a position of the manipulator arm means; determining a position of the surgical tool relative to the detected position of the manipulator arm means in accordance with a predetermined transformation function; processing the volumetric model for determining if the determined position of the surgical tool is outside of the volumetric model; and suspending a further movement of the surgical tool if the surgical tool is determined to be positioned outside of the volumetric model or if the step of monitoring the output of the force sensor means indicates that a sensed force has exceeded a first predetermined threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of operating includes an additional step of monitoring an output of a strain gage means to determine if a movement of the patient has occurred and suspending a further movement of the surgical tool if a movement is detected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring includes an additional step of de-energizing the manipulator arm means if a force is measured that exceeds a second, higher predetermined threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of operating includes an additional step of periodically monitoring an operational status of the manipulator arm means and suspending a further movement of the surgical tool if the operational status is determined to be less than optimum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tissue includes bone tissue, wherein the volumetric model has a shape representative of a shape of a prosthetic implant, and wherein the step of representing the three dimensional shape as a volumetric model includes a step of: selecting a shape of a prosthetic implant from a library of prosthetic implant shapes; and wherein the step of determining a location of the volumetric model relative to the tissue that is to be removed includes a step of: interactively determining a position of the selected prosthetic implant shape relative to images of the bone tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 and including an additional step of storing data for use during the step of processing, the stored data being expressive of the dimensions and shape of the selected prosthetic implant and data expressive of the determined position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of operating further includes a step of displaying in succession cross-sectional images of the bone tissue each having a corresponding cross-sectional view of the selected prosthetic implant superimposed thereon, a specific one of the cross-sectional bone tissue images being selected for display as a function of the position of the surgical tool relative to the volumetric model.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tissue includes bone tissue, wherein the volumetric model has a shape representative of a shape of a prosthetic implant, and wherein the step of representing the three dimensional shape as a volumetric model includes a step of: defining a shape of a prosthetic implant as a function at least of the shape of the bone tissue; and wherein the step of determining a location of the volumetric model relative to the tissue that is to be removed includes a step of: interactively determining a position of the defined prosthetic implant shape relative to images of the bone tissue.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of preparing a cavity within a tissue to receive a prosthetic implant, the method comprising the steps of: representing the prosthetic implant as a volumetric model or as a portion of a volumetric model; determining a location of the volumetric model relative to the tissue within which the prosthetic implant is to be implanted; and operating a multiple degree of freedom manipulator arm means having a surgical tool coupled thereto such that a cavity is prepared within the tissue to receive the prosthetic implant therein, the step of operating including the steps of: monitoring an output of a force sensor means that is coupled to the surgical tool; imaging a portion of the manipulator arm means during the operation thereof so as to determine a position of the manipulator arm means within a three-dimensional coordinate system; determining a position of the surgical tool, relative to the determined position of the manipulator arm means, in accordance with a predetermined transformation function; processing the volumetric model for determining if the determined position of the surgical tool is outside of the volumetric model; and suspending a further movement of the surgical tool if the surgical a tool is determined to be positioned outside of the volumetric model or if the step of monitoring the output of the force sensor means indicates that a sensed force has exceeded a first predetermined threshold.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of preparing a cavity within a tissue to receive a prosthetic implant, the method comprising the steps of: representing the prosthetic implant as a volumetric model or as a portion of a volumetric model; determining a location of the volumetric model relative to the tissue within which the prosthetic implant is to be implanted; and operating a multiple degree of freedom manipulator arm means having a surgical tool coupled thereto such that a cavity is prepared within the tissue to receive the prosthetic implant therein, the step of operating including the steps of: monitoring an output of a force sensor means that is coupled to the surgical tool; imaging a portion of the manipulator arm means during the operation thereof so as to determine a position of the manipulator arm means within a three-dimensional coordinate system; determining a position of the surgical tool, relative to the determined position of the manipulator arm means, in accordance with a predetermined transformation function; processing the volumetric model for determining if the determined position of the surgical tool is outside of the volumetric model; and suspending a further movement of the surgical tool if the surgical a tool is determined to be positioned outside of the volumetric model or if the step of monitoring the output of the force sensor means indicates that a sensed force has exceeded a first predetermined threshold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of operating includes an additional step of monitoring an output of a strain gage means that is coupled to the tissue so as to detect a movement of the tissue; and suspending a further movement of the surgical tool if a movement is detected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of monitoring includes an additional step of de-energizing the manipulator arm means if a force is measured that exceeds a second predetermined threshold, the second predetermined threshold being greater than the first predetermined threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the tissue includes bone tissue, and wherein the step of monitoring includes a step detecting if a position of the surgical tool transitions between trabecular bone and cortical bone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the tissue includes bone tissue, and wherein the step of representing the prosthetic implant as a volumetric model includes a step of: selecting a shape of a prosthetic implant from a library of prosthetic implant shapes; and wherein the step of determining a location of the volumetric model relative to the tissue includes a step of: interactively determining a desired position of the selected prosthetic implant shape relative to images of the bone tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as set forth in claim 13 and including an additional step of storing data for use during the step of processing, the stored data being expressive of the dimensions and shape of the selected prosthetic implant and data expressive of the determined position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the step of operating further includes a step of displaying in succession cross-sectional images of the bone tissue each having a corresponding cross-sectional view of the selected prosthetic implant superimposed thereon, a specific one of the cross-sectional bone tissue images being selected for display as a function of a current position of the surgical tool relative to the volumetric model.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the tissue includes bone tissue, and wherein the step of representing the prosthetic implant as a volumetric model includes a step of: defining a shape of a prosthetic implant as a function at least of the shape of the bone tissue; and wherein the step of determining a location of the volumetric model relative to the tissue includes a step of: interactively determining a desired position of the defined prosthetic implant shape relative to images of the bone tissue.