Surgical instrument

Abstract

A medical system comprises a rigid support affixed relative to a patient table, and a surgical instrument mounted to the carriage assembly. The surgical instrument carries a distal tool configured for performing a medical procedure on a patient. The medical system further comprises mechanical cabling, and an electromechanical drive unit coupled to the carriage assembly via the mechanical cabling to control linear movement of the surgical instrument relative to the rigid support.

1 . A medical system, comprising:
 a rigid support affixed relative to a patient table;   a carriage assembly mounted to the rigid support;   a surgical instrument mounted to the carriage assembly, the surgical instrument carrying a distal tool configured for performing a medical procedure on a patient;   mechanical cabling; and   an electromechanical drive unit coupled to the carriage assembly via the mechanical cabling to control linear movement of the surgical instrument relative to the rigid support.   
     
     
         2 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid support is a rigid post mounted to the patient table. 
     
     
         3 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly comprises at least one rail and a carriage slidably disposed on the at least one rail, the surgical instrument affixed to the carriage. 
     
     
         4 . The medical system of  claim 3 , wherein the carriage assembly further comprises a cable connected to the carriage and a pulley, and the mechanical cabling is coupled to the pulley. 
     
     
         5 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises an adapter and an instrument insert carrying the distal tool and removably disposed within the adapter. 
     
     
         6 . The medical system of  claim 5 , wherein the adapter has an elongated guide member that receives the instrument insert. 
     
     
         7 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is coupled to the carriage assembly via the mechanical cabling to control pivoting movement of the surgical instrument about the rigid support. 
     
     
         8 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is coupled to the surgical instrument via the mechanical cabling to control rotational movement of the surgical instrument about its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is coupled to the surgical instrument via the mechanical cabling to control actuation of the distal tool. 
     
     
         10 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit has a motor array. 
     
     
         11 . The medical system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote controller configured for directing the drive unit to control movements of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         12 . The medical system of  claim 11 , wherein the remote controller is coupled to the drive unit via external cabling. 
     
     
         13 . The medical system of  claim 11 , wherein the remote controller has a user interface for receiving commands from a user. 
     
     
         14 . The medical system of  claim 13 , wherein the user commands are movements made at the user interface correspond to movements of the surgical instrument.