BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive medical techniques are intended to reduce the amount of tissue that is damaged during diagnostic or surgical procedures, thereby reducing patient recovery time, discomfort, and deleterious side effects. Teleoperated surgical systems that use robotic technology (so-called surgical robotic systems) may be used to overcome limitations of manual laparoscopic and open surgery. Advances in telepresence systems provide surgeons views inside a patient's body, an increased number of degrees of motion of surgical instruments, and the ability for surgical collaboration over long distances. In manual minimally invasive surgery, surgeons feel the interaction of the instrument with the patient via a long shaft, which eliminates tactile cues and masks force cues. In teleoperation surgery systems, natural force feedback is largely eliminated because the surgeon no longer manipulates the instrument directly. Kinesthetic or force feedback systems typically measure or estimate the forces applied to the patient by the surgical instrument.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a surgical instrument is provided that includes an elongated shaft that includes a proximal end and a distal end. A cantilever beam is disposed at the distal end of the shaft. An optical fiber extends within a channel that extends within between proximal and distal portions of the cantilever beam. A first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is formed in a segment of the optical fiber within the proximal portion of the beam. A second FBG is formed in a segment of the optical fiber within the distal portion of the beam.

In another aspect, a surgical instrument is provided that includes an elongated shaft that includes a proximal end and a distal end. A support base member is secured to the distal end of the shaft. First and second force-sensing cantilever beams are secured to the support base member. A center cantilever beam is secured to the support base member between the first and second force-sensing beams. A first optical fiber including a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is disposed upon the first force-sensing beam. A second optical fiber including a second FBG is disposed upon the second force-sensing beam.

