초록 ▼

A method and system for simulating medical procedures is presented. During an actual medical procedure, the actions of a medical instrument are measured and recorded. These actions are generated on a member representative of the medical instrument to simulate the actual medical procedure. Forces act

A method and system for simulating medical procedures is presented. During an actual medical procedure, the actions of a medical instrument are measured and recorded. These actions are generated on a member representative of the medical instrument to simulate the actual medical procedure. Forces acting upon the medical instrument are sensed and simulated in the member using a force/tactile reflecting mechanism. The preferred embodiment uses virtual reality technology including image processing, three-dimensional graphics and display methods, simulated force/tactile reflection, head/hand movement, position sensing, and sound generation to provide an accurate simulation of endoscopic medical procedures.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of providing a virtual reality in response to a position and orientation of a member representative of a medical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:providing a first medical instrument having sensors for position and pressure;performing an actual medi

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of providing a virtual reality in response to a position and orientation of a member representative of a medical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:providing a first medical instrument having sensors for position and pressure;performing an actual medical procedure using the first instrument;measuring and recording during the actual medical procedure data representative of the position and orientation of the first instrument and the pressures experienced by the first instrument;providing a member representative of the first medical instrument;generating an electrical signal for each of a plurality of degrees of freedom of the member as a function of the position and orientation of the member in three-dimensional space;generating at least one virtual reality force field in response to the generated electric signals as a function a the recorded position and pressures experienced by the first instrument;generating a force signal for each degree of freedom as a function of the force field; anddirecting a force on the member for each force signal, the generated forces providing the virtual reality.