METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL TRAINING AND SIMULATING SURGERY

Abstract

A real-time surgical simulation system ineludes a physical body environment, a body environment simulator and a surgical tools simulator. The physical body environment replicates a portion of a human body and ineludes a synthetic skin layer. The synthetic skin layer allows insertion of a surgical tool through the synthetic skin at an arbitrary location. The body environment simulator simulates a body environment within the physical body environment. The surgical tools simulator simulates at least one surgical tool within the virtual body environment that can interact with the virtual body environment, and that is coupled to a surgical tool that is manipulated by a user of the surgical simulation system. The simulated surgical tool moves corresponding to movement of the surgical tool by the user. The surgical simulation system further includes an interaction simulator that simulates interaction between the virtual body environment, components of the virtual body environment and the simulated surgical tool. This simulated interaction is provided as a three-dimensional force vector by a force feedback device, at a point on the surgical tool outside of the physical body environment. The surgical simulation system also ineludes a visual display device for displaying the virtual body environment, the simulated surgical tool, and the simulated interaction. With this system, there is provided an apparatus and a process for leaming, practicing and experiencing dynamic, real-time, surgical procedures having a life-like feel, and laparoscopy.