Interface device and method for interfacing instruments to vascular access simulation systems

• US 20030069719A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Medical Inc (Immersion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Immersion Medical Inc (Immersion Corporation)
• Inventors: Feldman, Philip, Feldman, Ben, Cunningham, Richard L., Merril, Gregory L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/7
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/285 for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/30 Anatomical models G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence

Abstract

An interface device and method for interfacing instruments to a vascular access simulation system serve to interface peripherals in the form of mock or actual medical instruments to the simulation system to enable simulation of medical procedures. The interface device includes a catheter unit assembly for receiving a catheter needle assembly, and a skin traction mechanism to simulate placing skin in traction or manipulating other anatomical sites for performing a medical procedure. The catheter needle assembly and skin traction mechanism are manipulated by a user during a medical procedure. The catheter unit assembly includes a base, a housing, a bearing assembly and a shaft that receives the catheter needle assembly. The bearing assembly enables translation of the catheter needle assembly, and includes bearings that enable the shaft to translate in accordance with manipulation of the catheter needle assembly. The shaft typically includes an encoder to measure translational motion of a needle of the catheter needle assembly, while the interface device further includes encoders to measure manipulation of the catheter needle assembly in various degrees of freedom (e.g., translation, pitch and yaw) and the skin traction mechanism. Alternatively, the shaft may include an additional encoder to measure translational motion of an instrument inserted through the catheter needle assembly. The simulation system receives measurements from the interface device encoders and updates the simulation and display, while providing control signals to the force feedback device to enable application of force feedback to the catheter needle assembly.

Claims

1. An interface device for interfacing instruments to a simulation system to enable a user to interact with the simulation system to perform a medical procedure on a simulated anatomy of a virtual patient, said interface device comprising:

a peripheral in the form of a mock medical instrument capable of selective manipulation by the user;

a site mechanism selectively manipulable by the user to simulate manipulation and preparation of an anatomical site for performing said medical procedure, wherein said mechanism includes sensing means to measure manipulation of said mechanism and provide signals indicating said manipulation to said simulation system;

a sensing assembly to measure manipulation of and provide force feedback to said instrument, wherein said sensing assembly includes;

motion detection means to measure manipulation of said instrument and provide signals indicating said measured manipulation to said simulation system to simulate said medical procedure; and

force application means to apply force feedback to said instrument in response to control signals from said simulation system.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said site mechanism simulates placing skin in traction.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said instrument includes a catheter needle assembly, and said medical procedure includes a vascular access procedure.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said instrument further includes a wire inserted through said catheter needle assembly, and said motion detection means further includes wire motion detection means to measure manipulation of said wire and provide signals indicating said measured manipulation to said simulation system to simulate said medical procedure.

5. A method for interfacing instruments to a simulation system, via an interface device, to enable a user to interact with the simulation system to perform a medical procedure on a simulated anatomy of a virtual patient, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a peripheral in the form of a mock medical instrument into said interface device, and selectively manipulating said instrument within said interface device;

(b) manipulating a site mechanism to simulate manipulation and preparation of an anatomical site for performing said medical procedure;

(c) measuring manipulation of said mechanism and providing signals indicating said manipulation to said simulation system;

(d) measuring manipulation of said instrument and providing signals indicating said measured manipulation to said simulation system to simulate said medical procedure; and

(e) applying force feedback to said instrument in response to control signals from said simulation system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step (b) further includes:

(b.1) manipulating said site mechanism to simulate placing skin in traction.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said instrument includes a catheter needle assembly, and said medical procedure includes a vascular access procedure.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said instrument further includes a wire, and step (a) further includes:

(a.1) inserting said wire through said catheter needle assembly; and

step (d) further includes;

(d.1) measuring manipulation of said wire and providing signals indicating said measured manipulation to said simulation system to simulate said medical procedure.