Haptic interface for palpation simulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- updating data values associated with at least a portion of a virtual hand displayed in a graphical environment of a host computer based on manipulation of at least a portion of an object coupled to the host computer, the portion of the virtual hand directly contacting a virtual body part to produce a virtual palpation within the graphical environment;
outputting a first haptic feedback to the object when the virtual palpation within the graphical environment occurs; and
outputting a second haptic feedback the second haptic feedback being a scaled version of the first haptic feedback.
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Abstract
A palpation simulator comprises an interface for interfacing a user with a computer running a palpation simulation. The computer generates a graphical environment comprising a cursor and a graphical representation of at least a portion of a living body. In one version, a method comprises providing an object in communication with the computer, controlling the cursor in relation to manipulation of at least a portion of the object by the user, and outputting a haptic sensation to the user when the cursor interacts with a region within the graphical representation to provide the user with haptic feedback related to a simulated palpation of the region.
502 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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updating data values associated with at least a portion of a virtual hand displayed in a graphical environment of a host computer based on manipulation of at least a portion of an object coupled to the host computer, the portion of the virtual hand directly contacting a virtual body part to produce a virtual palpation within the graphical environment; outputting a first haptic feedback to the object when the virtual palpation within the graphical environment occurs; and outputting a second haptic feedback the second haptic feedback being a scaled version of the first haptic feedback. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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updating data values associated with at least a portion of a virtual hand displayed in a graphical environment of a host computer based on manipulation of at least a portion of an object coupled to the host computer; outputting a first haptic feedback to the object based on a first signal associated with an interaction of the portion of the virtual hand with a graphical representation of a virtual being, the graphical representation of the virtual being having a first region and a second region different from the first region and the first haptic feedback being a simulated pulse of the virtual being; and outputting a second haptic feedback based on a signal associated with an interaction of the portion of the virtual hand with the second region of the graphical representation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method, comprising:
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updating data values associated with at least a portion of a virtual appendage displayed in a graphical environment of a host computer based on manipulation of at least a portion of an object coupled to the host computer, the portion of the virtual appendage directly contacting a virtual subject to produce a virtual palpation of the virtual subject within the graphical environment; and outputting a first haptic feedback to the object based on interaction of the portion of the virtual appendage with a graphical representation of the virtual subject within the graphical environment, the first haptic feedback simulating a palpated feature that is one of on and below a surface of the graphical representation of the virtual subject; and outputting a second haptic feedback to the object based on interaction of the portion of the virtual appendage with a graphical representation of the virtual subject within the graphical environment, the second haptic feedback simulating a palpated feature that is one of on and below a surface of the graphical representation of the virtual subject. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A simulator, comprising:
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a manipulatable object in communication with a processor, the processor associated with a graphical representation of at least a portion of a virtual subject; a sensor coupled to the manipulatable object and in communication with the processor, the sensor configured to update data values associated with at least a portion of a virtual appendage in the graphical representation based on a manipulation of the manipulatable object; an actuator coupled to the manipulatable object and configured to output haptic feedback based on interaction of the portion of the virtual appendage with a region within the graphical representation, the haptic feedback simulating a heartbeat-induced vascular pulse of the virtual subject; and
the manipulatable object includes a housing of a mouse. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for updating data values associated with at least a portion of a virtual appendage displayed in a graphical environment of a host computer and outputting a first and second haptic feedback to an object coupled to the host computer, the method including:
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updating data values associated with at least a portion of a virtual appendage displayed in a graphical environment of a host computer based on manipulation of at least a portion of an object coupled to the host computer; producing a virtual palpation of the virtual subject within the graphical environment when the portion of the virtual appendage directly contacts a virtual subject part; outputting a first haptic feedback to the object based on interaction of the portion of the virtual appendage with a graphical representation of the virtual subject within the graphical environment, the first haptic feedback simulating a palpated feature that is one of on and below a surface of the graphical representation of the virtual subject; and outputting a second haptic feedback to the object based on interaction of the portion of the virtual appendage with a graphical representation of the virtual subject within the graphical environment, the second haptic feedback simulating a palpated feature that is one of on and below a surface of the graphical representation of the virtual subject.
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Specification