Methods and apparatus for simulating dental procedures and for training dental students
First Claim
1. A method for simulating dental procedures for training dental students comprising, in combination, the steps of:
- storing volumetric data defining the location of at least one isosurface in a model of a tooth,storing point data defining the positions of a plurality of feel points that define the surface of a model of a dental tool having a handle,employing a digital computer consisting of a processor and a display device to display said model of a tooth,employing said processor and said display device to display said model of a dental tool having a handle, andemploying a haptic interface device including a force-feedback stylus that is manually moveable by a dental student and is coupled to said digital computer to move the said model of a dental tool with respect to said model of a tooth, andemploying said processor to compare said location of at least one isosurface in said model of a tooth with said positions of said feel points that define the surface of a model of a dental tool having a handle to calculate and apply computer-controlled interaction forces to said force-feedback stylus to simulate the feel of said dental tool having a handle to haptically simulate a dental procedure.
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Abstract
A training system using haptically enhanced simulations of dental procedures to provide the sensorimotor involvement needed for dental training. To provide touch feedback in combination with a realistic visual experience, the system integrates a haptic stylus interface for simulating the movement and feel of the tool-tip with a three-dimensional, stereoscopic display. The haptic stylus enables the dental student to orient and operate simulated dental tools. Working on a virtual model viewed in a stereo display, dental students can use a simulated pick to probe a tooth, or a simulated drill to prepare a tooth for cavity repair. The touch feedback is simulated by representing these dental instruments as force-to-a-point tools which map to haptic simulation procedures executed on a computer workstation that also provides the visual display.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for simulating dental procedures for training dental students comprising, in combination, the steps of:
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storing volumetric data defining the location of at least one isosurface in a model of a tooth, storing point data defining the positions of a plurality of feel points that define the surface of a model of a dental tool having a handle, employing a digital computer consisting of a processor and a display device to display said model of a tooth, employing said processor and said display device to display said model of a dental tool having a handle, and employing a haptic interface device including a force-feedback stylus that is manually moveable by a dental student and is coupled to said digital computer to move the said model of a dental tool with respect to said model of a tooth, and employing said processor to compare said location of at least one isosurface in said model of a tooth with said positions of said feel points that define the surface of a model of a dental tool having a handle to calculate and apply computer-controlled interaction forces to said force-feedback stylus to simulate the feel of said dental tool having a handle to haptically simulate a dental procedure. - 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. Apparatus for simulating dental procedures for training a dental student comprising, in combination, a digital computer consisting of at least a processor, a display device, a haptic interface including a moveable force-feedback stylus manipulatable by said student, and storage means for storing:
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volumetric object grid data for representing a tooth as the position and attributes of a collection of volume elements in three-dimensional space, tool definition data for representing the position of feel points on the surface of a dental tool in three-dimensional space, and a simulation program executable by said processor in response to the movement of said stylus for moving a displayed model of said dental tool with respect to a displayed model of said tooth and for comparing the position of said feel points to the position of said volume elements for calculating and applying computer-controlled interaction forces to said force-feedback stylus to simulate the feel of said dental tool to haptically simulate a dental procedure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification