Soft body haptics material arrangements
Inventors
EINARSDOTTIR, Gudrun Kristin • BEUDEKER, Erika • JIROUDEK, Daniel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12094359-B2
Publication Date
2024-09-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
Anatomy mannequins, models and medical simulation systems may facilitate training by rendering a realistic tactile feedback when the end user manipulates the anatomy model with a handheld tool. An anatomy model may comprise various inexpensive material arrangements to replicate the side-to-side motion friction and resistance against the insertion and manipulation of a surgical instrument in a living body soft body tissue, such as muscle or ligament layers, while ensuring sustainability of the corresponding simulator parts over at least thousands of training sessions. A mesh layer may be arranged as an interlinked mesh of elastomer strands. A soft body layer may also be arranged as a grid of flexible protruding elements. The instrument may be inserted and manipulated through the crossings of the interlinked elastomer strands and/or the recesses or channels between the flexible protruding elements to provide a tactile feedback similar to that of real surgery tool handheld manipulation.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an anatomy simulation system that includes a simulated anatomy model and a mesh layer through which at least one medical tool may be inserted and manipulated. The simulated anatomy model comprises a simulated skin layer having at least one portal hole entry through which the medical tool is inserted and manipulated to reach the mesh layer, and an underlying soft body simulation layer attached under the simulated skin layer.
The mesh layer is formed of at least one elastomer strand that is interlinked to provide multiple gaps at the crossing of the strands through which the tool can pass through the mesh layer. The soft body simulation layer is formed of at least three adjacent protruding flexible elements such that the medical tool can enter into the soft body simulation layer through the at least one portal entry on the simulated skin layer and slide through the channels or recesses formed between the adjacent protruding flexible elements to reach the mesh layer.
The disclosed configuration enables tool guidance and haptic feedback during simulated surgical instrument insertion by combining the simulated skin portal entry, the soft body simulation layer having channels or recesses between adjacent protruding flexible elements, and the interlinked elastomer strand mesh layer with multiple gaps at strand crossings. The described exemplary implementation includes a shoulder surgery simulator and describes combining soft body layers with underlying interlinked mesh layers for ligament-like resistance and tool guidance.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers an anatomy simulation device with three core inventive components: a simulated anatomy model with a simulated skin layer providing a portal hole entry, an underlying soft body simulation layer of adjacent protruding flexible elements that define channels or recesses, and a mesh layer formed by interlinked elastomer strands that create multiple gaps for tool passage to the mesh layer.
Interlinked elastomer strand mesh with multiple strand-crossing gaps
The device includes a mesh layer formed of at least one elastomer strand having a width in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm, wherein the at least one strand is interlinked so as to provide multiple gaps at the crossing of the strands through which the tool can pass through the mesh layer.
Simulated skin layer with portal hole entry to reach the mesh layer
The simulated anatomy model further comprises a simulated skin layer comprising at least one portal hole entry through which the medical tool may be inserted and manipulated into the simulated anatomy model to reach the mesh layer.
Soft body simulation layer of adjacent protruding flexible elements defining channels or recesses
The simulated anatomy model further comprises a soft body simulation layer attached under the simulated skin layer, wherein the soft body simulation layer is formed of at least three adjacent protruding flexible elements such that the medical tool can enter into the soft body simulation layer through the at least one portal entry on the simulated skin layer and slide through the channels or recesses formed between the adjacent protruding flexible elements to reach the mesh layer.
Overall, the claims focus on a simulated anatomy model that provides a skin portal entry, a soft body simulation layer of adjacent protruding flexible elements that define channels or recesses for sliding guidance, and an interlinked elastomer strand mesh layer that provides multiple gaps at strand crossings for tool insertion and manipulation through to the mesh layer.
Stated Advantages
Provides haptic feedback and tool guidance during simulated medical tool insertion and manipulation.
Provides ligament-like resistance and tool guidance.
Documented Applications
An exemplary shoulder surgery simulator implementation using the described simulated anatomy model, including simulated bone structures and ligament texture.
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