Medical Simulation System and Method

A system for simulating medical procedures, the system comprising:

• at least one medical simulation computer for running a simulation of at least one medical procedure;
• a haptic interface computer connectable to said at least one medical simulation computer for receiving a desired behavior data based on said simulation of said at least one medical procedure from said at least one medical simulation computer, said haptic interface computer further comprising:
• a haptic effects generator for processing said desired behavior data in order to generate a desired force data;
• and
• a force controller for receiving said desired force data in order to generate a plurality of motor and brake commands;
• a haptic interface device connectable to said haptic interface computer for receiving said plurality of motor and brake commands, and for sending a position, force, rotation and collision data to said haptic interface computer;
• and
• at least one monitor connectable to said at least one medical simulation computer;
• wherein said at least one medical simulation computer sends a plurality of display signals to said at least one monitor for displaying said simulation of said at least one medical procedure based upon said position and rotation data received from said haptic interface computer.

A method for simulating a medical procedure utilizing a haptic interface device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting a medical device into a support tube of the haptic interface device;
• (b) receiving said medical device from said support tube into at least one carriage slidably mounted on a rail mounted to a carriage bed mounted to a frame of the haptic interface device, wherein said at least one carriage engages with said medical device;
• (c) sending position, force, rotation, and collision data from said at least one carriage to a processor;
• (d) sending motor commands from said processor to at least one drive motor mounted to said carriage bed, wherein said at least one drive motor translates said at least one carriage along said rail through a drive belt attached to said at least one carriage and looped around a fly wheel of said at least one drive motor and looped around an idler pulley;
• and
• (e) sending brake commands from said processor to said at least one carriage, wherein said brake commands affect resistance to rotation of said medical device engaged with said at least one carriage;
• wherein the medical procedure is simulated through the interaction of said medical device with said at least one carriage and said motor commands and said brake commands from said processor to simulate the medical procedure.