Laparoscopic Instrument Holders for Surgical SImulation and Training

The surgical simulation and training system comprising:

• a stand supporting a left and a right laparoscopic instrument holder and a device 1 with an internal video camera chosen from the group consisting of a cell phone, smart phone, tablet and mini-tablet computer, where said stand can be moved to enlarge the visual field of said device 1 internal camera and said stand remains stable during movement of said laparoscopic instrument holders;
• a target comprising a living animal, physical model of the human anatomy, or virtual model of the human anatomy and combinations thereof;
• a monitor displaying the visual field of said device 1 internal camera focused on said target;
• a said left and a right laparoscopic instrument holder, each with a proximal end and a distal end, where said distal end of said instrument holder terminates in a ball joint and said proximal end is attached to said device 1 case, and said ball joint of said instrument holder has a completely penetrating hole sized to accommodate the diameter and free rotation of the shaft of a laparoscopic surgical instrument including a laparoscopic instrument used with a trocar.
• a said left and a right laparoscopic instrument holder wherein the size and shape of said instrument holder arms are designed to preserve a nominal spacing of surgical instrument tips in said target visual field as used in real laparoscopic surgeries that is nominally 10 cm.

A surgical simulation and training system comprising:

• a device 2 chosen from the group consisting of a cell phone, smartphone, tablet and mini-tablet computer fixed to a central support structure, where said central support structure is pivoted allowing rotation of said central support structure about a single axis defined by a shaft joining the central support structure to a concentric, externally mounted first ring;
• a game controller joystick in a fixed orientation within 45 degrees of the outwardly facing normal to said device 2, wherein said controller is grasped by the user and induces motion of said central support structure, and wherein said controller is chosen from the group consisting of a stylus, the eyepiece assembly of a fiber optic surgical scope, and a surgical tool adapter;
• a first ring concentric with and mounted external to said central support structure where said first ring is pivoted with respect to said central support structure allowing rotation of said first ring about a single axis orthogonal to said central support structure;
• a second ring concentric with and mounted external to said first ring that is pivoted with respect to said first ring allowing rotation of said second ring about a single axis orthogonal to said central support structure and said first ring;
• a support frame concentric with and external to said central support structure, said first ring, and said second ring, where said support frame remains stationary during induced motion by said game controller and permits independent rotation of said first ring, said second ring and said central support structure about orthogonal axes and access and movement of said controller by the user is unimpeded.