Physically realistic computer simulation of medical procedures

An apparatus for enabling a physically realistic computer simulation of medical procedures, wherein a graphical simulation of a medical procedure is run by a computer, said graphical simulation displaying simulated patient anatomy and at least one portion of a simulated medical instrument, said apparatus comprising;

• an object representing at least a portion of a physical medical tool for manipulation by a user, said object corresponding to said displayed simulated medical instrument, and wherein said object includes a gripper handle portion that can opened and closed by said user
• at least one sensor operative to detect translation of said object with respect to a surface;
• and
• a gripper sensor operative to detect an open-close motion of said gripper handle portion when squeezed by said user;
• wherein an exchange of data occurs between said hardware interface and said computer running said graphical simulation of said medical procedure, said data enabling said computer to update said graphical simulation in response to said physical manipulation of said object by said user.

A method of simulating a medical procedure, said method comprising:

• providing a simulated patient anatomy and at least a portion of a simulated medical instrument;
• providing a hardware interface that includes at least a portion of a physical medical instrument comprising a gripper handle portion for manipulation by a user;
• enabling a detection of translation of said physical medical instrument with respect to a surface, said detection performed by at least one sensor included in said hardware interface;
• detecting an open-close motion of said gripper handle portion when squeezed by said user, said detection being performed by a gripper sensor;
• and
• updating at least one of said simulated patient anatomy and said simulated medical instrument in response to said manipulation of said physical medical instrument by said user.