Laparoscopic and endoscopic trainer including a digital camera with multiple camera angles

A videoendoscopic surgery trainer for the practice of videoendoscopic or laparoscopic surgery techniques, the trainer comprising:

• (a) a housing defining a practice volume;
• (b) a digital imaging sensor disposed within the practice volume, the digital imaging sensor being configured to capture a plurality of frames per second, such that the digital imaging sensor can provide a digital video feed of at least a portion of the practice volume, the digital imaging sensor comprising a curved housing;
• (c) a support structure comprising an elongate member, the elongate member having a proximal end disposed outside of the practice volume, and a distal end disposed inside the practice volume, the digital imaging sensor being disposed proximate to the distal end of the elongate member, so that manipulating a position of the proximal end of the elongate member results in a change in a position of the digital imaging sensor within the practice volume;
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• (d) a digital imaging sensor mounting bracket configured to couple with the digital imaging sensor and the distal end of the elongate member, thereby supporting the digital imaging sensor within the practice volume, the digital imaging sensor mounting bracket being configured to enable a position of the digital imaging sensor relative to the digital imaging sensor mounting bracket to be selectively changed, thereby enabling the digital imaging sensor to provide a plurality of different viewing angles, the digital imaging sensor mounting bracket comprising an curved surface to supportingly engage the curved housing of the digital imaging sensor.

A method for simulating an internal imaging of an endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a surgical trainer that defines a practice volume in which a simulated endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure can be performed upon at least one exercise object, the surgical trainer including a simulated laparoscope comprising:
• (i) a handle having a size and shape simulating a medical laparoscope;
• (ii) an elongate member extending from a distal portion of the handle into the practice volume;
• (iii) a digital imaging sensor coupled to a distal end of the elongate member and disposed within the practice volume, the digital imaging sensor producing a digital video signal conveying images of at least a portion of the practice volume;
• and
• (iv) a data cable having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being logically coupled to the digital imaging sensor, the proximal end being configured to logically couple to at least one of a display and a computing device, a first portion of the data cable extending between a location inside the practice volume proximate the digital imaging sensor and the handle being disposed inside the elongate member, a second portion of the data cable extending from the handle to the proximal end of the data cable, the second portion of the data cable extending outwardly and away from a proximal portion of the handle, the data cable being configured to be coupled to a computing device;
• (b) producing a signal conveying images of the at least one exercise object from a first viewing angle using the digital imaging sensor disposed within the practice volume while the digital imaging sensor is coupled to a support structure at a first one of a plurality of attachment points, each one of the support structure's different attachment points causing the digital imaging sensor to acquire an image of the practice volume using a different predefined viewing angle, the support structure being coupled to a distal end of the elongate member;
• (c) displaying the images of the at least one exercise object conveyed by the signal in regard to the first viewing angle while the digital imaging sensor is coupled to the support structure at the first attachment point;
• (d) manipulating an orientation of the digital imaging sensor relative to the support structure such that the digital imaging sensor is coupled to the support structure using a different one of the plurality of attachment points, thereby causing the digital imaging sensor to acquire an image of the practice volume using a different one of the predefined viewing angles;
• and
• (e) displaying the images of the at least one exercise object conveyed by the signal, in regard to a second viewing angle while the digital imaging sensor is coupled to the support structure at the second attachment point.

A method for changing a viewing angle provided by a simulation of an internal imaging of an endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing a signal conveying images of the simulation of the internal imaging of the endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure from a first viewing angle using a digital video camera disposed within a practice volume;
• (b) displaying the images of the simulation of the internal imaging of the endoscopic procedure conveyed by the signal in regard to the first viewing angle;
• (c) manipulating a support structure that movably supports the digital video camera, thereby selectively changing a position of the digital video camera relative to the support structure, so that the digital video camera produces a signal conveying images of the simulation of the internal imaging of the endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure from a second viewing angle, the support structure comprising a curved surface that supportingly engages an curved housing of the digital video camera, wherein the step of manipulating the support structure comprises at least one of the steps of:
• (i) repositioning a threaded fastener that couples the digital video camera to the digital video camera mounting bracket, from a opening in the digital video camera mounting bracket that was used to achieve the first viewing angle, so that the threaded fastener couples the digital video camera to the digital video camera mounting bracket in a different opening, and thereby achieves the second viewing angle;
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• (ii) sliding the threaded fastener with an elongate opening in the support structure so that the digital video camera is coupled to the digital video camera mounting bracket in a different position, to achieve the second viewing angle;
• and
• (d) displaying the images of the simulation of the internal imaging of the endoscopic procedure conveyed by the signal, in regard to the second viewing angle.

A videoendoscopic surgery trainer for practicing videoendoscopic or videolaparoscopic surgical techniques, comprising:

• (a) a housing defining a practice volume;
• (b) a digital video camera disposed within the practice volume, the digital video camera producing a digital video signal conveying images of at least a portion of the practice volume;
• (c) an elongate member having a proximal end disposed outside of the practice volume, and a distal end disposed inside the practice volume, the digital video camera being disposed proximate to the distal end of the elongate member, so that manipulating a position of the proximal end of the elongate member results in a change in a position of the digital video camera within the practice volume;
• and
• (d) a digital video camera mounting bracket coupled to the distal end of the elongate member, the digital video camera being attached to the digital video camera mounting bracket, the digital video camera mounting bracket being configured to enable a position of the digital video camera relative to the digital video camera mounting bracket to be selectively changed, thereby enabling the digital video camera to achieve a plurality of different viewing angles, without requiring the elongate member to be repositioned.

A method for changing a viewing angle provided by a simulation of an internal imaging of an endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing a signal conveying images of the simulation of the internal imaging of the endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure from a first viewing angle using a digital video camera disposed within a practice volume;
• (b) manipulating a first support structure to selectively change a position of a digital video camera inside a practice volume, until the digital video camera acquires first image data from a desired portion of the practice volume, the first image data corresponding to images acquired using a first viewing angle;
• and
• (c) without manipulating the first support structure, manipulating a second support structure until the digital video camera acquires second image data from the desired portion of the practice volume, the second image data corresponding to images acquired using a second viewing angle.