Medical simulation interface apparatus and method

A surgical training apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of mechanical interfaces, each mechanical interface having an arm pivotably coupled to a base and a tool receiving member pivotably coupled to the arm to allow rotation in at least one degree of freedom, the tool receiving member having an aperture for receiving a shaft of a user tool operable by a user, wherein the user tool is moveable in a linear degree of freedom along an axis through the aperture of the tool receiving member;
• at least one sensor to track movement of the user tool in at least the linear degree of freedom and output one or more sensor signals regarding said tracked movement;
• and
• a computer coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to run a software application simulating the surgical tool as a simulated surgical tool operating on a simulated body part in a displayed graphical environment, wherein the computer updates movement of the simulated surgical tool in the graphical environment based on said tracked movement from the sensor.

A method of operating a surgical training apparatus comprising:

• tracking movement of a first user tool coupled to a first mechanical interface, the first mechanical interface having a first tool receiving member pivotably coupled to an arm, wherein the first tool receiving member includes an aperture configured to receive a shaft of the first user tool therethrough, the first tool receiving member configured allow movement of the first user tool in at least a linear degree of freedom through the aperture;
• tracking movement of a second user tool coupled to a second mechanical interface, the second mechanical interface having a second tool receiving member pivotably coupled to an arm, wherein the second tool receiving member includes an aperture configured to receive a shaft of the second user tool therethrough, the second tool receiving member configured allow movement of the second user tool in at least a linear degree of freedom through the aperture;
• and
• sending output signals of tracked movement of said first and second user tools to a computer running a software application simulating said first and second user tools as respective simulated surgical tools operating on a simulated body part in a displayed graphical environment, wherein the computer updates movement of each simulated user tool in the graphical environment based on said output signals.