An interface device and method for interfacing instruments to a medical procedure
simulation system serve to interface peripherals in the form of mock medical instruments
to the medical procedure simulation system computer to enable simulation of medical
procedures. The interface device includes a housing having a mock bodily region
of interest to facilitate insertion of a mock instrument, such as an endoscope
tube, into the interface device. The mock bodily region of interest may be pivotable
to simulate various patient orientations. The instrument is engaged by a capture
mechanism in order to measure rotational and translational motion of the instrument.
An actuator is disposed within the interface device to provide force feedback to
the instrument. The measured motion is provided to the computer system to reflect
instrument motion on the display during the simulation. Alternatively, the interface
device may be configured to accommodate instrument assemblies having a plurality
of nested instruments (e.g., sheath, catheter and wire), whereby the interface
device individually grasps, measures manipulation of and provides force feedback
to the nested instruments. In addition, the interface device may be configured
to simultaneously accommodate a plurality of independently inserted instruments.