Virtual Anatomic Environment Generation for Surgery Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive surgery simulation systems are expensive and inefficient in providing a realistic simulation environment due to high computational requirements and inability to accurately recreate complex anatomical variations and real-life conditions like light effects and biological variations, limiting their effectiveness in training surgeons.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for generating a virtual anatomic environment using a library of predefined local anatomic environments, allowing for the creation of a total virtual environment by combining a main virtual anatomic environment with selected local environments, enabling control over variations and providing realistic simulations through random selection based on anatomical probabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If realistic visual properties and anatomical variations are recreated in simulation, then simulation realism is improved, but computer capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual anatomic environment into a main environment and multiple predefined local anatomic environments. Instead of modeling every detail of the entire anatomy, the system divides the complex anatomical structure into manageable segments, with local environments stored in a library that can be selectively incorporated. This segmentation reduces the overall computational burden while maintaining realism in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining and storing multiple local anatomic environments in a library before the simulation begins. These local environments are prepared in advance with various anatomical variations already modeled, allowing the system to quickly select and incorporate appropriate variations during simulation without performing complex real-time modeling. This pre-computation reduces runtime computational requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire virtual anatomic environment is modeled from scratch, then customization flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the environment modeling task into a main virtual anatomic environment and separate local anatomic environments. The main environment provides the overall structure, while local environments are independently defined and stored in a library. This segmentation allows manufacturers to create standardized, reusable local environment modules that can be incorporated into different simulations, reducing modeling complexity while maintaining customization flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by storing predefined local anatomic environments in a library that can be repeatedly used across different simulations. Instead of modeling each local environment from scratch for every simulation case, the system copies pre-defined local environments from the library and incorporates them into the main virtual environment. This copying approach significantly reduces modeling time and complexity while maintaining the ability to provide varied anatomical scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a method for generating a virtual anatomic environment for use in minimally invasive surgery simulation, comprising the steps of: incorporating a main virtual anatomic environment (1); selecting a local anatomic environment (2) from a predefined library (3) comprising a set of two or more simulated local anatomic environments (2); including the selected local anatomic environment (2) in said main anatomic environment (1) to form a total virtual anatomic environment (4). The invention also relates to a device for generating a virtual anatomic environment for use in minimally invasive surgery simulation, as well as a computer-based minimal-invasive surgery simulation system comprising such a device.