Devices and methods for contactless haptic control
A human system interface (HSI) for contactlessly controlling a device for a medical procedure is configured to generate a control space, measure a position of a user in the control space, provide a first contactless haptic stimulus in the control space to the user based on the measured position, measure a contactless haptic input from the user in the control space, provide a second haptic stimulus to the user depending on the contactless haptic input, and, based on the contactless haptic input, change a parameter of the HSI and/or provide a parameter to the device connected to the HSI.
1 . A human system interface (HSI) for contactlessly controlling a device for a medical procedure, the HSI configured to at least:
generate a control space;
provide a contactless haptic control element as a visual representation on a display and/or goggles, wherein the contactless haptic control element has a stand-by-zone and an activation zone;
measure a first position of a hand of a user in the control space;
provide a first contactless haptic stimulus in the control space to the user based on the first position being in the stand-by-zone so as to inform the user that the hand is at a predetermined position to provide a contactless haptic input;
measure the contactless haptic input from the user in the control space by measuring a second position of the hand of the user;
provide a second haptic stimulus different from the first haptic stimulus to the user based on the second position being in the activation-zone, indicating that the contactless haptic input has been actuated; and
based on the contactless haptic input, change a parameter of the HSI and/or provide a parameter to the device connected to the HSI.
2 . The HSI according to claim 1 , comprising one or more of the following sensors to measure the contactless haptic input:
a camera;
an accelerometer; and/or
an optical position tracker.
3 . The HSI according to claim 1 , comprising one or more of the following actuators to provide the first contactless haptic stimulus in the control space to the user:
an ultrasound-based actuator;
a laser-based actuator;
a magnetic-field-based actuator;
an air-vortex-based actuator;
a glove-based actuator;
an exoskeleton-based actuator; and/or
a vibro-tactile actuator.
4 . The HSI according to claim 1 , further configured to provide the first contactless haptic stimulus over a 2-dimensional stimulus area.
5 . The HSI according to claim 4 , further configured to:
generate the control space based on an intersection of a view field of a camera and of a stimulation field of the 2-dimensional stimulus area; and
visualize the control space for the user.
6 . The HSI according to claim 1 , wherein the contactless haptic control element is a knob configured to be pressed, slid, and/or rotated based on the contactless haptic input.
7 . The HSI according to claim 1 , further configured to provide a visual and/or auditory stimuli based on an operation of a knob and/or based on an operation of the device via the contactless haptic input.
8 . The HSI according to claim 1 , further configured to control the device directly.
9 . The HSI according to claim 1 , further configured to provide a control profile class that is capable of being assigned to a parameter of the contactless haptic control element and/or to a parameter of the device.
10 . The HSI according to claim 1 , further configured to provide a contactless haptic feedback information to indicate a quality of a user interaction and/or to guide the user in providing the contactless haptic input.
11 . A method for controlling a device within a medical procedure using a human system interface (HIS), the method comprising:
providing a control space;
provide a contactless haptic control element as a visual representation on a display and/or goggles, wherein the contactless haptic control element has a stand-by-zone and an activation zone;
determining a first position of a hand of a user in the control space;
providing a first contactless haptic stimulus to the user so as to inform the user based on the first position being in the stand-by-zone so as to inform the user that the hand is at a predetermined position to provide a contactless haptic input;
receiving and measuring the contactless haptic input from the user in the control space by measuring a second position of the hand of the user;
providing a second haptic stimulus different from the first haptic stimulus to the user based on the second position being in the activation-zone, indicating that the haptic input has been actuated; and
based on the contactless haptic input, change a parameter of the HSI and/or provide a parameter to the device connected to the HSI.
12 . A medical device comprising an HSI according to claim 1 .
13 . The medical device of claim 12 , wherein the medical device is a microscope.
14 . A medical device configured to interact with the HSI according to claim 1 .
15 . A medical device configured to execute the method of claim 11 .