Method and apparatus for haptic simulation

1. A method comprising:

determining a location of a needle assembly within a magneto-rheological fluid;

associating the location of the needle assembly within the magneto-rheological fluid with a desired resistance value;

generating a viscosity control signal representative of the desired resistance value; and

applying the viscosity control signal to a viscosity control device to vary a viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid to achieve the desired resistance value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired resistance value emulates a resistance required to displace the needle assembly through one or more layers of tissue.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the one or more layers of tissue include one or more of: skin; fat; nerves; cartilage; muscle; and bone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein varying the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid includes applying a magnetic field to the magneto-rheological fluid.

5. A simulation apparatus comprising:

a container assembly;

a magneto-rheological fluid positioned within the container assembly;

a needle assembly configured to be displaceable through the magneto-rheological fluid;

a displacement sensor configured to determine a location of the needle assembly within the magneto-rheological fluid and generate a location signal indicative of the location;

a resistance control device, responsive to the location signal, configured to:

associate the location of the needle assembly within the magneto-rheological fluid with a desired resistance value, and generate a viscosity control signal representative of the desired resistance value; and

a viscosity control device, responsive to the viscosity control signal, configured to vary the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid to achieve the desired resistance value.

6. The simulation apparatus of claim 5 wherein the viscosity control device includes: an electromagnetic field winding; and a magnetic flux guide.

7. The simulation apparatus of claim 6 wherein the magnetic flux guide is configured to provide a magnetic field within the container assembly.

8. The simulation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the magnetic field varies the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid to achieve the desired resistance value.

9. The simulation apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a pitch-roll actuator configured to allow the simulation apparatus to be displaced within a plurality of axes.

10. A simulation apparatus comprising:

a syringe assembly;

a magneto-rheological fluid positioned within the syringe assembly, the syringe assembly including a plunger assembly for displacing at least a portion of the magneto-rheological fluid from an orifice of the syringe assembly; and

a viscosity control device, responsive to a viscosity control signal, configured to vary a viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid displaced from the orifice of the syringe assembly to achieve a desired plunger resistance value.

11. The simulation apparatus of claim 10 wherein the viscosity control device includes: an electromagnetic field winding; and a magnetic flux guide.

12. The simulation apparatus of claim 11 wherein the magnetic flux guide is configured to provide a magnetic field within a tube assembly coupled to the orifice of the syringe assembly.

13. The simulation apparatus of claim 12 wherein the magnetic field varies the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid to achieve the desired plunger resistance value.

14. The simulation apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a magneto-rheological fluid tank, wherein the magneto-rheological fluid tank is configured to receive the magneto-rheological fluid from the tube assembly.

15. The simulation apparatus of claim 10 comprising:

a resistance control device for generating the viscosity control signal.