Medical simulation system and method

1. A method for simulating a medical procedure utilizing a haptic interface device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a medical device into a support tube of the haptic interface device;

(b) receiving said medical device from said support tube into at least one carriage slidably mounted on a rail mounted to a carriage bed mounted to a frame of the haptic interface device, wherein said at least one carriage engages with said medical device;

(c) sending position, force, rotation, and collision data from said at least one carriage to a processor;

(d) sending motor commands from said processor to at least one drive motor mounted to said carriage bed, wherein said at least one drive motor translates said at least one carriage along said rail through a drive belt attached to said at least one carriage and looped around a fly wheel of said at least one drive motor and looped around an idler pulley; and

(e) sending brake commands from said processor to said at least one carriage, wherein said brake commands affect resistance to rotation of said medical device engaged with said at least one carriage;

(f) receiving a collision signal in said processor from a collision sensor of said at least one carriage; and

(g) sending a control signal to said at least one carriage from said processor to prevent said at least one carriage from colliding into another said at least one carriage, wherein the medical procedure is simulated through the interaction of said medical device with said at least one carriage and said motor commands and said brake commands from said processor to simulate the medical procedure.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

displaying on a monitor in a background a real image related to the medical procedure being simulated; and

displaying on said monitor in a foreground a rendering of said medical device, said rendering based upon said interactions of said medical device with the haptic interface device.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said sending step (e) further comprises causing a magnetic particle break, in cooperation with a timing belt in cooperation with a spring loaded collet, to affect resistance to rotation of said spring loaded collet, which is engaged with said at least one medical device.

4. A method for simulating a medical procedure utilizing a haptic interface device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a medical device into a support tube of the haptic interface device;

(b) receiving said medical device from said support tube into at least one carriage slidably mounted on a rail mounted to a carriage bed mounted to a frame of the haptic interface device, wherein said at least one carriage engages with said medical device;

(c) sending position, force, rotation, and collision data from said at least one carriage to a processor;

(d) sending motor commands from said processor to at least one drive motor mounted to said carriage bed, wherein said at least one drive motor translates said at least one carriage along said rail through a drive belt attached to said at least one carriage and looped around a fly wheel of said at least one drive motor and looped around an idler pulley; and

(e) sending brake commands from said processor to said at least one carriage, wherein said brake commands affect resistance to rotation of said medical device engaged with said at least one carriage;

wherein the medical procedure is simulated through the interaction of said medical device with said at least one carriage and said motor commands and said brake commands from said processor to simulate the medical procedure;

wherein said receiving step (b) further comprises the steps of:

pushing a tip of said medical device within a restricted wall of a lumen of a spring loaded collet of a first of said at least one carriage;

sensing a pushing force of said tip against said restricted wall of said lumen as indicating an engage medical device state;

sending signals to said at least one drive motor controlling said first of said at least one carriage to move said first of said at least one carriage against a support stand or against a stationary second of said at least one carriage;

compressing a spring surrounding a collet of said spring loaded collet of said first of said at least one carriage, causing said collet to open up, increasing a diameter of said lumen;

receiving said tip of said medical device farther into said lumen of said collet; and

sending signals to said at least one drive motor controlling said first of said at least one carriage to move said first of said at least one carriage away from said support stand or away from said stationary second of said at least one carriage, causing said collet to close down, decreasing the diameter of said lumen and exerting a clamping force on said tip of said medical device, engaging said medical device with said first of said at least one carriage.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

engaging said spring loaded collet of said first of said at least one carriage with a spring loaded collet of a second of said at least one carriage;

bending a pair of flex beams attached to said spring loaded collet of said first of said at least one carriage;

driving an anvil of said first of said at least one carriage into a force sensor of said first of said at least one carriage;

sending a signal from said force sensor of said first of said at least one carriage to said processor;

bending a pair of flex beams attached to said spring loaded collet of said second of said at least one carriage;

driving an anvil of said second of said at least one carriage into a force sensor of said second of said at least one carriage; and

sending a signal from said force sensor of said second of said at least one carriage to said processor.

6. The method according to claim 4 further comprises the steps of:

pulling on said medical device engaged with said first of said at least one carriage;

sensing a pulling force on said spring loaded collet of said first of said at least one carriage engaged with said medical device as indicating an exchange medical device state;

sending signals to said at least one drive motor controlling said first of said at least one carriage to move said first of said at least one carriage against a support stand or against a stationary second of said at least one carriage;

compressing a spring surrounding said collet of said spring loaded collet of said first of said at least one carriage, causing said collet to open up, increasing said diameter of said lumen; and

releasing said tip of said medical device from said lumen of said collet.