ANATOMICAL MODEL AND METHOD FOR SURGICAL TRAINING

1 . An anatomical training model comprising:

a base portion;

a top portion coupled to the base portion to form a hollow space between the base portion and the top portion, the top portion including a plurality of holes; and

a plurality of cannula supports, each cannula support being aligned with one or more corresponding holes of the plurality of holes in the top portion.

2 . The anatomical training model of claim 1 wherein the plurality of holes are greater in number than required by surgical procedures using the anatomical training model.

3 . The anatomical training model of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of holes has one size to accommodate one size of instrument cannula, and at least one of the plurality of holes has a different size to accommodate a different size of instrument cannula.

4 . The anatomical training model of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cannula supports include at least one cannula support piece positioned below one or more of the corresponding holes and above the bottom portion to simulate a patient body wall for one or more instruments inserted through at least one of the holes in the top portion.

5 . The anatomical training model of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of cannula supports is positioned in a corresponding one of the plurality of holes in the top portion.

6 . The anatomical training model of claim 5 wherein each of the cannula supports includes a flexible piece including an annular membrane for holding at least one cannula inserted through the cannula support and the corresponding hole.

7 . The anatomical training model of claim 1 further comprising a membrane positioned over the top portion and the plurality of holes.

8 . The anatomical training model of claim 1 wherein the base portion includes a platform providing at least one surgical site to receive one or more instruments inserted in one or more corresponding holes in the top portion.

9 . The anatomical training model of claim 8 wherein the at least one surgical site is provided at a known position and orientation on the platform with respect to the plurality of holes to act as a fixed registration location for placement of one or more cannulas in one or more of the plurality of holes.

10 . The anatomical training model of claim 8 wherein the platform is removable from the base portion.

11 . The anatomical training model of claim 8 wherein the platform includes a plurality of structures at different locations of the platform to which the at least one surgical site is operative to be attached, allowing varied positional placement of the at least one surgical site with respect to the plurality of holes in the top portion.

12 . The anatomical training model of claim 1 wherein the at least one surgical site includes at least one of:

a component having a soft material simulating tissue for surgical manipulating tasks; and

a component having a curved pathway and one or more pieces moveable along the curved pathway.

13 . An anatomical training model comprising:

a base portion including a removable platform providing at least one surgical site;

a top portion coupled to the base portion to form a hollow space between the base portion and the top portion, the top portion including a plurality of holes each sized to receive one or more cannulas directed toward the surgical site.

14 . The anatomical training model of claim 13 wherein the at least one surgical site is provided at a known position and orientation on the platform with respect to the plurality of holes to act as a fixed registration location for placement of one or more cannulas in one or more of the plurality of holes.

15 . The anatomical training model of claim 13 wherein the platform includes a plurality of structures at different locations of the platform to which the at least one surgical site is operative to be attached, allowing varied positional placement of the at least one surgical site with respect to the plurality of holes in the top portion.

16 . A surgical training method comprising:

measuring one or more parameters associated with one or more tasks, wherein the one or more tasks are performed with reference to an anatomical model and include at least one of: surgical instrument port placement, surgical robot arm setup, and cannula docking;

performing an automatic comparison between the measured one or more parameters and corresponding one or more stored parameters associated with the one or more tasks; and

outputting an evaluation that is based on the automatic comparison.

17 . The surgical training method of claim 16 wherein the corresponding one or more stored parameters are measured at a first time, and the measuring of the one or more parameters is performed at a second time later than the first time.

18 . The surgical training method of claim 17 wherein the one or more parameters measured at the first time are associated with a first person performing the one or more tasks, and wherein the one or more parameters measured at the second time are associated with a second person performing the one or more tasks.

19 . The surgical training method of claim 17 wherein the one or more parameters measured at the first time and the second time are associated with a particular person performing the one or more tasks the first time and the second time.

20 . The surgical training method of claim 16 wherein outputting an evaluation includes outputting a score is based on one or more of:

the time needed to perform the one or more tasks, and

positioning or movement of surgical procedure components during the one or more tasks.