Other

Johns Hopkins University

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (a*star)

Yiyu Cai

Yaoping Wang

Chee-Kong Chui

Wieslaw Lucjan Nowinski

James H Anderson

Marcelo H Ang, Jr

William R Brody

Percy Chen

Koon-Hou Mak

The invention provides a system for virtually designing a medical device conformed for use with a specific patient. Using the system, a three-dimensional geometric model of a patient-specific body cavity or lumen is reconstructed from scanned volume images such as obtained x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), ultrasound (US), angiography or other imaging modalities. Knowledge of the physical properties of the cavity/lumen is obtained by determining the relationship between image density and the stiffness or elasticity of tissues in the body cavity or lumen and is used to model interactions between a simulated device and a simulated body cavity or lumen.

Simulation method for designing customized medical devices

An apparatus for use in simulated image guided surgery comprises a positional transducer, clamping means located proximate to the transducer, and a processor. The transducer is responsive to a thin flexible member that can be manipulated by a user, and produces signals representative of displacement and rotation of the thin flexible member. The clamping means responds to a controlling signal to apply a predetermined variable clamping force to the flexible member. The processor receives these displacement and rotation signals, and is programmed to plot the path of the flexible member therefrom as it is manipulated by the user. Additionally, the processor produces the controlling signal to the clamping means in response to the instantaneous position along the path. The processor may be coupled to a display device for displaying an image of the instantaneous position of the flexible wire therealong, or other information. The invention also includes a related method for the simulation of image guided surgery. Embodiments of the invention can be used to simulate the manual positioning of a catheter and guidewire, as well as the haptic forces exerted by the user's hand and fingers in that positioning, or can simulate the process of balloon angioplasty, including stent deployment.

Apparatus for the simulation of image-guided surgery

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Yiyu Cai