Surgical training apparatus, methods and systems

Abstract

Surgical training apparatus, methods and systems which allow surgical trainees to practice surgical skills on anatomical models in a realistic manner with an augmented reality headset and delivery of targeted surgical coursework curriculum correlated to the actions of the trainee as sensed by sensors in or adjacent the model to help the trainee develop proper surgical technique and decision making.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical training system, comprising:
 a) a model of an anatomical part of a human or animal;   b) one or more sensors attached to said model, said one or more sensors operable to emit a signal in response to receiving an activation input;   c) an augmented reality headset having one or more electronic and/or optical input and output channels adapted to receive electronic signals from said one or more sensors;   d) a computer processor operable to receive signals from said augmented reality headset and/or said one or more sensors;   e) a computer database having surgical training curriculum having one or more individual surgical subject matter components stored therein; and   f) a software program running on said computer processor and connected to said database, said software program operable to correlate said one or more sensor signals to said one or more individual surgical subject matter components, said software program being further operable to provide as an output the individual surgical subject matter component which is correlated to a received signal.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical training system of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more sensors include two or more sensors embedded within said model and exposed upon cutting an opening into said model, said one or more sensors operable to emit a signal in response to contact with a fluid flowing within said opening. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical training system of  claim 2 , wherein two or more sensors are positioned at different depths within said model and are operable to sense an increasing fluid flow by activation of said sensors in sequence. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical training system of  claim 3  wherein said software program is operable to correlate each of said two or more sensors with a volumetric quantity of fluid wherein each of said sensors correlates to a different volumetric quantity of fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical training system of  claim 4  wherein said software program is operable to provide an output perceptible to the trainee in response to said volumetric quantity of fluid reaching or exceeding a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical training system of  claim 5  wherein said output is one or more of an audible alarm or text message. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical training system of  claim 6  wherein said output is a text visible in said augmented reality headset. 
     
     
         8 . A surgical training system, comprising:
 a) a model of an anatomical part of a human or animal, said model having one or more cues;   b) a cue receiver operable to receive one or more cues from said model, said cue receiver being operable to generate a signal in response to receiving a cue;   c) a computer processor operable to receive signals from said cue receiver;   e) a computer database having surgical training curriculum having one or more individual surgical subject matter components stored therein; and   f) a software program running on said computer processor and connected to said database, said software program operable to correlate said one or more received signals to said one or more individual surgical subject matter components, said software program being further operable to provide as an output the individual surgical subject matter component which is correlated to a received signal.   
     
     
         9 . The surgical training system of  claim 8 , wherein said cue receiver is an augmented reality headset having one or more of the following:
 a) projected display waveguide with see through optics;   b) WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity;   c) camera;   d) central processing unit;   e) monocular;   f) binocular;   g) haptic feedback;   h) voice control;   i) operating system;   j) noise cancelling microphone; and   k) on board video recording media.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical training system of  claim 8  wherein said cue receiver is a digital still and/or video camera. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical training system of  claim 8  wherein said cue is a barcode attached to said model and said cue receiver is a bar code scanner. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical training system of  claim 8  wherein said software program is provided as software as a service. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical training system of  claim 8  wherein said output is provided on a computer monitor. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical training system of  claim 9  wherein said output is provided on said augmented reality headset. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical training system of  claim 8  and further comprising two or more of said models with each model being a distinct anatomical model type, and wherein said software program includes a separate surgical session program correlated to each of said model types. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical training system of  claim 15  wherein said separate surgical session program includes at least two alternate surgical session types. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical training system of  claim 16  wherein said anatomical part is thoracic having heart and lung models. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical training system of  claim 8  wherein said anatomical part includes at least two models and wherein said software program is programmed to provide an output in response to signals received from either of said models. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical training system of  claim 16  wherein said model type is kidney and said surgical session types include a tumor resection surgical session and a biopsy session. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical training system, comprising:
 a) a model of an anatomical part of a human or animal;   b) one or more sensors attached to said model, said one or more sensors operable to emit a signal in response to receiving an activation input;   c) a computer processor operable to receive signals from said one or more sensors;   e) a computer database having surgical training curriculum having one or more individual surgical subject matter components stored therein; and   f) a software program running on said computer processor and connected to said database, said software program operable to correlate said one or more received sensor signals to said one or more individual surgical subject matter components, said software program being further operable to provide as an output the individual surgical subject matter component which is correlated to a received signal.   
     
     
         21 . The surgical training system of  claim 20  wherein said sensor is a proximity sensor and said activation input is provided by a surgical instrument positioned adjacent said sensor. 
     
     
         22 . A method for performing a simulated surgical training session on a simulated anatomical model of an animal or human, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a simulated anatomical model of an animal or human;   b) providing a computer connected to a database with educational curriculum correlated to said simulated anatomical model;   c) providing one or more cue receivers operable to send signals to said computer;   d) providing software on said computer, said software programmed with one or more surgical training session modules correlated to said anatomical model, said software programmed to access said database and provide as a human perceptible output said educational curriculum in response to receiving a signal from said cue receiver.