Colonoscopy Training Simulator

This paper presents a new colonoscopy training simulator that includes a specialized haptic device and graphics algorithms to transfer haptic sensation through a long and flexible tube, and manage large number of polygons. The developed haptic device makes the colonoscope tube move along the two guiding rods in the translational direction. The torque of the roll motion is transferred by a timing belt and pulleys. A special guide is developed, which allows the force and torque from the motors to be transmitted to the user without loss. The haptic device is evaluated by physicians. One of the important skills of the colonoscopy, jiggling is incorporated for the first time by the developed sensor mechanism using photo-sensors. A colonoscope handle that shares the look, feel, and functions with the actual colonoscope, is developed with the necessary electronics inside. The number of polygons is reduced by an edge-collapse algorithm for real-time simulation. The algorithms to import CT data, to segment the colon image, to extract centerline of the colon, and to construct the colon surface, are integrated into a Colon Modeling Kit system that performs all these processes in real-time.