ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 28 -- David Barkay of Kiryat Ono, Israel, Ran Bronstein of Modlin, Israel, and Edna Chosack of Orange,
Ohio, have developed an endoscopic tutorial system for the
pancreatic system.
According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method and a system for simulating the minimally invasive medical procedure of bilio-pancreatic
duodenoscopy. The system is designed to simulate the actual medical procedure of bilio-pancreatic duodenoscopy as closely as possible by providing both a simulated medical instrument, and tactile and visual feedback as the simulated procedure is performed on the simulated patient. Particularly preferred features include a multi-path solution for virtual navigation in a complex anatomy. In addition, the system and method optionally and more preferably incorporate the effect of dynamic contrast injection of dye into the papilla for fluoroscopy. The injection of such dye, and the subsequent visualization of the bilio-pancreatic organ system in the presence of the duodenoscope, must be accurately simulated in terms of accurate visual feedback. In addition, the bilio-pancreatic organ system is optionally and more preferably modeled as a plurality of splines, most preferably arranged as a tree of splines or other branched structure. Thus, the system and method provide a complete solution to the complex and difficult problem of training students in bilio-pancreatic duodenoscopy procedures."
The inventors were issued U.S. Patent No. 7,261,565 on Aug. 28.
The patent has been assigned to Simbionix Ltd., Lod, Israel.
The original application was filed on May 16, 2001, and is available at: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Se ct1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p= 1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm& ;r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,261,565.PN.&OS=PN/7,261,565&RS=PN/7,261,565.