SIMULATION OF RESISTANCE FORCES ACTING ON SURGICAL NEEDLES

High precision in the manual control of needles and biopsy probes in m edical treatment requires high skill and dexterity levels. In anaesthe sia, force sensation is an important feedback mechanism, and the pract itioner needs to refresh or develop skills to improve on the interpret ation of needle progress towards the target site. This paper describes an experimental tactile force simulator for uniaxial needle action fo r which the force resisting progress of the needle is derived from mea sured data. As an example, the approach taken to develop the simulatio n of the insertion of epidural needles is described. Adaptation to oth er procedures would be possible by adopting new reference models based on appropriate measured force data.