Patent ID: 7249952
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: G09B

Abstract:
1. A method for simulating dental procedures for training dental students comprising, in combination, the steps of: storing volumetric data defining the location of at least one isosurface in a model of a tooth, storing point data defining the positions of a plurality of feel points that define the surface of a model of a dental tool having a handle, employing a digital computer consisting of a processor and a display device to display said model of a tooth, employing said processor and said display device to display said model of a dental tool having a handle, and employing a haptic interface device including a force-feedback stylus that is manually moveable by a dental student and is coupled to said digital computer to move the said model of a dental tool with respect to said model of a tooth, and employing said processor to compare said location of at least one isosurface in said model of a tooth with said positions of said feel points that define the surface of a model of a dental tool having a handle to calculate and apply computer-controlled interaction forces to said force-feedback stylus to simulate the feel of said dental tool having a handle to haptically simulate a dental procedure.