Patent ID: 7563233

Claim:
A method for providing a tactile presentation of tissue elasticity for tissue in an interior of a body, comprising the steps of: in a non-contacting measurement device, electronically designating a tissue region, for which tissue elasticity is to be presented, located in an interior of a body, including designating a virtual boundary of a tissue structure in said tissue region; measuring said elasticity of said region of said tissue with said non-contacting measurement device, and thereby obtaining measured data representing elasticity and said boundary region; transmitting said measured data to a machine-human interface which conveys haptic feedback information to the user dependent on said measured data allowing said user to hapticly perceive said elasticity and said virtual boundary; and generating control data for said region by manipulating said machine-human interface with a finger of said user relative to said virtual boundary and using said control data to control said measurement of said elasticity.