Patent ID: 7404715

Claim:
A device for the simulation of a rod-shaped virtual surgical instrument for the generation of a feedback signal, having a sleeve, wherein the sleeve has a push rod located symmetrically around the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, wherein a control device is provided, with which the sleeve and the push rod is brought into a detachable engagement with each other, so that in a first control position the sleeve and the push rod are freely mobile with respect to each other and in a second control position the sleeve and the push rod is moveable only by the application of a force to the device or not moveable, wherein the sleeve includes an electromagnet connected thereto and a metal plunger therein configured to move with respect to the electromagnet in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the plunger is attractable by the action of the electromagnet, wherein the side of the sleeve facing the electromagnet has a first tapered portion that tapers toward the inside of the sleeve, wherein the plunger is effectively connected with a second tapered portion that is complementary to the first tapered portion, whereby the surface of the second tapered portion facing the push rod is frictionally fitted against the push rod.