Haptic simulators can help medical students to train and improve their skills before practicing with a real patient. However, the vast majority of needle insertion haptic simulators are based on sophisticated models that are accurate but highly demanding in computing resources. Most of them do not provide haptic feedback and/or are not suitable for haptic control due to their computing time. In this paper, we presented a new low computing consuming method that aims to provide a realistic needle insertion experience to the student. A description of the proposed solution is provided, and it is illustrated by experimental results to highlight its performance.

This paper introduces a new controller for dual-user training systems, designed by way of an energy based approach. Dual-user training systems are useful for supervised hands-on training when a trainer shows the right gestures to a trainee and where the forces to apply on the tools are difficult to dose. An energy shared control (ESC) based architecture is proposed, based on an intrinsically passive authority sharing mechanism which is enhanced to provide a full force feedback to both users. As this enhancement may violate the natural passivity of the system, a passivity controller is introduced. A task based comparative study with two other dual-user schemes (Complementary Linear Combination (CLC) and Masters Correspondence with Environment Transfer (MECT) from is conducted, which reveals analogous performances. Real-time experiments demonstrate good tracking performances.

This paper presents the BirthSIM model, a haptic interface of a childbirth simulator. The aim of this haptic interface is to improve haptic rendering and increase the biofidelity of the movements and forces which occur during the fetal descent. Thus the model of this 2 degrees of freedom pneumatic actuated interface is presented in this article, in order to synthesize a control law based on the backstepping method. The control law obtained allows targeted trajectories of positions and pneumatic stiffness to be tracked but also allows the equivalent stiffness of the end effector in Cartesian coordinates to be adapted in real time. The difference between pneumatic stiffness and closed loop stiffness is explained. Finally, some simulation results are presented to validate the control law behavior.

This paper presents the control algorithm implanted on the childbirth simulator BirthSIM in order to provide training to novice obstetricians. The forceps extraction is an obstetric manipulation learned by experience. However, nowadays the training is mainly provided during real childbirths. This kind of training could lead to dramatic consequences due to the lack of experience of some operators. This paper explains the approach that has been used to simulate the dynamic process of a childbirth on the BirthSIM simulator. We especially focus on one procedure that reproduces a difficult instrumental delivery. The recorded tractive force to extract the fetus corresponds to the literature results that confirm the realism of the simulator. The novice results emphasize the need of a childbirth simulator in order to gain initial experience without any risks.

This paper presents a new predictive hybrid control law for a pneumatic teleoperation system using solenoid valves. Based on a predictive model of the mass flow rate of the valves, this method is used within a four-channel (4CH) bilateral control architecture for haptic teleoperation. An analysis of the controller parameters is carried out in order to achieve acceptable performances. To evaluate the new strategy, a comparison study has been performed with a classical PWM control of a teleoperation system. The results show that the accuracy in position and force tracking in steady state but also the dynamic behavior of the pressures are better in the case of hybrid control than PWM control.

In this paper we present a voice command and mouth gesture based robot command interface which is capable of controlling three degrees of freedom. The gesture set was designed in order to avoid head rotation and translation, and thus relying solely in mouth movements. Mouth segmentation is performed by using the normalized a* component, as in J. Gomez, et al., (October 2008). The gesture detection process is carried out by a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) based classifier. After that, a state machine stabilizes the system response by restricting the number of possible movements depending on the initial state. Voice commands are modeled using a hidden Markov model (HMM) isolated word recognition scheme. The interface was designed taking into account the specific pose restrictions found in the DaVinci assisted surgery command console.

This study is related to the application of artificial intelligence approaches for the design of complex systems. The purpose is to propose methods and tools in order to help designers to optimize and to evaluate design parameters according to technical specifications during the embodiment design phase. For this purpose, multi-agent systems are interesting because of their ability to virtually duplicate the process followed by designers' teams. Because of the high number of parameters and possible combinations, a hybrid search approach based on metaheuristic mechanisms is proposed for optimization. More particularly when the task is a multiple objective combinatorial optimization and preference order cannot be defined, the objective functions of the criteria to optimize cannot be weighted and optimization cannot be resumed to a single-objective one. We specified a hybrid algorithm deriving the best (not dominated) solutions set: the Pareto front, from the possible solutions set. Self-organizing maps are then used to analyze and evaluate the obtained front. Our approach is illustrated in the case of the design of a 2-degrees of freedom robot.

This paper presents a new available feature on the childbirth simulator BirthSIM. This feature offers a risk- free training for novice obstetricians to proceed to forceps extractions. The different forces involved during deliveries are described and modeled. The choice of a control strategy in order to reproduce all these forces is explained and argued. This paper also introduces the concepts of simple and double synchronization during deliveries. Its application allows to minimize the amount of forces exerted with forceps during an instrumental delivery to make it as safe as possible. Simulations of forceps extraction carried out by two junior obstetricians are provided and analyzed. The corresponding results are compared to the literature and to the results obtained by an expert.

Today, medical simulators are increasingly gaining attraction in clinical settings. These tools allow physicians to visualize the positions of organs, plan surgical interventions, and carry out more comprehensive post operative monitoring. A childbirth simulator provides a risk-free training and research tool for comparing various techniques that use obstetrical instruments or validating new methods. This paper presents a new teaching method to place forceps blades for obstetricians using an instrumented childbirth simulator. The proposed method is based on a physical simulator coupled with a computer graphics interface. Another aspect of this paper is to provide understanding marks to quantify the progression during a training. A first one allows to study the path in space and to quantify their repeatability, a second one allows to compute the error to a reference gesture defined by an expert. Both marks are complementary. Two novices were trained and they manage to have a more repeatable gesture and above all to become closer to a reference gesture, i.e. to reduce the injury linked to the use of forceps during instrumental deliveries.

Birth represents for each human being one the most wonderful days of his life but also one of the most dangerous. Being born in safe conditions requires to be surrounded by professionals who acquire a rigorous knowledge of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Nowadays, midwives and obstetricians learn mainly in delivery ward during real childbirths. For difficult childbirths, the use of obstetrical instruments (forceps, spatulas or vacuum extractors) is unavoidable. However, the use of such instruments increases the risks of lesions for the mother and the fetus. In practical, only clinical experience acquired in the delivery ward enables these risks to be reduced. Nowadays, simulators in medicine have a real appeal in the medical environment. These tools enable doctors to visualize the position of the organs in the human body, to plan their movements or to carry out a more complete post operational control. A birth simulator provides a training tool and a research tool to compare various techniques for the use of obstetrical instruments or to validate new methods. It is in this context that we have developed, in collaboration with researchers and medical doctors, a new type of instrumented forceps to offer new solutions for training obstetricians for the safe use of obstetrical forceps delivery. The main contributions of this paper are the design of instrumented forceps coupled with the BirthSIM simulator and the path analysis during the forceps blades placement. This analysis leads to the comparison of the repeatability of the movement between novice obstetricians and expert obstetricians. The results highlight the lack of teaching tool to correctly train the novice obstetricians

In this paper, the authors describe the design of a bendable robotic tip for semi-autonomous colonoscopy called COLOBOT. It is a flexible robotic manipulator made of silicone rubber in view of the compact size and biocompatibility. The outer diameter of the tip is 17 mm which is lesser than the average diameter of colon (20 mm). Three servo-valves are used to control the pressure of each chamber of this tip to obtain its flexible movement. The experimental results of this new prototype show that it can bend until 120 degrees under the pressure of 2 bar. Based on the geometric deformation and a nonlinear analysis of the silicone behavior, a direct kinematic model analogous to the forward kinematics of a conventional industrial robot kinematics chain has been put forward. The proposed kinematic model of this bendable tip is an extended model of classical models found for such a mechanism. At first a polynomial approximation is used to characterize the non linear behavior of each chamber of the actuator. Next the coupling phenomena between each chamber are highlighted through experimental tests. A new correction parameter is then proposed to take into account these interactions and a non linear optimization is made to compute this coefficient. Finally, the proposed kinematic model is experimentally validated

This paper presents some new automatic procedures for the BirthSIM childbirth simulator. BirthSIM is able to simulate the uterine contractions and the mother's voluntary efforts, this enables the operator to synchronize these two types of efforts during a normal childbirth, or to synchronize these two efforts with the operator's tractive instrumental effort during childbirth using obstetric instruments. One originality of the BirthSIM simulator is to allow the medical team to acquire a better understanding of the application of these two synchronization concepts. With the aim of implanting various childbirth procedures, four control algorithms and switching algorithms are used to control successively: force, position, force-velocity or force-position. These control algorithms are important to produce the movement of the head, the mother's natural contractions and the mother's pushing action. Different childbirth cases are simulated using an electropneumatic system. The validity of the proposed control method for simulating childbirth modes has been evaluated by an expert obstetrician

During the conventional procedure of the colonoscopy, there are two important movements, the introduction of colonoscope in the colon and the maneuver of the distal end. In this paper, the authors focus on a new type of automatic bendable tip while keeping the advance of the colonoscope in the colon by endoscopist. The main purpose of this tip is to make the colonoscope overcome acute intestinal bends and make easier the progression of the colonoscope for the surgeon. Firstly, we model our current prototype tip, named EDORA (distal extremity with automatic orientation). Next, the parameters of the system are estimated by using the Levenberg-Margquardt's algorithm. Finally, by using the maximum of the sensitivity function a gain margin specification is made. A set point for a position controller is designed, thus the tip can stay in the middle of the colon with disturbance rejection due to the manipulation of the colonoscope. In the same time, this controller has been designed to make the tip have some degrees of compliance to reduce the contact force due to the undesirable contact with the colon. Simulation and experimental results for the controller would be presented by emulating the real environments.

This paper deals with a new mechanical birth simulator (BirthSIM). Currently available birth simulators provide manikins that include new-born head and maternal pelvis but they do not produce the movements of the new-born in the mother's pelvis. Furthermore available maternal pelvis do not include interface pressure and are not enough realistic to simulate maternal pelvic muscles. In summary, these simulators do not help students to practice the gestures they should safely use to help the new-born in normal and at-risk situations of delivery. The originality of our mechanical birth simulator, is to provide a system to mimic the last step of the instrumental delivery, to insure a safe training of junior obstetricians and to test new techniques in obstetrics practice. The new mechanical birth simulator is composed of three parts: a physical new-born head and a maternal pelvis manikin, an interface pressure system, and a pneumatic actuator that develops an active resistance. Driven by a computer, the simulator can simulate the contractions, the interface pressure applied in the new-born head and mimic birth complications.

Medical technology is changing rapidly with devices such as stereo-endoscopes, virtual reality, tele-presence surgery, and robotics for use in colonoscopy. The minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is becoming one of the most important research area in the field of medical engineering. The colonoscope is one typical medical instrument that complies with the requirement of MIS. This paper describes the design of a new type of intelligent tip for the colonoscope. Because of the injuries caused by this surgical tool during the operation, we focus on a new type of bendable tip. The main purpose of this medical tool is to be in accordance with MIS by minimizing the contact between the colonoscope and the interior boundary of the colon, and to make the progression of the colonoscope easier for the surgeon. Our current prototype is twice the size of the final tool. It is electro-pneumatically driven and constituted by three metal bellows disposed 120/spl deg/ apart. Its position in the intestine is driven by three sensors positioned on the superior plate. Some experimental results are presented.

In recent years, much has been studied on the colonoscope because it is a very important tool for diagnosing colon cancer which is the second leading cause of cancer in the developed countries. During the course of colonoscopy, the colonoscope need to be inserted to the tortuous colon of patients. This is a procedure often painful for the patient and complex for the surgeon. In order to solve this problem, a new flexible actuator of a colonoscope capable of avoiding the injury to the patients has been developed for autonomous colonoscope in our lab. In this paper we mainly deal with the modeling and parameter identification of our flexible actuator in order to design a controller that can automatically detect the contact between the surgical instruments and the intestine. First a mathematical model of the actuator was deduced and linearised from previous research, then a direct identification approach was studied for the continuous-time system, using continuous-time ARX (CARX) model and the Levenberg Marquardt (L-M) algorithm. Finally, the experiment setup and the identification of the parameters of the actuator are described and the results are compared with the data obtained from classical frequency response method. Experimentation has proved the continuous-time method to be very effective for our system identification.

We propose an automated inspection system of manufactured parts using a cloud of 3D measured points of a part provided by a range sensor, and its CAD model. Inspection consists in verifying the accuracy of a part related to a given set of tolerances. It is thus necessary that the 3D measurements be accurate. In the 3D capture of a part, several sources of error can alter the measured values. So, we have to find and model the most influential parameters affecting the accuracy of the range sensor in the digitalization process. This model is used to produce a sensing plan to acquire accurately the geometry of a part. By using the noise model, we introduce a dispersion value for each 3D point acquired. This value of dispersion is shown as a weight factor in the inspection results.

In the last few years, we have observed a fast development of modern science and technology. In the field of medical engineering, the same evolution is observed, and the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has became one of the most important research area. Medical endoscope is one typical medical instrument that complies with the requirement of MIS. This paper deals with the design of a new type of micro-robot for intestinal inspection. Because of the injuries caused by the colonoscope during the operation, and the long time spent at the hospital by the patient, we focus on a new type of intelligent colonoscope. The main purpose of this medical tool is to be in accordance with MIS by minimizing the contact between the colonoscope and the interior boundary of the colon, and to make the progression of the colonoscope easier for the surgeon. Our current prototype, which is twice the size of the final tool, is electro pneumatically driven. It is constituted by three metal bellows disposed 120/spl deg/ apart, and its position in the intestine is driven by three sensors positioned on the superior plate. Some experimental results are presented.

Online inspection for defects in manufactured parts is a challenging problem and a crucial issue for any production process. Precise and extended CAD data describe the manufactured part under inspection and can be stored in a database in order to perform comparisons between the measured observed part (with a 3D laser camera, for instance) and its CAD description. The problem is very slow access time to find the right CAD model, because of the huge amount of data necessary to represent even a very simple manufactured piece. We propose a fast access to the database based on a vision-derived representation of the part, much less precise than the CAD representation but which offers a very low storage requirement. CAD representations of the models are converted off-line into a vision-based representation used to train a neural network. Volumetric projected components (geons) and their interrelationship are extracted from the digitized image of the piece under inspection and input to a neural network whose outputs point to the most probable models in the large database. Corresponding CAD data is then available for the inspection module.