Sean ThomasBryan LandwehrDr. Peter Young

Canine Acupuncture BackgroundHolistic Approach: Traditional Chinese Medicine

ConceptsQi = Life ForceMeridians = Pathways of Qi

Benefits•Arthritis•Allergies•Neck/Back Pain•Paralysis•Resuscitation

~ 75 Acupuncture Points

Certification• Integral Part of Veterinary Medicine• License Required

Drawbacks• Cost• Realism• Reusability• Ethics

Canine Acupuncture Training

Solution: A Virtual Canine Acupuncture Simulator, SimPooch!

Project Status

•Teams in AY06 developed the physical system

-Base Unit Design

•Teams in AY07 developed the virtual shell

-MRI & CT Scans

Our Goal: To Make Training Virtually Painless.

1. Design Haptic model approximation of canine skin

2. Incorporate Accurate Grading Criteria

3. Expand User Interface

Current Work

The Feel of Acupuncture

•Distinct feel of 3 layers•Minimal deformation •Resistive force to remove needle•Variations of feeling in different areas•Feeling changes over time

Haptics

Python H3D API Phantom

What is Haptics? (Definition)

How do we sense the world?

Benefits of using haptics for training

Python with H3D API

Omni Phantom Device

Haptic System Model

Grading: Voronoi Algorithm

Grading OutcomesStudent Touches Cell Occupied By Teacher

Point

Multiple Touches in Cell Occupied By

Teacher Point

Absence of Touch in Cell Occupied by

Teacher Point

Student Touches On Border Between Cells

Student Point Associated with

Teacher Point. Pass.

Closer Student Point Associated with

Teacher Point. Pass.

Student Point Not Associated. Miss.

Student Point Not Associated. Miss.

User Interface

Current UI

Way Down the Road

Planned GUI

Budget

Contributions ExpensesYear Narda Robinson Sr. Design Item Cost

AY06 +25,000.00 •Omni Phantom•Base Unit -9,177.74

AY07 0 +200.00 •Base Unit•Reference Books -47.76

AY08 0 +200.00 •Display Board -299.16

Total 25,000.00 200.00 -9524.66

Adjustment 1,000

Remaining Funds $1000 $200.00

Goals for next semester

• Calibration• Improved Haptic simulation• Implementation of 3D Voronoi• Expansion of grading criteria

Thanks to our Sponsers:

Dr. Narda RobinsonDr. Regina Schoenfeld-Tacher

Come to Our Lab to feel for yourselfWednesdays @ 1 pm

B 111

Questions?

Current Algorithm

Set 1: Teacher PointsSet 2: Student Points

Not Good for Comparing Teacher Points w/ Student Points

Grading: Closest Point Algorithm

a

b

mn

x

y