Design of a New Vibrating Handle for a Bone Surgery Multimodal Training Platform

A new haptic device, based on piezoelectric actuation, has been developed to help rendering, within a virtual reality (VR) environment, vibrations experienced by an operator using a drill or exploring a surface with a tool. The axial motion produced by a piezoelectric actuator, integrated along the handle axis, is converted into radial motion and amplified by orthogonal levers shaped on 12 longitudinal beams manufactured at the surface of the handle. A displacement above 100 mu m is obtained with a bandwidth up to 1 kHz. This device is more specifically intended to enhance tactile rendering of a bone surgery multimodal training platform. The form factor and tactile feedbacks of the device are very similar to a real drill used in surgical operations leading to a better immersion in the virtual environment.