Virtual Neurosurgery- training for the future Michael Vloeberghs1, Tony Glover2, Steve Benford
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| Virtual Neurosurgery- Training for the future
Michael Vloeberghs1, Tony Glover2, Steve Benford2, Arthur Jones3, Peji Wang3, Adib Becker3. 1 Academic Division of Child Health, School of Human Development 2 School of Computer Science and Information Technology 3 School of Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering and Management,
Mr Michael Vloeberghs, MD, PhD Clinical Associate Professor Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon Paediatric Neurosurgery Nottingham University Hospital Clifton Blvd Nottingham NG72UH United Kingdom e-mail: michael.vloeberghs@nottingham.ac.uk Key words: Virtual reality, Neurosurgical training, Haptics, Boundary elements, Working times directives. Abstract: Virtual Reality (VR) simulators have been created for various surgical specialties. The common theme is extensive use of graphics, confined spaces, limited functionality and limited tactile feedback. A development team at the University of Nottingham, UK, consisting of: computer scientists, mechanical engineers, graphic designers and a Neurosurgeon, set out to develop a haptic e.g. tactile simulator, for Neurosurgery making use of Boundary Element (BE) techniques. The relative homogeneity of the brain, allows boundary elements i.e. “surface only” rendering, to simulate the brain structure. The surface-only modelling feature of the BE formulation reduces the number of algebraic equations and saves computing time, by assuming the properties of the surface equal the properties of the body. A limited audit was done by Neurosurgical users confirming the potential of the simulator as a training tool. This paper focuses on the application of the computational method and refers to the underlying mathematical structure. Full references are included regarding the mathematical methodology. Introduction The need for surgical simulation is driven by the limitation in training hours set by working time directives in Western countries and increasing litigation in surgical incidents. The net result is limited training opportunities and less chance for junior surgeons to acquire the necessary experience during regulated training. Hands-on simulation is well established in aerospace training, and audit of simulation in medicine has shown a decrease in the number of adverse events in actual surgery (30). Method In order for surgery simulation to become established as training tool, VR simulators need to provide a diverse range of capabilities, close to reality (Table 1). This simulator was focused on the haptic capabilities and to a lesser extent on graphics. The development team decided that graphics are a secondary issue and easily implemented in comparison to the real-time BE computations. Table 1: Surgical acts to be simulated in VR.
A Boundary Element virtual surgery environmentThe BE-based simulator was developed at the University of Nottingham, as a collaborative research project between the Schools of Mechanical Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Computer Science and Information Technology and School of Human Development, Division of Child Health (34, 35). Neurosurgery simulation is particularly challenging because it involves interaction with the gelatinous structure of the brain and lesions of varying consistency. This simulator allows the user to operate on an area of the brain surface, use diathermy (cutting), retract the brain substance and remove a mass from inside the brain substance. The simulator is based on in-house created real-time BE software combined with advanced computer graphics and commercially available force-feedback haptic devices. (Table 2) Table 2. Hardware set-up
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Figure 1: The surgery simulation hardware. A custom built rig accommodates the computer, the haptic devices, the monitor and the reflective semitransparent mirror needed for stereoscopic vision. Download 3.92 Mb. Share with your friends:
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