Invention:
This invention provides medical students and professionals the ability to practice surgical techniques in virtual reality with true haptic feedback. This technology is currently designed for otolaryngology procedures where users are provided with a virtual reality headset and imitation medical tools for operating on a tangible model head.
Background:
Typically, medical students are able to practice surgical techniques on a cadaver one time during their education. While this is helpful, students would benefit from being able to practice their surgical procedures multiple times throughout medical school. Studies show that limited surgical exposure in medical school corresponds to longer surgery times and more complications after graduate school. Although virtual surgery is an option already on the market, the technology presented here builds upon what's currently available by enabling haptic feedback within virtual surgery.
Applications:
- Otolaryngology surgical procedures
- Potential to expand and encompass other surgical procedures
Advantages:
- Provides haptic feedback
- Includes the use of medical modeled tools
- Useful across various surgical fields
- Seamlessly synchronized with physical and virtual models
- Prompts a warning when entering surgical danger zones
- Less expensive than other comparable virtual simulators
- Operates on consumer-grade VR equipment
