Thank you to sponsor Tensentric!
One challenge that laparoscopic surgeons face today is a lack of adequate training procedures for minimally invasive surgery. Simple training simulators exist today to help a surgeon improve their dexterity and overall skill with the various tools they use. For example, a surgeon might practice with laparoscopic tools by tying a shoelace with them. However, there is no simulator that can simulate the realistic forces and tensions that a surgeon would experience when interacting with human tissue.
The LapticVR simulator is a laparoscopic surgery simulator that allows a surgeon to practice various surgical procedures that they would perform with laparoscopic tools. The device is a box that represents the abdomen of a patient and has laparoscopic tools inserted through port holes. A virtual reality headset is used to display a 3D model of the inside of a patient’s abdomen and the surgeon’s tools. The surgeon can see the movement of the tools in 3D space as he/she moves them in real life. Haptic force feedback is applied to the real tools as the virtualized tools come into contact with human tissue in virtual reality.
Medical professionals will benefit the most from this product by giving them a realistic environment to hone their laparoscopic surgical skills. Medical training facilities will need these devices for initial training of surgical students.
When it comes to surgery simulators, haptic force feedback is essential in creating a realistic and effective surgery environment. The LapticVR simulator is unique in that it accomplishes this fundamental requirement for training procedures. Also unique to our product is a 3D virtualization of the patient’s abdomen and the tools which helps the user develop the required hand-eye coordination.