Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Western Ontario
$57,194.00
A high-fidelity haptic device for virtual ear surgery
EF 2009-10
Résumé
MOTIVATION: Ear surgery is challenging because the internal structures of the ear are delicate and tiny. Currently, training in ear surgery is done using an apprenticeship approach in which the trainee observes a surgeon then practices the procedure on patients. This approach places patients at risk. As an alternative, we have developed a training simulator using virtual-reality (VR) technology. The simulator presents the trainee with a 3D digital model of the ear that can be operated upon. The trainee uses a "haptic" device to interact with the digital ear model. The device simultaneously allows the trainee to move a 3D digital surgical tool and feel interaction forces between the tool and the digital ear model. The forces encountered in ear surgery are tiny and a high-fidelity haptic device is needed to accurately represent them. Our current haptic device is not accurate.
OBJECTIVES: To incorporate high-fidelity haptics into our simulator and to assess the force representation.
APPROACH: We shall interface a magnetic levitation haptic device to our simulator. Interaction forces will be computed using our digital ear model and will be applied to the trainee's hands using the haptic device. We shall assess the realism of the simulated environment by comparing forces calculated using our simulator to those measured during surgery on cadaveric specimens.
NOVEL ASPECTS: Unlike mechanical haptic devices that are commonly available, a magnetic levitation device can accurately represent tiny forces as well as a wide range of stiffnesses from barely perceptible as in the case of the eardrum to rigid as in the case of the skull surrounding the ear. The ear simulator being developed by us is the first VR-based simulator for training in ear surgery.
SIGNIFICANCE: Using the simulator, trainees can practice on a large variety of realistic virtual ears without risk to actual patients. Moreover, they can practice independently of an instructing surgeon, thus freeing time for surgeons to treat patients. Accurate force representation will allow trainee's to develop skills in the simulated environment that translate readily to the operating room.
Programme
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
390248-2010
Name nom
Ladak, Hanif
Department département
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Organization id
36
Institution établissement
University of Western Ontario
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2009
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
57194
Program id
EQPEQ
Program nane en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1510
Committee name en
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie électrique et informatique
Area of application code
1102
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Biomedical engineering
Area of application fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject code
1900
Research subject group en
Biomedical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject en
Biomedical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie biomédical
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
A high-fidelity haptic device for virtual ear surgery
Keyword
NA
Application summary
MOTIVATION: Ear surgery is challenging because the internal structures of the ear are delicate and tiny. Currently, training in ear surgery is done using an apprenticeship approach in which the trainee observes a surgeon then practices the procedure on patients. This approach places patients at risk. As an alternative, we have developed a training simulator using virtual-reality (VR) technology. The simulator presents the trainee with a 3D digital model of the ear that can be operated upon. The trainee uses a "haptic" device to interact with the digital ear model. The device simultaneously allows the trainee to move a 3D digital surgical tool and feel interaction forces between the tool and the digital ear model. The forces encountered in ear surgery are tiny and a high-fidelity haptic device is needed to accurately represent them. Our current haptic device is not accurate.
OBJECTIVES: To incorporate high-fidelity haptics into our simulator and to assess the force representation.
APPROACH: We shall interface a magnetic levitation haptic device to our simulator. Interaction forces will be computed using our digital ear model and will be applied to the trainee's hands using the haptic device. We shall assess the realism of the simulated environment by comparing forces calculated using our simulator to those measured during surgery on cadaveric specimens.
NOVEL ASPECTS: Unlike mechanical haptic devices that are commonly available, a magnetic levitation device can accurately represent tiny forces as well as a wide range of stiffnesses from barely perceptible as in the case of the eardrum to rigid as in the case of the skull surrounding the ear. The ear simulator being developed by us is the first VR-based simulator for training in ear surgery.
SIGNIFICANCE: Using the simulator, trainees can practice on a large variety of realistic virtual ears without risk to actual patients. Moreover, they can practice independently of an instructing surgeon, thus freeing time for surgeons to treat patients. Accurate force representation will allow trainee's to develop skills in the simulated environment that translate readily to the operating room.
