Authors:
I. W. Mack
1
;
K. McMenemy
1
;
R. S. Ferguson
1
;
S. Potts
2
and
A. Dick
2
Affiliations:
1
The Queen’s University of Belfast, United Kingdom
;
2
The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, United Kingdom
Keyword(s):
Laparoscopic simulator, low cost, PIC microcontroller, quantum tunnelling composite, force feedback.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Equipment
;
Biomedical Instruments and Devices
;
Emerging Technologies
;
Technologies Evaluation
;
Telecommunications
;
Wireless and Mobile Technologies
;
Wireless Information Networks and Systems
Abstract:
Abdominal surgery performed by laparoscopy requires a very high degree of skill in the surgeon. This skill level can only be acquired through practice and training. However, a virtual reality (VR) training simulator commands a high price. There is no reason for a VR simulator to be expensive, as a modern personal computer can produce high-quality graphics. If all that was required was good graphics, every surgeon could have a training tool within their laptop computer. What is missing is suitable low-cost human interface hardware – the equivalent of the computer game ‘joystick’. This paper presents a design for a low cost device to address this issue. In order to provide force feedback, the forces exerted on the surgical instruments have to be measured by sensors mounted at various points. The sensors are constructed from quantum tunnelling composite pills which measure the pressure applied to them by the surgeon. The force feedback is produced by small direct current motors. The low
cost design has been tested by both specialist laparoscopic surgeons and non surgical personnel to assess its benefits in training at different levels of expertise. A preliminary qualitative report is given which documents the findings from these initial tests.
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