Multimodal Haptic Simulation for Ventriculostomy Training.

Abstract

Freehand ventriculostomy is a frequent surgical procedure and is among the first ones that junior neurosurgery residents learn. Although training simulators exist, none has been adopted in the clinical routine to train junior residents. This paper focuses on a novel multimodal haptic training simulator that will lift the limitations of current simulators. We thus propose an architecture that integrates (1) visual feedback through augmented MRIs, and (2) a physical mock-up of the patient's skull to (3) active haptic feedback.