Current Research Projects-Development of stereoscopic view for laparoscopy and smart insturments to track movements

Data Fusion in a Laparoscopic Surgery Training Assistive System
Chuan Feng, Jerzy W. Rozenblit, PhD, Allan Hamilton, MD

• Due to the nature of laparoscopic surgery, inexperienced surgeons often lack
the correct perception of instruments’ position and haptic feedback. There has
been research on providing such sensory feedback. Our approach is to build a
computerized laparoscopy training assistant that uses a variety of sensors.
• The system fuses data from sensors and provides information to surgeons such
as the range of motion, potential danger zone warnings, and haptic feedback
from the instruments.
• A data fusion method is employed to achieve effective utilization of multi-sensors
and to ensure information correctness and precision.

View a PDF of the poster presented at 15th Annual Medicine Meets Virtual Reality conference, Feb. 2007.

UA Partnership Trains Future Surgeons by Researching and Creating New Technology

The Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center (ASTEC) at The University of Arizona College of Medicine has partnered with the UA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) to research and design training tools specifically aimed at providing future surgeons the opportunity to practice laparoscopic surgery skills at no risk to humans or animals.

Hermino Ojeda, MD, assistant professor of general and laporacopic surgery, uses theVirtual Assistant Surgical Training system to assist in teaching laparoscopic fundamentals toWynter Phoenix, MD, a surgery resident.

"Simulation allows us to put the practice back into medical practice. Medical education and training depend on advanced technology to provide realistic models for all types of medical procedures," said Allan J. Hamilton, MD, professor of surgery and ASTEC executive director.

Current laparoscopic, minimally invasive, surgery training tools have practical limitations, such as inadequate realism and exorbitant costs. Current laparoscopic training models are limited to a few simulated scenarios that take low-fidelity images out of situational context. Other training products available offer far more advanced features with higher quality graphics and more scenarios, but can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Additionally, none of the laparoscopic simulation trainers provide all the data necessary to evaluate the overall effectiveness for the trainees.

The ASTEC/ECE collaboration is addressing these limitations by developing a Virtual Assistant Surgical Training (VAST) system. This research and development is intended to further how technology benefits those performing life-saving surgeries with a more realistic, cost-effective solution.

"Our research is looking at the data from individuals with various levels of expertise in laparoscopic surgery. With this information and collaboration with the surgeons, we can create the technology to provide the best user experience and information output most useful for learning and practicing laparoscopic surgery," said Jerzy Rozenblit, PhD, professor and ECE department head.

Dr. Hamilton added, "With partnerships between fields such as medicine and engineering, the opportunities and potential for developing new technologies for medical simulation are limitless. Using these technologies to train tomorrow's physicians and surgeons will improve the care patients receive."