Medical Simulators
The task of this TIMed CENTER Core Facility is to develop and validate hybrid surgical simulators.
These mixed reality simulators consist of a patient phantom, a computer model and surgical instruments equipped with sensors. Trainee doctors receive lifelike haptic feedback from the artificial replicas of the human body. As real instruments and implants are also used, surgical procedures can be practised in great detail and realistically. The 3D computer model also enables simulated imaging in combination with sensor-enhanced instruments. The interventions can be evaluated using objective metrics.
Research areas
- Artificial anatomical structures: Development of artificial bones and tissue with integrated sensor technology (smart artificial tissue)
- Surgical instrument equipment: Extending real instruments with sensors to measure the position, location, force, pressure and temperature
- Imaging simulation: Development of algorithms to simulate established imaging procedures (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Validation of simulators: Biomechanical and medical validation and measuring of learning curves
Explanation of terms
- Artificial patients: Validated artificial vertebral bodies (in relation to the humane preparation), cement application possible (open-cell
structure), realistic X-ray-contrast - Imaging simulation: Simulated X-ray-projections for image-led interventions (C-arch-position arbitrary selectable)
- Computer model: real time 3D-visualization of the anatomy and instruments’ position
- Extended instruments: Sensor integration in
existing surgical instruments (location, position, force, pressure etc.), wireless data transmission