Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – The precision of medical needles in surgical simulation depends on several factors, such as the design of the simulation system as well as the precise nature of the instrument tracking.
Modern surgical simulation systems often use advanced tracking technologies, such as electromagnetic tracking, to monitor the position and orientation of surgical instruments in real-time. These systems have a high level of accuracy, with generally few tracking errors.
The specificity of the simulation however also depends on the design of the virtual environment and the accuracy of the instrument models utilized for the simulation. The virtual atmosphere generally needs accuracy to represent the anatomy and tissue properties of the target area, and the instrument models should accurately reflect the size, shape, and behavior of the corresponding physical instruments.
On top of that, the precision of the needle insertion can be affected by the skill and experience of the user, as well as the level of haptic feedback provided by the simulation system. Haptic feedback is linked to the sensation of touch and force, and it is a vital aspect of surgical simulation as it allows users to experience the sensation of cutting and dissecting tissue, which can help improve their dexterity and accuracy.
In general, accuracies provided by the medical needles in surgical simulation is continuously made better, and modern systems offer a high level of accuracy and realism, which can be advantageous for training and preparation of surgical procedures.
Scientists from the University of Bristol have found a way of further enhancing the accuracy of medical needle-use in surgical simulation.
This new development saw its findings published in Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems. This is likely to enhance training for junior surgeons by reproducing an effect as similar as possible to real life situations. This may also bring about the possibilities to be applied for the development of surgical robotic solutions.
Simulations are widely used in education to provide hands-on learning experiences and to help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. There are many different types of simulations used in education, including virtual simulations, physical simulations, and gaming simulations.
Virtual simulations allow students to explore complex systems, processes, or scenarios in a safe and controlled environment. For example, in science and engineering, students can use virtual simulations to explore the behavior of physical systems, such as fluid dynamics or heat transfer, and to perform virtual experiments that would be too dangerous or expensive to perform in real life. Trainee pilots can also practice flight simulation prior flying an actual plane.
The researchers which made use of the theory of continuum mechanics, is based on the mechanical behavior of materials modelled as a continuous mass, had the ability to produce mathematical models of flexible medical needles that are both computationally efficient and extremely precise. They were able conduct this with no need for introducing unnecessary steps thus lowering the computational complexity in prior evaluations.
Researchers indicated that these models are essential for implementing surgical training environments for junior doctors and software solutions for the pre-operative plans for-+ surgical interventions.
Lead author Athanasios Martsopoulos of Bristol’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, says “The computational efficiency of the methods, combined with their accuracy allows their integration into surgical simulation environments, aimed at the training of junior surgeons.”
“Surgical simulation constitutes an integral part of modern medical practices, as it offers a safe environment for surgeons to train in, but also a framework for planning, researching, and better understanding surgical interventions.”
“The proposed algorithms are readily available for integration with such simulation solutions and they aim to enhance their visual and haptic fidelity.”
Researchers indicated that their next step is to utilize the proposed models in conjunction with computationally efficient and precise human tissue models.
