Virtual Reality Training for surgeons, CRV, Barcelona

This was my thesis for the university degree, the full title is: "Training system for surgeons on laparoscopy operation with the help of Virtual Reality". I developed the project for the Virtual Reality Center in Barcelona.

The aim of the system is to train surgeons to become familiar with the tools they need during laparoscopy operations (a kind of large scissors) and mainly know how to operate looking to a video screen that shows what they are doing from a different perspective.

This simulate the lap. operation environment in which a camera is inserted in the body of the patient and the surgeon can see what he/she is doing looking to a tv screen.

The following image explains the system architecture.



For more info about laparoscopy click here

The system is composed of

• a joystick
• an application

Joystick

The joystick was done using a plastic box and the sensor used is the Polhemus Fastrak, an electro-magnetic 3D sensor. The following scheme explains how the joystick looks like.



Software

The Laparoscopic Viewer is the application that I developed, it allows the user to choose different angle of view during the practice and it simulates in real time a virtual cord (in the video it is in yellow) that the user can catch by touching it with the laparoscopic tools and then manipulate.

This is to be considered as a first module of a larger application in witch the user will learn how to knots with the virtual cord.

To do this second phasis of the project it is necessary that the cord detects external 3D objects but as it required more time that I had to present my final project we had to postpone that part.


Video

A simple video about the final result (sorry for the bad quality)






If you want more info about this project please contact me
Thanks