Physically Realistic Virtual Surgery

描述（由申请人提供）：虽然预计使用基于虚拟现实（VR）的模拟器，具有视觉和触觉（触摸）反馈，将显著改善微创外科（MIS）培训，导致手术室错误和患者发病率的大幅减少，但目前的技术不足以解决此类模拟器中的逼真模拟和渲染问题。本项目的目标是通过(1)开发新的物理逼真的模拟技术，实时计算软体生物组织的变形，可能的非线性和粘弹性材料响应，切口和切割以及手术工具与组织相互作用时的反作用力，以及(2)测量新鲜人体尸体的相关软组织力学性能，从而提高模拟MIS过程的真实感。本研究的起点是最近开发的一种基于物理的计算方案，作为探索性（R21）项目的一部分，作为一种令人兴奋的替代性能相对较慢的有限元技术。在探索阶段，将继续开发一种方法，通过使用实际外科手术过程的视频图像来渲染模拟过程中的“逼真”图像，从而增强虚拟场景的视觉真实感。计算模型将通过涉及变形场和相互作用力测量的实验来验证。哈佛医学院经验丰富的MIS外科医生和外科住院医师将参与评估模拟技术的有效性和增强现实性对外科技能培训的影响。这项研究的成功将使该技术成为下一代手术模拟器的潜在标准，因为该方案可以轻松地用于各种MIS程序。虽然这个项目的重点是管理信息系统，但所开发的技术将成为更广泛的医疗程序的原型，并在外科培训之外产生效益，例如，在设计新的手术工具和新的手术技术方面。相关性：这项研究的目标是开发基于计算机的技术，这将极大地改善外科医生进行手术的训练方式。训练有素的外科医生将减少手术室错误，降低患者发病率，改善患者预后，从而加快愈合，缩短住院时间，减少手术后并发症和治疗费用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): While it is anticipated that the use of virtual reality (VR) based simulators, with both visual and haptic (touch) feedback, will significantly improve minimally invasive surgical (MIS) training, leading to substantial reduction in operating room errors and patient morbidity, the current technology is inadequate to address the issues of realistic simulation and rendering in such simulators. The goal of the present project is to improve the realism of simulated MIS procedures by (1) developing novel physically realistic simulation techniques for computing, in real time, the deformation of soft biological tissues with possible nonlinear and viscoelastic material response, incision and cutting as well as the reaction forces on the surgical tools as they interact with the tissue and (2) measuring relevant soft tissue mechanical properties of fresh human cadavers. The starting point of this research is a physics-based computational scheme recently developed, as part of an exploratory (R21) project, as an exciting alternative to the relatively slow performance of finite element- like techniques. A method for enhancing the visual realism of virtual scenes by using video images of actual surgical procedures to render "life like" images during simulations, under development in the exploratory phase, will continue to be pursued. The computational models will be validated by experiments involving the measurement of deformation fields and interaction forces. Experienced MIS surgeons and surgical residents at Harvard Medical School will be involved in evaluating the effectiveness of the simulation technology and the effect of enhanced realism on surgical skill training. Success in this research will establish the technology as a potential standard in next generation surgery simulators due to the ease with which the scheme can be implemented for various MIS procedures. While the particular focus of this project is MIS, the technology developed will be prototypes for a much wider class of medical procedures and accrue benefits outside surgical training, e.g., in the design of new surgical tools and novel surgical techniques. Relevance: The goal of this research is to develop computer-based technology that will vastly improve how surgeons are trained to perform surgery. Better trained surgeons will translate to fewer operating room errors, reduced patient morbidity and improved patient outcomes resulting in faster healing, shorter hospital stay and reduced post surgical complications and treatment costs.