Physically Realistic Virtual Surgery

描述（由申请人提供）：虽然预计使用具有视觉和触觉（触摸）反馈的基于虚拟现实（VR）的模拟器将显着改善微创手术（MIS）培训，从而大幅减少手术室错误和患者发病率，但当前技术不足以解决此类模拟器中的真实模拟和渲染问题。本项目的目标是通过（1）开发新的物理上真实的模拟技术，用于真实的时间计算具有可能的非线性和粘弹性材料响应的软生物组织的变形，切口和切割以及手术工具与组织相互作用时对手术工具的反作用力，以及（2）测量新鲜人体尸体的相关软组织力学性能。本研究的出发点是最近开发的基于物理的计算方案，作为探索性（R21）项目的一部分，作为相对缓慢的有限元类技术的令人兴奋的替代方案。将继续研究一种方法，通过在模拟过程中使用实际外科手术的视频图像来呈现“逼真”的图像，提高虚拟场景的视觉真实感，该方法正在探索阶段开发。计算模型将通过涉及测量变形场和相互作用力的实验进行验证。哈佛医学院经验丰富的MIS外科医生和外科住院医生将参与评估模拟技术的有效性和增强的现实主义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实施各种MIS程序。虽然该项目的重点是MIS，但开发的技术将成为更广泛的医疗程序的原型，并在手术培训之外获得好处，例如，设计新的手术工具和新的手术技术。相关性：这项研究的目标是开发基于计算机的技术，这将大大改善外科医生如何接受手术培训。经过更好培训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，从而加快愈合速度，缩短住院时间，降低术后并发症和治疗成本。

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.