In collaboration with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Energid is developing a simulator for training neurosurgeons in burr hole procedures commonly performed to alleviate brain swelling in patients with head trauma. With the proposed approach, surgeons and medics will freely use their customary tools-drills, saws, knives, clamps, forceps, and needle holders-yet the system will provide both visual and tactile feedback through optimized collision-reasoning algorithms and high fidelity tissue and bone models. This will allow for realistic training, and it will offer the ability to assess skills with a new level of accuracy. It will support the simulation of physiological events relevant to early-stage trauma to support conceptual training.
Energid Technologies is using 3D machine vision algorithms developed for the US Army, US Air Force, the Missile Defense Agency to track hand and tool movement during a burr hole procedure. Vision algorithms will capture the actions of the participants in the simulation. Imagery of the burr hole and environment will be created using OpenGL to provide a virtual reality environment for training that will be coupled with a tactile feedback device that imposes simulated force on free-moving tools. This engineering approach is being combined with the expertise of three Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) surgeons who provide domain expertise in trauma and burr hole procedures.
