Virtual Temporal Bone Dissection: an Interactive Surgical Simulator

Objective: Our goal was to integrate current and emerging technology in virtual systems to provide a temporal bone dissection simulator that allows the user interactivity and realism similar to the cadaver laboratory.

Study Design: Iterative design and validation of a virtual environment for simulating temporal bone dissection.

Setting: University otolaryngology training program with interdisciplinary interaction in a high-performance computer facility.

Results: The system provides visual, force feedback (haptic), and aural interfaces. Unlike previous "fly through" virtual systems, this environment provides a richer emulation of surgical experience.

Conclusion: The system provides a high level of functional utility and, through initial evaluations, demonstrates promise in adding to traditional training methods.

Significance: The system provides an environment to learn temporal bone surgery in a way similar to the experience with cadaver material where the subject is able to interact with the data without constraints (nondeterministic). Eventually, it may provide the "front end" to a large repository of various temporal bone pathologies that can be accessed through the Internet.