SensAble Technologies, a company providing devices used in medical simulation, has announced  a substantial upgrade to their already existing shoulder and knee arthroscopy simulator - insightArthroVR. The new version of the simulator was developed with GMV, a solution provider from Spain.

insightArthroVR is a training tool, teaching surgeons the essential skills of triangulation, camera orientation, and hand-eye coordination for shoulder and/or knee arthroscopy. It consists of a haptic model knee or shoulder, on which they can perform operations while following training modules on an integrated screen. Using two Phantom Omni devices, the model reacts and "pushes back". At the same time, the system can generate realistic corresponding sounds and evaluate skills. In addition, GMV's team has applied SensAble's OpenHaptics toolkit to specify appropriate material properties and levels of force feedback, so that the the student can experience the precise feeling of bone, cartilage, labrum, ligaments or tendons.

These exercises are generally done on cadavers, which are costly and unavailable in some countries. insightArthroVR has for goal to propose surgeons an easier way to learn and exercise knee or shoulder arthroscopy without any risk for the patient. They can can train to perfection as they learn to distinguish the feeling of rough, damaged tissue compared to the smoothness of healthy tissue.

More information in the press release.

[ via medGadget ]