Immersion Corporation, a San Jose, CA company, has introduced a new software module, called Running the Bowel (RtB), for its LapVR virtual reality surgical simulator, a system that features an integrated TouchSense® haptic technology.
From the company’s description of its technology:
The new Running the Bowel (RtB) surgical simulation module trains procedural skills commonly needed during trauma, general, OB/GYN, bariatric, and colon-rectal surgery…
Suspected injury to the small intestine is commonly investigated through the running the bowel procedure, in which the surgeon inspects the length and all sides of the small intestine. The new RtB module makes the LapVR surgical simulator the first to provide interaction with the bowel’s mesentery connective tissue, providing a very realistic training environment for learning inspection, measurement, and manipulation of the small intestine.
The new RtB surgical simulation module teaches a systematic approach to evaluating the small intestine and can help instill the ability to make accurate measurements of the bowel and to also use a stapler, such as for gastric bypass surgery. The procedure provides three different techniques for appropriately measuring lengths of bowel. Additionally the simulator provides metrics to evaluate the user’s techniques, precision, movement, errors, and amount of inspection completed. The module supports hand-over-hand and side-to-side techniques to help the user acquire the necessary hand-eye coordination and dexterity before addressing actual patient cases.
Press release: Immersion Medical Introduces New Laparoscopic Procedural Skill Module …
Product page: Surgical Simulator, the LaparoscopyVR™ Virtual Reality System …
Product page: Running the Bowel (RtB) Module …
Product brochure (.pdf)…
Flashbacks: LAP Mentor™ and other Sims from Simbionix; Addicted to Video Games? Be A Surgeon; Virtual Reality for Laparoscopic Surgeons;
