Ear surgery, virtually

News

The CSIRO ICT Centre, Medic Vision and the University of Melbourne are developing a virtual reality system to allow medical students to train in temporal bone surgery.

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are developing a virtual reality (VR) system to allow medical students to train in temporal bone surgery.

The system was developed by CSIRO and the University of Melbourne’s Department of Otolaryngology. It will enable Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons to undertake initial training for major ear surgery in a VR environment rather then using temporal bone samples from cadavers.

Students will now be able to train for procedures, such as the insertion of assisted hearing devices like the cochlear implant, in an immersive 3D simulation. It allows an instructor to work with a student even if they are in different locations.

The training environment incorporates a realistic sense of touch, via force feedback devices, as well as 3D visualisation to provide a close match to the surgical situation.

Dr Matthew Hutchins, a virtual environments scientist with the CSIRO ICT Centre, said the goal was to create an environment where an experienced surgeon can guide a novice through the procedure.

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