Haptic simulator helps with epidural training

The simulator has been developed by PhD student Neil Vaughan and Professor Venky Dubey from Bournemouth University’s School of Design, Engineering and Computing, alongside Dr Michael Wee and Dr Richard Isaacs from Poole Hospital.

Software and haptics replicate the conditions of giving an epidural to a real-life patient, allowing adjustments for different heights, BMIs, angles, and rotations of the spine.

The system does this by incorporating a Novint Falcon haptic device connected to a 3D modelled graphical simulation. Novel aspects of the simulator are said to include 3D graphics, 26 modelled vertebrae (cervical and lumbar), and patient variation based on measured data. An immersive 3D monitor with polarized images then allows visualisation from different angles using zoom and rotate.

In use the simulator will be used to help doctors train to do the procedure to improve results and reduce the risk of harm to patients.

Dr Wee, a consultant anaesthetist at Poole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘I developed the simulator because there is a need to provide precise training in a delicate clinical procedure which has potential devastating effects to the mother when things go wrong.