VR surgery simulation adds haptic glove capability

UK firm FundamentalVR is enhancing its VR surgery simulation platform with the addition of the HaptX Glove, giving surgeons haptic feedback directly to their hands.

Fundamental’s Surgical Haptics Intelligence Engine is designed to mimic the feel of operating on various types of human tissue, from subcutaneous fat to muscle and bone. The platform, which recently won an innovation award at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, is hardware agnostic and can be used with a range of off-the-shelf haptic equipment. Until now, this has consisted primarily of haptic pens and arms that simulate surgical tools. But with the integration of the HaptX Glove, users will now be able to engage directly with the VR simulation via their hands, guiding a tool held separately or manipulating the patient’s body.

The HaptX glove is powered by microfluidic technology, with 130 actuators providing feedback to the user’s skin. This force feedback exoskeleton can apply almost 2kg of force per finger, enhancing the wearer’s perception of both shape and rigidity. Combined with motion capture technology that tracks the user’s hand movements with sub-millimetre precision, the glove delivers its haptic experience in coordination with the virtual world. FundamentalVR told The Engineer that the glove allows users to fully interact with the simulation, engaging the body, assisting the other hand, or even gripping a surgical tool of its own.