Biomedical subjects

Randy Haluck

Publications and source records attributed to Randy Haluck.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Construct and face validity and task workload for laparoscopic camera navigation: virtual reality versus videotrainer systems at the SAGES Learning Center.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic camera navigation (LCN) training on simulators has demonstrated transferability to actual operations, but no comparative data exist. The objective of this study was to compare the construct and face validity, as well as workload, of two previously validated virtual reality (VR) and videotrainer (VT) systems. METHODS: Attendees (n = 90) of the SAGES 2005 Learning Center performed two repetitions on both VR (EndoTower) and VT (Tulane Trainer) LCN systems using 30 degrees laparoscopes and completed a questionnaire regarding demographics, simulator characteristics, and task workload. Construct validity was determined by comparing the performance scores of subjects with various levels of experience according to five parameters and face validity according to eight. The validated NASA-TLX questionnaire that rates the mental, physical, and temporal demand of a task as well as the performance, effort, and frustration of the subject was used for workload measurement. RESULTS: Construct validity was demonstrated for both simulators according to the number of basic laparoscopic cases (p = 0.005), number of advanced cases (p < 0.001), and frequency of angled scope use (p < 0.001), and only for VT according to training level (p < 0.001) and fellowship training (p = 0.008). Face validity ratings on a 1-20 scale averaged 15.4 +/- 3 for VR vs. 16 +/- 2.6 for VT (p = 0.04). Ninety-six percent of participants rated both simulators as valid educational tools. The NASA-TLX overall workload score was 69.5 +/- 24 for VR vs. 68.8 +/- 20.5 for VT (p = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study to date that compares two validated LCN simulators. While subtle differences exist, both VR and VT simulators demonstrated excellent construct validity, good face validity, and acceptable workload parameters. These systems thus represent useful training devices and should be widely used to improve surgical performance.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The design and implementation of a pulmonary artery catheterization simulator.

Pulmonary Artery Catheterization (PAC) is a commonly performed procedure. It is used when hemodynamic and other cardiac measures must be accurately monitored in seriously ill patients. A flow-directed, balloon-tipped (Swan-Ganz) catheter is typically inserted into a major vein, passed through the heart, and into the pulmonary artery. This procedure is normally not performed under fluoroscopy. Instead, transducer readings from the catheter tip provide a continuous report of local blood pressure. An experienced practitioner can infer the catheter's location from this information, yet several studies have found that physicians and critical care nurses have a wide variability in competency. A simulator for this procedure can address some of the educational and training issues highlighted. This paper describes our ongoing progress in developing a PAC trainer.

Catheterization↗

PubMed2005

Design of a multifunctional compliant instrument for minimally invasive surgery.

A new multifunctional compliant instrument has been designed for use in minimally invasive surgery. The instrument combines scissors and forceps into a single multifunctional device. The main advantage of using multifunctional instruments for minimally invasive surgery is that instrument exchanges can be reduced, thus reducing procedure time and risk of inadvertent tissue injury during instrument exchanges. In this paper, the length, width, and thickness of the multifunctional compliant mechanism tool tip is optimized to maximize the jaw opening and the grasping force. The optimized design is then modeled to simulate the stresses encountered in the scissors mode. A 5.0 mm diameter stainless steel prototype is fabricated using electro-discharge machining and is shown to grasp and cut successfully.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed2005

Simulating the continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis procedure during cataract surgery on the EYESI system.

This paper describes a technique for simulating the capsulorhexis procedure during cataract surgery on the EYESI system. The continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis technique can be a difficult procedure for beginning ophthalmology surgeons. In the initial phase of tearing the tissue, the tear vector is tangential to the circumference of the tear circle. However, without the proper re-grasping of the flap of torn tissue close to the tear point, the tear vector angle quickly runs downhill possibly causing severe damage to the tissue. Novice surgeons tend to try to complete the capsulorhexis without the time consuming re-grasping of the tissue flap. Other factors such as anterior bowing of the lens diaphragm, patient age, and shallow anterior chambers add to the problematic nature of the procedure. The tissue area is modeled as a curvilinear mesh of nodes and springs. Deformation is accomplished via a physically based particle model utilizing a heuristic algorithm to constrain the deformation calculations to the locality of the tear area to speed up computations. The training software alerts the user of any potential tear problems before they occur thus instructing the novice surgeon. The EYESI hardware system (from VRMagic GmbH) provides the user with stereoscopic images thus providing 3D viewing. Our capsulorhexis simulator software models a number of tear problems and anomalies to provide a useful training environment without the dangers of using live patients.

Capsulorhexis↗

PubMed2005

Using an approximation to the euclidean skeleton for efficient collision detection and tissue deformations in surgical simulators.

This paper describes a technique for efficient collision detection and deformation of abdominal organs in surgical simulation using an approximation of the Euclidean skeleton. Many researchers have developed surgical simulators, but one of the most difficult underlying problems is that of organ-instrument collision detection followed by the deformation of the tissue caused by the instrument. Much of the difficulty is due to the vast number of polygons in high resolution complex organ models. A high resolution gall bladder model for instance can number in the tens of thousands of polygons. Our methodology utilizes the reduction power of the skeleton to reduce computations. First, we recursively compute approximations to the Euclidean skeleton to generate a set of skeletal points for the organ. Then we pre-compute for each vertex in each polygon the associated skeleton point (minimal distance discs). A spring is then connected from each vertex to its associated skeleton point to be used in the deformation algorithm. The data structure for the organ thus stores for each skeletal point its maximum and minimum distances and the list of associated vertices. A heuristic algorithm using the skeleton structure of the instrument and the skeleton of the organ is used to determine instrument collisions with the organ.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed2002

Elastically deformable 3D organs for haptic surgical simulation.

This paper describes a technique for incorporating real-time elastically deformable 3D organs in haptic surgical simulators. Our system is a physically based particle model utilizing a mass-springs-damper connectivity with an implicit predictor to speed up calculations during each time step. The solution involves repeated application of Newton's 2ndd Law of motion: F = ma using an implicit solver for numerically solving the differential equations.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗