Haptics in minimally invasive surgical simulation and training

Abstract

Haptics is a valuable tool in minimally invasive surgical simulation and training. We discuss important aspects of haptics in MISST, such as haptic rendering and haptic recording and playback. Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized many surgical procedures over the last few decades. MIS is performed using a small video camera, a video display, and a few customized surgical tools. In procedures such as gall bladder removal (laparoscopic cholesystectomy), surgeons insert a camera and long slender tools into the abdomen through small skin incisions to explore the internal cavity and manipulate organs from outside the body as they view their actions on a video display. Because the development of minimally invasive techniques has reduced the sense of touch compared to open surgery, surgeons must rely more on the feeling of net forces resulting from tool-tissue interactions and need more training to successfully operate on patients.