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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Risk-free virtual anaesthetics | Risk-free virtual anaesthetics |
| (4 days later) | |
| Medical staff can learn the delicate procedure of spinal anaesthesia without practising on live patients, thanks to a new training device. | Medical staff can learn the delicate procedure of spinal anaesthesia without practising on live patients, thanks to a new training device. |
| It uses computer graphics and a virtual needle to realistically recreate contact with the spine. | It uses computer graphics and a virtual needle to realistically recreate contact with the spine. |
| The tool was developed by scientists at the University of Limerick, Ireland. | The tool was developed by scientists at the University of Limerick, Ireland. |
| In the past, the procedure was fraught with danger, and medical staff learning the technique had to take extreme care not to damage patients' spinal columns. | In the past, the procedure was fraught with danger, and medical staff learning the technique had to take extreme care not to damage patients' spinal columns. |
| According to the scientists, this is a major breakthrough in the process of teaching spinal anaesthesia, and could be used widely in hospitals within three years. | According to the scientists, this is a major breakthrough in the process of teaching spinal anaesthesia, and could be used widely in hospitals within three years. |
| Recreating surgery | Recreating surgery |
| Human vertebrae are protected by a delicate gel like substance that is less than one inch thick. | Human vertebrae are protected by a delicate gel like substance that is less than one inch thick. |
| Safely injecting the spine is very difficult; anaesthetists run the risk of damaging a patient's spinal column or the blood vessels that serve it. | Safely injecting the spine is very difficult; anaesthetists run the risk of damaging a patient's spinal column or the blood vessels that serve it. |
| Developed in conjunction with Dr George Shorten of Cork University Hospital, the new simulator exploits state of the art "haptic toolkits". | |
| These are multi-disciplinary technologies that can accurately recreate the touch and feel of real-time surgery. | These are multi-disciplinary technologies that can accurately recreate the touch and feel of real-time surgery. |
| Dr Mikael Fernstrom, head of Limerick University's masters degree in interactive media, says the project has tremendous potential.The simulator recreates the sensation of injecting the skin and gives visual feedback | |
| The advance comes at a time of growing concern over patient safety, and new EU legislation limiting working hours in hospitals. | The advance comes at a time of growing concern over patient safety, and new EU legislation limiting working hours in hospitals. |
| In addition, some patients cannot be completely anaesthetised during spinal procedures, for fear of post-operative complications. | In addition, some patients cannot be completely anaesthetised during spinal procedures, for fear of post-operative complications. |
| Such problems make the use of surgical simulators all the more vital. | Such problems make the use of surgical simulators all the more vital. |
| Erik Lovquist, a researcher with Limerick's Interaction Design Centre (IDC), concurs: "Many means of assessing doctors and surgeons in training environments has, in the past, been subjective. | Erik Lovquist, a researcher with Limerick's Interaction Design Centre (IDC), concurs: "Many means of assessing doctors and surgeons in training environments has, in the past, been subjective. |
| "This tool offers trainers a chance to objectively test students in the field." | "This tool offers trainers a chance to objectively test students in the field." |
| 'Feedback' | 'Feedback' |
| The "haptic simulator" recreates the skin tension felt by the practitioner at the point the needle is inserted. | The "haptic simulator" recreates the skin tension felt by the practitioner at the point the needle is inserted. |
| If the injection is not carried out correctly, the trainee receives immediate audio and visual feedback. | If the injection is not carried out correctly, the trainee receives immediate audio and visual feedback. |
| The developers questioned doctors extensively about the precise tactile responses involved in inserting a needle between two vertebrae of the human back. | The developers questioned doctors extensively about the precise tactile responses involved in inserting a needle between two vertebrae of the human back. |
| The result is an advance that incorporates visual feedback - allowing the operator to view a 3-D map of the area while simultaneously positioning the needle. SPINAL ANAESTHESIA 1 - Injection site between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae 2 - Local anaesthetic is injected into the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF)3 - Needle must penetrate muscle but not touch spinal cord4 - The procedure numbs the lower body | The result is an advance that incorporates visual feedback - allowing the operator to view a 3-D map of the area while simultaneously positioning the needle. SPINAL ANAESTHESIA 1 - Injection site between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae 2 - Local anaesthetic is injected into the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF)3 - Needle must penetrate muscle but not touch spinal cord4 - The procedure numbs the lower body |
| Trainees can operate in either "trial" or "practice" mode, and safely locate the optimal point for a spinal injection - called the intrathecal space. | |
| In trial mode, the audio and visual clues can be turned off. | In trial mode, the audio and visual clues can be turned off. |
| Correct placement of the needle is registered by the sight of fluid draining from the needle, which is what happens during the real procedure. | Correct placement of the needle is registered by the sight of fluid draining from the needle, which is what happens during the real procedure. |
| Potential training applications include operations on elderly people, epidurals for expectant mothers and lumbar punctures to obtain biopsy samples of cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). | |
| Currently, the IDC team led by Professor Liam Bannon is half way through the development phase and has embarked on trials in Hungary and Ireland. |