title: StapSim: a virtual reality-based stapling simulator for laparoscopic hemiorrhaphy.
abstract: The growing interest in laparoscopic hernia surgery and in surgical simulators has motivated our current research. In this paper, we present our work in simulating the process of stapling used in laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. By connecting two separate deformable preperitoneal meshes together, our model has simulated the repair process for a bilateral hernia correction. The task of mesh placement and stapling of corners was simulated, to allow surgeons to practice their hand-eye coordination. Various deformable models and numerical methods were researched to comply with the real time requirements. The stapling simulator can either be independently used as a part-task (sub-task) trainer or be integrated as a module of a complete VR-based simulator. A phantom device was used to provide haptic-based force feedback during task rehearsals.
authors.affiliation: Virtual Environment Laboratory, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76010, USA.
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnan
authors.forename: Venkat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Devarajan
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D046449:Hernia, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D014481:United States