title: Collaborative voxel-based surgical virtual environments.
abstract: Virtual Reality-based surgical simulators can utilize Collaborative Virtual Environments (C-VEs) to provide team-based training. To support real-time interactions, C-VEs are typically replicated on each user's local computer and a synchronization method helps keep all local copies consistent. This approach does not work well for voxel-based C-VEs since large and frequent volumetric updates make synchronization difficult. This paper describes a method that allows multiple users to interact within a voxel-based C-VE for a craniotomy simulator being developed. Our C-VE method requires smaller update sizes and provides faster synchronization update rates than volumetric-based methods. Additionally, we address network bandwidth/latency issues to simulate networked haptic and bone drilling tool interactions with a voxel-based skull C-VE.
authors.affiliation: The National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center, Uniformed Services University, USA. eacosta@simcen.usuhs.mil
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Armonda
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bowyer
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003399:Craniotomy; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface