title: Graphic and haptic simulation system for virtual laparoscopic rectum surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical simulators with vision and haptic feedback techniques offer a cost-effective and efficient alternative to the traditional medical trainings. They have been used to train doctors in many specialties of medicine, allowing tasks to be practised in a safe and repetitive manner. This paper describes a virtual-reality (VR) system which will help to influence surgeons' learning curves in the technically challenging field of laparoscopic surgery of the rectum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from MRI of the rectum and real operation videos are used to construct the virtual models. A haptic force filter based on radial basis functions is designed to offer realistic and smooth force feedback. To handle collision detection efficiently, a hybrid model is presented to compute the deformation of intestines. Finally, a real-time cutting technique based on mesh is employed to represent the incision operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite numerous research efforts, fast and realistic solutions of soft tissues with large deformation, such as intestines, prove extremely challenging. This paper introduces our latest contribution to this endeavour. With this system, the user can haptically operate with the virtual rectum and simultaneously watch the soft tissue deformation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our system has been tested by colorectal surgeons who believe that the simulated tactile and visual feedbacks are realistic. It could replace the traditional training process and effectively transfer surgical skills to novices.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Computer Animation, Media School, Bournemouth University, UK. pjunjun@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jun J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Xiaosong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tahseen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hickish
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003199:Computer Systems; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005246:Feedback; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012371:Robotics; D014110:Touch; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014741:Video Recording