Development and application of a surgical process simulation system using VR technology

Abstract

For medical students, instruction via on-site observation of surgery is often a mandatory part of their training. Being present in an operating room allows students to deepen their understanding of various surgical procedures while giving them an opportunity to experience the hands-on environment and general atmosphere. However, traditional instruction methods through observation contain many disadvantages that make learning surgical procedures difficult and problematic. For example, during long sessions of endoscopic surgery, the pictures taken display only a small portion of the internal body, making it difficult for students to fully understand the details of the entire process. Locating the positions of internal organs and understanding the direction of instrument movement is also inconvenient. However, with the aid of a virtual reality support system, students can learn through real-time interactive demonstrations of the surgical process that include details about operating position and other specificities. The result is increased accessibility to facilitate the understanding of the entire surgery process coupled with the reduction of fatigue and other distractions that arise from prolonged observation in a traditional operating room. So far, in medical research, the "Production of patient explanation video for transrectal prostate biopsy" jointly researched and produced with the Department of Renal Urology, Kansai Medical University, has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Review Board (IRB) and obtained permission for use Later, through actual use by patients and medical practitioners, great results have been obtained.