A volumetric virtual environment for catheter insertion simulation

Abstract

We present an experimental catheter insertion simulation system that provides users co-registered haptic and head-tracked stereoscopic visual feedback. The system works on patient-specific volumetric data acquired using standard medical imaging modalities. The actual needle insertion operation is simulated for individual patients, rather than being an example of a model surgical procedure on standard anatomy. Patient specific features may thus be studied in detail by the trainees, overcoming one of the major limitations of current training techniques.