Hypocrates+: A Virtual Reality Medical Education Platform with Intelligent Real-Time Help System

Objective. Although simulation-based medical education is fundamental for acquisition and maintenance of knowledge and skills; simulators are often located in urban centers and they are not easily accessible due to cost, time, and geographic constraints. Our objective is to develop a proof-of-concept innovative prototype using virtual reality (VR) technology for clinical tele simulation training to facilitate access and global academic collaborations. Methodology. Our project is a VR-based system using Oculus Quest as a standalone, portable, and wireless head-mounted device, along with a digital platform to deliver immersive clinical simulation sessions. Instructor’s control panel (ICP) application is designed to create VR-clinical scenarios remotely, live-stream sessions, communicate with learners and control VR-clinical training in real-time. Results. The Virtual Clinical Simulation (VCS) system offers realistic clinical training in virtual space that mimics hospital environments. Those VR clinical scenarios are customizable to suit the need, with high-fidelity lifelike characters designed to deliver interactive and immersive learning experience. The real-time connection and live-stream between ICP and VR-training system enables interactive academic learning and facilitates access to tele simulation training. Conclusions. VCS system provides innovative solutions to major challenges associated with conventional simulation training such as access, cost, personnel, and curriculum. VCS facilitates the delivery of academic and interactive clinical training that is similar to real-life settings. Tele-clinical simulation systems like VCS facilitate necessary academic-community partnerships, as well as global education network between resource-rich and low-income countries.

Download Full-text

Virtual Reality Orientation Game for Alzheimer’s Disease Using Real-Time Help System

Brain Function Assessment in Learning - Lecture Notes in Computer Science ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-60735-7_2 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 13-23

Author(s):

Manish Kumar Jha ◽

Hamdi Ben Abdessalem ◽

Marwa Boukadida ◽

Alexie Byrns ◽

Marc Cuesta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Real Time ◽

Reality Orientation ◽

Help System

Download Full-text

Telemanipulation of an Articulated Robotic Arm using a Commercial Virtual Reality Controller

Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering ◽

10.1515/cdbme-2020-3033 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 127-130

Author(s):

Max B. Schäfer ◽

Kent W. Stewart ◽

Nico Lösch ◽

Peter P. Pott

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Real Time ◽

Robotic Arm ◽

Input Device ◽

Robot Assisted ◽

Promising Alternative ◽

Input Devices ◽

Current Input ◽

Current Systems ◽

Robot Assisted Surgery

AbstractAccess to systems for robot-assisted surgery is limited due to high costs. To enable widespread use, numerous issues have to be addressed to improve and/or simplify their components. Current systems commonly use universal linkage-based input devices, and only a few applicationoriented and specialized designs are used. A versatile virtual reality controller is proposed as an alternative input device for the control of a seven degree of freedom articulated robotic arm. The real-time capabilities of the setup, replicating a system for robot-assisted teleoperated surgery, are investigated to assess suitability. Image-based assessment showed a considerable system latency of 81.7 ± 27.7 ms. However, due to its versatility, the virtual reality controller is a promising alternative to current input devices for research around medical telemanipulation systems.

Download Full-text

Integrating Mental Practice into a COVID-19 Appropriate Virtual Reality Cataract Surgery Course for Ophthalmology Residents

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1721068 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (02) ◽

pp. e298-e300

Author(s):

John C. Lin ◽

Alfred A. Paul ◽

Ingrid U. Scott ◽

Paul B. Greenberg

Keyword(s):

Medical Education ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Cataract Surgery ◽

Disease Control ◽

Graduate Medical Education ◽

Core Competencies ◽

Mental Practice ◽

Accreditation Council ◽

Graduate Medical ◽

Control And Prevention

AbstractTo present a revised, publicly available virtual reality cataract surgery course for ophthalmology residents that integrates a novel mental practice program into the curriculum, fulfills the six core competencies of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention educational recommendations for the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Download Full-text

SURG-03. IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY APPLICATIONS IN NEUROSURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.800 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. iii461-iii461

Author(s):

Andrea Carai ◽

Angela Mastronuzzi ◽

Giovanna Stefania Colafati ◽

Paul Voicu ◽

Nicola Onorini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Real Time ◽

New Technologies ◽

Young Patients ◽

Spatial Relationship ◽

3D Models ◽

Immersive Virtual Reality ◽

Global Improvement ◽

3D Rendering ◽

Before And After

Abstract Tridimensional (3D) rendering of volumetric neuroimaging is increasingly been used to assist surgical management of brain tumors. New technologies allowing immersive virtual reality (VR) visualization of obtained models offer the opportunity to appreciate neuroanatomical details and spatial relationship between the tumor and normal neuroanatomical structures to a level never seen before. We present our preliminary experience with the Surgical Theatre, a commercially available 3D VR system, in 60 consecutive neurosurgical oncology cases. 3D models were developed from volumetric CT scans and MR standard and advanced sequences. The system allows the loading of 6 different layers at the same time, with the possibility to modulate opacity and threshold in real time. Use of the 3D VR was used during preoperative planning allowing a better definition of surgical strategy. A tailored craniotomy and brain dissection can be simulated in advanced and precisely performed in the OR, connecting the system to intraoperative neuronavigation. Smaller blood vessels are generally not included in the 3D rendering, however, real-time intraoperative threshold modulation of the 3D model assisted in their identification improving surgical confidence and safety during the procedure. VR was also used offline, both before and after surgery, in the setting of case discussion within the neurosurgical team and during MDT discussion. Finally, 3D VR was used during informed consent, improving communication with families and young patients. 3D VR allows to tailor surgical strategies to the single patient, contributing to procedural safety and efficacy and to the global improvement of neurosurgical oncology care.

Download Full-text

Virtual Reality vs. Tablet Video as an Experiential Education Platform for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Chest Radiography: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10112486 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2486

Author(s):

Jung-Hee Ryu ◽

Jin-Woo Park ◽

Sang Il Choi ◽

Ji Young Kim ◽

Hyunju Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Randomized Clinical Trial ◽

Experiential Education ◽

Chest Radiography ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Procedure Time ◽

Parental Presence ◽

Education Platform ◽

Procedural Outcomes

Virtual reality (VR), which offers an immersive experience, has been implemented into the education of pediatric patients to reduce peri-procedural anxiety. This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effect of VR, compared with standard video, on reducing anxiety and distress in pediatric patients undergoing chest radiography. A total of 120 children aged 4 to 8 years with scheduled chest radiography appointments were randomized into either the tablet or the VR group. Children in the tablet group experienced chest radiography indirectly with a 3 min tablet video, whereas those in the VR group received the same content via a VR experience. The distress of children was measured using the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress (OSBD) scale. Parental presence and procedural outcomes were also recorded. The number of less distressed children (OSBD score < 5) was significantly higher in the VR group than in the tablet group (49 [81.7%]) vs. 32 [53.3%]) (p = 0.001). The OSBD scores, the need for parental presence, the procedure time, and the number of repeated procedures were all lower in the VR group. The immersive VR experience appears to decrease the degree of anxiety in children and increase the efficiency of the procedures compared with the tablet video with the same content.

Download Full-text