Virtual Environments and Real-time Deformations for Surgery Simulation

This project is concerned with the simulation of the perceived environment which a surgeon encounters when he or she is performing an endoscopic surgery procedure. The goal is to explore physically-based deformations of several organs in a scene while emphasising real-time interaction. For our prototyping we are focusing specificly on abdominal procedures which target the removal of the gall bladder.

We have already developed a simple system which allows us to explore the feasibility of computing the surgeon/organ interactions in real-time.

Using the results of the first prototype, the next step in this project is to develop a realistic simulator which will provide detailed visual and tactile feedback to the user.

Project Members:

From Georgia Tech

• James F. O'Brien
• Dr. Norberto F. Ezquerra
• Steven A. Cover

From Medical College of Georgia

• Dr. Richard Rowe
• Dr. Thomas Gadacz
• Ellen Palm

References:

• "Interactively Deformable Models for Surgery Simulation,"
  with J. O'Brien. invited chapter in Medical Multimedia (with CD-ROM) by U. Liverpool and Intellect Ltd., Oxford, U.K, to appear.

• "Interactively Deformable Models,"
  N. Ezquerra and J. O'Brien. invited chapter in Force and Tactile Feedback for Virtual Reality, J. Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, to appear.

• "Interactively Deformable Models for Surgery Simulation,"
  S. A. Cover, N. F. Ezquerra, J. F. O'Brien, et. al. IEEE: Computer Graphics and Applications, Vol 13, No 6., pp. 68-75, November 1993.