To Feedback or not to Feedback - the Value of Haptics in Virtual Reality Surgical Training

Abstract

As surgical procedures become more complex; require higher levels of precision and surgical skill; as patient safety is taking in an increasingly important place and ethical awareness, practicality and cost, rule out more and more training on cadavers or animal models; Virtual Reality (VR) surgical training comes progressively into the picture. Compared to training by apprenticeship, on animals or on cadavers, VR is convenient and versatile. However, it is not always the preferred [MFT*05] or best choice of training. The fidelity of the virtual reality environment plays here a determining role. Apart from visual, especially haptic feedback is perceived of key importance. Some studies question the benefit of haptics indicating that people receiving no haptic feedback during training outperformed participants that did receive haptic feedback [Mon10]. It was suggested that the quality of presented feedback formed the main reason for this result. This work provides a view of the current state of virtual reality surgical training systems and the role haptics plays herein. It also sketches directions for further research in this area.