The tool positioning tutor: a target-pose tracking and display system for learning correct placement of a medical...

Safe and successful performance of medical procedures often requires the correct manual positioning of a tool. For example, during endotracheal intubation a laryngoscope is used to open a passage in the airway through which a breathing tube is inserted. During training it can be challenging for an experienced practitioner to effectively communicate to a novice the correct placement and orientation of a tool. We have implemented a real-time tracking and position display system to enhance learning correct laryngoscope placement. The system displays a 3D model of the laryngoscope. A clinical teacher can correctly position the laryngoscope to open the airway of a full-body simulator, then set this tool pose as the target position. The system displays to the learner the fixed, target pose and a real-time display of the current, "live" laryngoscope position. Positional error metrics are displayed as color-coded visual cues to guide the user toward successful targeting of the reference position. This technique provides quantitative assessment of the degree to which a learner has matched a specified "expert" position with a tool, and is potentially applicable to a wide variety of tools and procedures.