ImaGiNe Seldinger: first simulator for Seldinger technique and angiography training

Area of Science:

• Medical simulation
• Vascular interventional radiology

Background:

• Vascular access procedures, crucial in interventional radiology, traditionally rely on the Seldinger technique.
• Training for the Seldinger technique involves patient apprenticeship, which poses risks and high costs.
• Developing safer, more accessible training methods is essential for medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate ImaGiNe Seldinger, a novel virtual reality simulator for training the Seldinger technique.
• To provide an immersive and haptic-enhanced learning experience for vascular access procedures.
• To assess the effectiveness of the simulator in transferring learned skills.

Main Methods:

• Development of a two-workstation virtual simulator: one for palpating simulated pulse, another with haptic devices for needle, guidewire, and catheter manipulation.
• Integration of virtual fluoroscopy and realistic force/flexibility feedback using haptic technology.
• Utilization of 28 real patient datasets to offer varied procedural complexities.

Main Results:

• The ImaGiNe Seldinger simulator provides an immersive environment with realistic tactile feedback.
• Preliminary validation indicates successful training effectiveness and skills transfer for the Seldinger technique.
• The simulator replicates real-world force and flexibility measurements for enhanced realism.

Conclusions:

• ImaGiNe Seldinger presents a viable and effective virtual training solution for the Seldinger technique in vascular interventional radiology.
• The simulator addresses the limitations of traditional patient-based training, offering a safer and potentially more cost-effective alternative.
• Further studies can explore broader implementation and long-term skill retention using this advanced simulation technology.