Virtual Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Simulation with 3D-Printed Models for Mixed-Reality Nasal Endoscopy.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation

Background:

• Individual patient anatomy is crucial for successful skull base surgery.
• Current surgical simulation models are often costly and not widely accessible.
• There is a need for practical, affordable surgical training tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a next-generation mixed-reality surgical simulator.
• To create a modular teaching tool using segmented 3D anatomical models.
• To assess the feasibility and utility of a low-cost, customizable simulator.

Main Methods:

• Segmentation of critical anatomical structures for 3D model creation.
• Development of a navigation tracking system using a 3D-printed endoscope as a virtual reality controller.
• Validation of tracking accuracy on virtual reality and 3D-printed skull models.
• Integration of virtual reality and augmented reality with a physical 3D model for real-time simulation of sinus endoscopy.

Main Results:

• A novel mixed-reality surgical simulator was successfully developed.
• The navigation tracking system demonstrated accuracy within 1 cm on validated models.
• The simulator effectively combined virtual and physical elements for realistic training.
• The system allows real-time highlighting of segmented structures during simulated procedures.

Conclusions:

• A mixed-reality simulator integrating virtual reality and 3D-printed models is feasible for surgical education.
• This approach offers a low-cost, customizable, and practical alternative to existing simulation methods.
• The developed simulator shows potential as a valuable educational tool for both trainees and experienced surgeons in skull base surgery.