Feasibility Study of a Syringe Angulation Measurement System Suitable for Ophthalmic Regional Anesthesia Training

Regional anaesthesia for the eye requires a needle that is inserted in a specific way into the eye orbit. Angulation of the needle is a concern for the ophthalmic anaesthetists. Inappropriate angulation can place the needle in an unsafe location or result in the unsafe release of the anaesthetic. Recently developed mannequin based ophthalmic training systems had a visual angulation warning; however, an automated quantifiable warning and the ability to provide a preemptive warning to the trainee would provide useful knowledge. In this paper, an angulation measurement methodology which uses two external cameras, in the mannequin system, which can accurately sense angulation in both the vertical and the horizontal axis of the syringe with customizable angle warning system, is presented. Details of the system developed, test results and the outcome are discussed.