[Presentation and evaluation of the haptic-visual ear surgery training system "HaptiVisT"]

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Training
• Virtual Reality in Medicine

Background:

• Temporal bone operations present significant challenges for ENT surgeons.
• A BMBF-funded project aimed to create a realistic training system for ear surgeries using a serious game approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the HaptiVisT system, a novel training tool for ear surgery.
• To assess the system's effectiveness in improving surgical skills and user experience.

Main Methods:

• The HaptiVisT system features a glasses-free 3D monitor for visual feedback and a haptic arm simulating surgical drills.
• Training includes three procedures: antrotomy, mastoidectomy, and posterior tympanotomy, with a point system for progress tracking.
• A prospective evaluation involved eight ENT physicians and four students using a standardized questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Participants rated learning content highly, particularly anatomy strengthening (mean=1.58), hand-eye coordination (1.67), and practical transferability (1.83).
• User experience was positive, with good scores for realism (2.29), haptic-optic interaction (2.33), and immersion (1.89).
• The motivation factor was exceptionally high across all users (1.2).

Conclusions:

• The HaptiVisT system provides an immersive training solution for ear surgeries.
• Its integration into clinical routines and ENT specialist training is recommended for enhanced surgical education.