Remote surgical education using synthetic models combined with an augmented reality headset

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Surgical Simulation
• Augmented Reality in Healthcare

Background:

• Remote training for medical devices is crucial for skill development.
• Traditional training methods often involve travel and logistical challenges.
• Anatomic models and phantoms offer realistic training environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of augmented reality (AR) headsets for remote clinician training on medical devices.
• To evaluate AR-based training using disease-specific anatomic models for urological procedures.
• To assess the feasibility of remote, two-way AR training for medical professionals.

Main Methods:

• Development of disease-specific phantoms for prostate biopsy, brachytherapy, and rectal spacer insertion.
• Remote training delivery via one-way video conferencing and two-way AR using head-mounted displays.
• Proctor and student utilized AR headsets with integrated cameras and displays for real-time guidance.
• Participants completed educational content surveys to assess training effectiveness.

Main Results:

• One-way phantom training was perceived as realistic and mimicking human tissue.
• 70.9% of participants expressed a desire for additional training on the phantoms.
• The AR remote training platform was successfully beta-tested for transperineal prostate biopsy and rectal spacer insertion.

Conclusions:

• Augmented reality remote training eliminates travel requirements for medical device education.
• This technology can mitigate infectious exposure risks and reduce training costs.
• AR training enhances proctor availability and allows remote instruction from the clinician's own institution.