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Interactive control of flexible guidewires using hand model in a VR-based vascular interventional surgery simulation
Pan Li1, Fangting Ding1, Xinxin Zhang2
1Tianjin Key Lab of Integrated Design and On-line Monitoring for Light Industry & Food Machinery and Equipment, College of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
International Journal of Medical Informatics
|August 2, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a virtual hand model for realistic interaction with flexible guidewires in vascular surgery simulation. The new system enhances surgical navigation realism and user experience in virtual reality (VR).
Area of Science:
- Virtual Reality (VR) and Simulation
- Medical Device Interaction
- Surgical Training Technologies
Background:
- Traditional virtual surgery simulators lack realism in hand-flexible instrument interactions, particularly for vascular interventions.
- Existing systems often use rigid models, limiting the fidelity of simulating complex procedures like guidewire manipulation.
- Improved virtual hand-guidewire interaction is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of surgical simulations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a virtual hand model capable of realistic interaction with flexible guidewires.
- To enhance the fidelity and realism of virtual vascular interventional surgery simulation systems.
- To improve the naturalness and usability of virtual hand-guidewire manipulation in VR.
Main Methods:
- Implemented a position-based dynamics approach with constraints for real-time soft tissue deformation simulation on virtual finger pads.
- Utilized a hierarchical collision detection and filtering mechanism for efficient interaction management between the hand model, adhesion particles, and guidewires.
- Optimized for both simulated realism and real-time performance in virtual hand-guidewire interactions.
Main Results:
- The developed virtual hand model with deformable finger pads and collision filtering allows stable, realistic, real-time control of flexible guidewires.
- The system demonstrated successful navigation of guidewires through complex vascular structures, including the aortic arch, without vessel penetration.
- Achieved an average frame response time of 12.1 ms (below the 17 ms threshold for smooth VR) and a high System Usability Scale score of 85.36.
Conclusions:
- An interaction framework for VR vascular interventions was established, enabling realistic virtual hand-flexible guidewire simulation.
- The proposed method significantly improves the realism and naturalness of surgical navigation in virtual simulations.
- The platform is technically feasible, offers a good user experience, and serves as a usable virtual simulation tool.
