Large Intestine Model Editor (LIME): Design and pilot evaluation of an editor for parameterized large intestine 3D...

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Training Technology
• Computational Anatomy

Background:

• Virtual training environments for colonoscopy are increasingly used but face limitations.
• Scarcity of diverse simulation scenarios and lack of open, shareable models hinder widespread adoption.
• Existing tools often require technical expertise, limiting surgeon involvement in content creation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an intuitive editing tool for non-technical users, enabling the creation of varied 3D colon models.
• To address limitations in virtual colonoscopy training by facilitating the generation of diverse anatomical configurations and pathologies.
• To lay the groundwork for enhanced, open-source colonoscopy simulation resources.

Main Methods:

• Development of a parametrized editing tool utilizing Bezier splines, control nodes, presets, blendshapes, and specific meshes.
• Implementation of features for generating varied large intestine configurations, sizes, and pathology conditions.
• Pilot evaluation involving 10 colonoscopy practitioners assessing editor utility, model fidelity, and usability through a modeling task and questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Positive reception from colonoscopy practitioners regarding the editor's utility and user-friendliness.
• High perceived realism and fidelity of the generated 3D colon models.
• Demonstrated capability to create a wide range of anatomical variations and pathology simulations.

Conclusions:

• The developed editing tool effectively mitigates limitations in virtual colonoscopy training by empowering non-technical users.
• The software facilitates the creation of realistic and diverse 3D colon models, enhancing surgical training.
• This advancement supports the development of more comprehensive and accessible colonoscopy simulation technologies.