Risk of rupture of small anterior communicating artery aneurysms is similar to posterior circulation aneurysms.

Background And Purpose: According to the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA), anterior circulation (AC) aneurysms of <7 mm in diameter have a minimal risk of rupture. It is general experience, however, that anterior communicating artery (AcoA) aneurysms are frequent and mostly rupture at <7 mm. The aim of the study was to assess whether AcoA aneurysms behave differently from other AC aneurysms.

Passive haptics in a knee arthroscopy simulator: is it valid for core skills training?

Previous investigation of a cost-effective virtual reality arthroscopic training system, the Sheffield Knee Arthroscopy Training System (SKATS), indicated the desirability of including haptic feedback. A formal task analysis confirmed the importance of knee positioning as a core skill for trainees learning to navigate the knee arthroscopically. The system cost and existing limb interface, which permits knee positioning, would be compromised by the addition of commercial active haptic devices available currently.

A flexible virtual reality tutorial for the training and assessment of arthroscopic skills.

Through definition of a comprehensive tutorial model, the Warwick, Imperial and Sheffield Haptic Knee Arthroscopy Training System (WISHKATS) aims to provide independent, flexible and consistent training and assessment. The intention is to satisfy user acceptance by limiting the constraints by which the system can be utilised, as well as demonstrating validity and reliability. System use can either be under the guidance and feedback offered by the system or of a senior surgeon.

Ensuring the usability of a knee arthroscopy simulator.

There is limited research considering the usability of medical virtual environments. Usability evaluation is an essential validation phase that considers the extent to which a product achieves its specific goals, with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. A four-stage iterative approach is adopted to enhance usability in the development of a knee arthroscopy training system.

Engineering requirements for a haptic simulator for knee arthroscopy training.

This paper describes the initial development of an innovative haptic device that will be integrated into an existing virtual reality training system for knee arthroscopy. The resulting system will be called WISHKATS (Warwick, Imperial, Sheffield Knee Arthroscopy Training System). This haptic device will enable the trainee to feel realistic forces on the probing tool and will work together with software, which will simulate tissue deformation.

A part-task approach to haptic knee arthroscopy training.

This paper describes the research behind a part-task approach to both the development of, and the training offered, by a virtual reality simulator for knee arthroscopy. An ethnographic approach has been taken to examine the nature of task performance and the current training of the arthroscopic diagnosis of the knee. This Human Factors research is used to support the development of WISHKATS.