Realistic Simulation of Interventions for Surgical Skill Training.
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Virtual reality based simulation of medical procedures has become a rapidly
developing research area during the past decade. A large number of academic
and commercial systems have been developed, offering the possibility for
training and planning procedures for a very wide spectrum of applications.
Nevertheless, until recently the realistic simulation of complete interventions in real-time, as necessary for advanced skill training, has been impossible due to numerous technological barriers. Thanks to significant advances in algorithmic and hardware development during the past few years, high fidelity training simulation is today within reach, at least for some selected interventions especially in minimally invasive surgery. The talk will analyze recent results with special emphasis on anatomical scene generation, modeling and simulation of  tissue behavior and development of virtual surgical instruments. The power of these techniques will be demonstrated on a simulator system allowing the training of diagnostic and therapeutic hysteroscopic interventions.