Elitac Wearables & UMC Utrecht developed a smart shirt that helps guide neurosurgeons during skull base surgery to prevent damage to critical structures such as veins and nerves.
Neuroimaging and navigation are widely used for drilling tasks in skull base surgery: It involves generating an individualized anatomical view of the patient beforehand and then tracking the surgeon’s drill bit relative to critical structures on a screen during surgery.
It is very beneficial in helping surgeons avoid damaging critical structures, but its major drawback is that surgeons must keep switching between the microscope view of the patient and the neuronavigation screen. This constant switching between views during complicated and 7+ hour-long procedures may cause fatigue and therefore, surgical errors.
How does the NeuroShirt solve this problem?
It connects to the neuronavigation system and continuously indicates both the distance and direction of critical structures through haptic feedback (vibrations).
This way, surgeons no longer have to split their focus between patient and screen.
Benefits
Decreased likelihood of surgical errors due to fatigue
Haptic feedback minimizes the need to keep switching views, and therefore reduces fatigue and the risk of surgical errors.
Real-time, continuous haptic feedback
No interruptions because the surgeon is switching between views.
Distance AND direction of critical structures
The NeuroShirt conveys information about both the distance and direction of critical structures. Moreover, research demonstrates that haptic feedback is very effective at indicating directional information from a user-centered point of view.
Reduced risk of sensory overload
ORs are busy environments with many visual and auditory stimuli. Using touch to convey information unburdens the surgeon’s eyes and ears.
Distinct & intuitive
A haptic feedback wearable can always be felt: Even in the case of auditory and visual overload, surgeons are still aware of “the tap on the shoulder”. This greatly reduces the likelihood that vital information is missed.
Effective risk communication Research has demonstrated that combining visual and tactile information can be more effective than visual information alone in the communication of risks.
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