Electrotactile Tongue Display for Force Feedback during Robotic Teleoperation

This project, a collaborative effort between TU Munich and the University of Calgary, aims to use an innovative electrotactile tongue display system for robotic teleoperation in surgery. In robotic-assisted surgeries, surgeons lack the direct ‘touch’ feedback that traditional surgery offers, often leading to a reliance on visual cues for force application. This gap can affect precision and safety in surgical procedures. The proposed system will provide force feedback through electrical signals to the surgeon’s tongue, creating a direct form of tactile sensation. This novel approach is designed to compensate for the absence of direct hand-to-tissue contact in robotic surgery techniques currently used. Research indicates that haptic feedback can significantly improve the precision and safety of surgical tasks. It reduces the force applied, thereby minimizing potential tissue damage and enhancing overall surgical efficiency and accuracy????. The project’s benefits extend to both participating institutions. TU Munich will gain recognition for pioneering advanced medical technology, while the University of Calgary will enhance its research portfolio in human-computer interaction within healthcare. Overall, this project promises to make robotic surgeries safer and more intuitive, benefiting both the medical community and patients.

Faculty Supervisor:

Aditya Shekhar Nittala

Student:

Partner:

Technical University of Munich

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Information and Communications Technology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Calgary

Program: