Validation and refinement of a surgical simulator for myringotomy with tube placement

Myringotomy is a surgical procedure in which a small incision is made in the eardrum and a ventilation tube is placed in it to treat ear infections. The procedure is difficult to teach because it is one of the first operations that surgical residents in Otolaryngology learn. Moreover, the traditional apprenticeship training approach only allows residents to gain experience on a limited number of patients and places patients at risk. ENT Simulation Technologies (ENTSimTech) of London, ON has developed a virtual reality-based simulator for training residents. The simulator presents the trainee with a photorealistic 3D digital model of the ear that can be operated upon. ENTSimTech will create two internship positions. One intern will refine the simulator by adding new 3D digital ear models to diversify the training experience. The second will validate the simulator. The skills developed by the interns in advanced software development will make them highly employable.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sumit Agrawal;Kevin Fung

Student:

Partner:

ENT Simulation Technologies;London Health Sciences Foundation;Western University

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Education

University:

Western University

Program: