Episode 76: Computer-Assisted Surgical Training

Arizona Science, Fridays on NPR 89.1

REPEAT. Minimally invasive surgeries reduce recovery time and postoperative pain. However, in these procedures surgeons lose many of the tactile and visual cues that they rely on in conventional surgery. Dr. Rozenblit, an expert in complex computer-based system design, is collaborating with surgeons to develop a computed-aided surgical trainer that will physically guide trainees' instruments during practice sessions through assistive force and augmented reality displays. They expect that, by enhancing "situational awareness," computer-guided practice will speed up learning, reinforce good "habits" and techniques, and discourage inferior ones, leading ultimately to better surgical outcomes, and improved patient safety.

IN THIS EPISODE

Jerzy Rozenblit, Ph. D., University Distinguished Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Leslie Tolbert, Ph.D. Regents' Professor in the UA's Neuroscience Department