No, not the band. Staff at the University of Limerick, Ireland have combined a Haptics system (force feedback) with a Visualization System to create a virtual-reality training tool for intra-spinal anesthesia.
The “haptic simulator” recreates the skin tension felt by the practitioner at the point the needle is inserted.
If the injection is not carried out correctly, the trainee receives immediate audio and visual feedback.
The developers questioned doctors extensively about the precise tactile responses involved in inserting a needle between two vertebrae of the human back.
The result is an advance that incorporates visual feedback – allowing the operator to view a 3-D map of the area while simultaneously positioning the needle.
via BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Risk-free virtual anaesthetics.
