We present an integrated system for training ultrasound (US) guided needle puncture. Our aim is to provide a validated training tool for interventional radiology (IR) that uses actual patient data. IR procedures are highly reliant on the sense of touch and so haptic hardware is an important part of our solution. A hybrid surface/volume haptic rendering of an US transducer is proposed to constrain the device to remain outside the bony structures when scanning the patient's skin. A volume haptic model is proposed that implements an effective model of needle puncture. Force measurements have been made on real tissue and the resulting data is incorporated into the model. The other input data required is a computed tomography (CT) scan of the patient that is used to create the patient specific models. It is also the data source for a novel simulation of a virtual US scanner, which is used to guide the needle to the correct location.
Spinal epidural haematoma is a neurosurgical emergency characterised by extravasation of blood in the spinal epidural space. The clinical presentation particularly in young children can masquerade other conditions such as meningitis. In this article, we discuss our case and review the literature on spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma with an aim to improve awareness of this condition which if not recognised and treated early can lead to significant lifelong morbidity.
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