FundamentalVR showcased the HaptX Gloves on its Fundamental Surgery platform at the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2019 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, March 12-16.
Five things to know:
1. Launched in August 2018, the Fundamental Surgery platform was named one of the best inventions of 2018 by Time magazine. The platform combines virtual reality with haptics to create a "flight simulator" experience for surgical education.
2. Fundamental Surgery is compatible with any laptop, VR headset or haptic device.
3. HaptX's HaptX Gloves feature 130 tactile actuators that press the user's skin to replicate the sensation of touching an object. A force feedback exoskeleton applies up to four pounds of force per finger, which is intended to enhance perception of shape and rigidity. Motion capture technology tracks users' hand movements.
4. Fundamental Surgery's system features the Surgical Haptic Intelligence Engine, which is calibrated to mimic sensations of medical tools and tissue variants within a submillimeter accuracy of resistance. The joint initiative with HaptX is intended to demonstrate the platform's ability to integrate its haptic sensations and intelligence into third-party devices.
5. Fundamental Surgery currently supports orthopedic surgical training packages, including spinal pedicle screw, anterior and posterior total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty.