Trainer for Minimally Invasive Surgery

This device for practicing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques was developed at Karlsruhe Research Center. Since the 1980s, MIS has become an established practice in surgery, offering patients significant advantages, such as reduced pain and faster recovery times. However, this technique presented challenges for surgeons, including a limited viewing field and restricted freedom of movement. Handling the instruments also proved to be more difficult. To support the specialized training required for this procedure, the first Karlsruhe MIS trainer was created at Karlsruhe Research Center in the 1990s. Its “input device,” with sensor-based precision mechanics, was developed by the Institute of Applied Informatics in the Center’s central training workshop. In the ensuing years, the device was enhanced to improve the real-time simulation of elastic tissue. Force feedback was also added to simulate the resistance encountered in the operated area, providing a more realistic training experience. Through a technology transfer project, the trainer could be developed further into practical products. Various training devices for neurosurgery and arthroscopy, for instance, were created in collaboration with medical professionals from different specialties. Research on the trainer continued until the early 2010s. The trainer was regularly used to train aspiring medical practitioners. During courses, they could practice handling the necessary instruments for MIS procedures. For example, they learned how to perform minimally invasive gall bladder removal using this device. as