In Summer 2011, I worked on a three-week project for Professor Salisbury’s BioRobotic Lab at Stanford University. Their team of computer science engineers were developing haptic devices – computer-driven actuators that could interact with anatomical models to feel walls of tissue, bone, and free space. My project involved integrating haptic devices with cochlear implant surgical simulation.
I observed and collaborated with Dr. Nik Blevins to learn how to simulate cochlear implant surgeries. The procedure involves replacing a person's ear with an electronic device as a treatment to hearing loss. Dangerously close to the brain, the surgeon must perform minute movements while balancing on the patient's shoulder and scalp. However, when current medical students practice cochlear implant surgeries the context of the patient's body is absent. The objective of my project was to create this context.
I acted as Product Design Consultant to develop a physical console for doctors to interact with while using the haptic devices. I began prototyping consoles while working with the computer science engineers to understand the potential and limitations of the haptic devices. The result was a finished laser cut assembly. The surgeon rests his arms and hands on the raised arm rest (in place of the patient's shoulder) and the purple bowl (in place of the patient's scalp) while holding the haptic pen (in place of the scalpel).
I observed and collaborated with Dr. Nik Blevins to learn how to simulate cochlear implant surgeries. The procedure involves replacing a person's ear with an electronic device as a treatment to hearing loss. Dangerously close to the brain, the surgeon must perform minute movements while balancing on the patient's shoulder and scalp. However, when current medical students practice cochlear implant surgeries the context of the patient's body is absent. The objective of my project was to create this context.
I acted as Product Design Consultant to develop a physical console for doctors to interact with while using the haptic devices. I began prototyping consoles while working with the computer science engineers to understand the potential and limitations of the haptic devices. The result was a finished laser cut assembly. The surgeon rests his arms and hands on the raised arm rest (in place of the patient's shoulder) and the purple bowl (in place of the patient's scalp) while holding the haptic pen (in place of the scalpel).
The final assembly with an overlay of the patient reference
Testing an early prototype
Laser cut pieces pre-assembly