Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
which may promote the creation of the internal models by the active training of
learner on the task so that subjects can reconstruct accurately the motor skill. On
the other hand, there is the possibility of studying which parameters (i.e. which
feedbackmodality is provided, complexity of the skill) of the learning process may
lead or break down the acquisition of the motor skill by modifying the conditions
of the experiments.
12.2 RECENT ADVANCES IN MEDICAL TRAINING
It appears that current medical education approaches fall short of embracing the
idea that every learner is unique. As an adjunct to the traditional apprenticeship
training model, use of computer technology and educational innovations, such
as simulation and bench model training are all factors influencing how future
clinicians will practice the technical aspects of medical procedures (Ryan, 2008). In
particular, the advances in Information Technology (IT) have revolutionized meth-
ods of educational delivery. In this era of knowledge-building, educational media
and web-based learning are proving to be true enabling technologies transforming
the possibilities of self-study and distance education (George, 2007). .
On the other hand, the emerging field of medical robotics aims to introduce
intelligent tools as a support during the learning process. The principal challenges
for developing efficient medical robotic training systems are simulating real-world
conditions of the task and assuring training effectiveness (high anatomic fidelity
has been achieved in conventional training systems, but they are limited to provide
merely subjective assessments of the training progress). Thanks to the introduction
of RT, surgeons are able to perform with higher accuracy minimally invasive
surgery that could not be conceived by means of conventional techniques. More
recently, several researchers have been particularly focused on developing novel
medical training tools (Rosen, Hannaford,
et al
., 2006; Mayrose
et al
., 2003; Sewell,
Salisbury,
et al
., 2008; Noh, Solis
et al
., 2008; etc.) as well as advanced measurement
devices for the assessment of medical competence (Delson
et al
., 2003; Chang,
Pellegrini
et al
., 2007; Solis
et al
., 2009; Aggarwal, Darzi,
et al
., 2009; etc.)
From the current state-of-art on robotic-assisted technology for medical train-
ing purposes, we may observe the importance on the introduction of more ad-
vanced methods of assessment of clinical competence as an approach to provide
more objective information about the skill improvement and the reproduction of
the real-world task conditions as an approach to provide multimodal feedback
to trainees. In the next sections, an overview of the current research approaches
for the assessment of clinical competence and the reproduction of task conditions
will be given. In particular, two cases of studies will be detailed: an objective
evaluation method for the ligature training and an actuated human model for the
airway management training.
