Biomedical subjects

W Brent Seales

Publications and source records attributed to W Brent Seales.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Assessing mental workload during laparoscopic surgery.

Although the use of performance efficiency measures (speed, movement economy, errors) and ergonomic assessments are relatively well established, the evaluation of cognitive outcomes is rare. This report makes the case for assessment strategies that include mental workload measures as a way to improve training scenarios and training/operating environments. These mental workload measures can be crucially important in determining the difference between well-intentioned but subtly distracting technologies and true breakthroughs that will enhance performance and reduce stress.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed2005

Computing support for information-rich laparoscopy.

Developments in the architecture and organization of high-performance general-purpose computer systems are largely ignored by the technology infrastructure of the modern laparoscopic surgical suite. The current state of technology for laparoscopy is a camera and monitor linked via a controller that distributes analog or digital video signals without regard to their content. This article discusses the opportunities that will be created by inserting general-purpose high-performance computing into the information stream between camera and display. We envision that the use of this technology will radically transform laparoscopy from its current state as ;;surgery by pictures'' into an entirely new, information-rich surgical environment.

Computer Peripherals↗

PubMed2005

Heterogeneous displays for surgery and surgical simulation.

Instruments and procedures continue to become more complex and challenging, but the display environments to which these technologies are connected have not kept pace. Display real-estate (the size and resolution of the display), the configurability of the display, and the ability for display systems to incorporate, fuse and present diverse informational sources are limiting factors. The capabilities of display technologies are far exceeded by the procedures and instruments that rely on them. In this paper we show how to break free from display constraints by moving forward with a hybrid, heterogeneous display framework that preserves key characteristics of current systems (low latency, specialized devices). We have engineered a hybrid display and are currently using it to build a surgical simulation and training environment within which we can evaluate both the technology and the performance of subjects using the technology.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed2004

Image restoration of arbitrarily warped documents.

We present a framework for acquiring and restoring images of warped documents. The purpose of our restoration is to create a planar representation of a once planar document that has undergone an arbitrary and unknown rigid deformation. To accomplish this restoration, our framework acquires and flattens the 3D shape of a warped document to determine a nonlinear image transform that can correct for image distortion caused by the document's shape. Our framework is designed for use in library and museum digitization efforts where very old and badly damaged manuscripts are imaged.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Reconstruction and enhancement in monocular laparoscopic imagery.

Constrained minimally-invasive surgical environments create a number of challenges for the surgeon and for automated tools designed to aid in the performance and analysis of complex procedures. The 3D reconstruction of the operative field opens up a number of possibilities for immersive presentation, automated analysis, and post-operative evaluation of surgical procedures. This paper presents a method for estimating complete 3D information about scope and instrument positioning from monocular imagery. These measurements can be used as the basis for deriving and presenting additional cues during procedures, and can also be used for post-procedure analysis such as objective estimates of high-level performance measures like economy of motion and ergonomic metrics.

Calibration↗

PubMed2003

Visualization trends: applications in the operating room.

Recent advances in visualization technology are being driven by two important trends: (1) continued increases in speed and function of hardware devices and (2) increasingly parallel, distributed, cooperative systems. The incorporation of fast, powerful devices into cooperative systems enables a complex interplay of sensors, displays, and computational components that can create a seamless, perceptually rich and flexible environment. Although these trends have fueled a number of advances in visualization research, the unique requirements of laparoscopy make direct, effective use of visualization technology as it is applied in other contexts extremely challenging. This article discusses promising new capabilities in visualization technology. The costs and tradeoffs create new challenges, which are addressed in some visualization applications, but must be carefully assessed in the context of the laparoscopic environment. Incorporating new visualization technology in a way that captures its benefits and meets stringent laparoscopic requirements will very likely precipitate an enormous surge forward in the capabilities of the surgical team and in the quality of patient care.

Diagnostic Imaging↗