System for skills training and competency assessment in neurosurgery

This paper presents a novel approach to simulate neurosurgical interventions, which can be used for training in schools of medicine. It is based on the implementation of a benchtop model as an alternative to reported virtual reality-based approaches. The system includes a surgery planning software, 3D models of skull, an electromagnetic fields navigation system and compatible instrumentation. To our knowledge, the system developed here represents a unique approach to neurosurgery training where trainees are able to experiment with a more realistic model of an intended surgical procedure.