Scene Registration Augmented Reality as an Educational Tool to Identify Underlying Anatomy during Medical Simulation Training

Medical education, techniques, and training are critically import to the US military force. For example, surgical simulations allow surgeons to practice their techniques without the cost, limitations, and ethical problems of using cadaver-based subjects. Simulation technologies are becoming increasingly valuable additions to the more traditional medical teaching methods. These new technologies are now more readily available than ever before and can improve and streamline the medical training process. The emergence of Augmented Reality (AR) in recent years on mobile devices such as phones and tablets enables the opportunity to apply AR technology to help train and better equip our military medical forces. Illustrative tools using AR to help elucidate the internal anatomy in relation to external landmarks will enable educators to use existing standardized patients and medical mannequins in new and innovative ways. Using simple and ubiquitous phone or tablet mobile technology, Neya Systems proposes to develop an AR system that will accurately place spatially registered anatomical overlays, so that they appear attached to the patient or mannequin when viewed through the mobile device. By sharing this view with the students, we will provide both instructors and student with a simulated x-ray vision capability for more engaged learning.