Virtual Reality Robot-Assisted SEEG Monitoring Surgery Prototype

Epilepsy is the most prevalent neurological disorder, afflicting roughly 50 million individuals worldwide. Eighty percent of epilepsy patients reside in low- and middle-income nations, with limited access to expert surgeons and training facilities. Virtual Reality (VR) provides supplementary solutions for developing Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) surgery skills, allowing training in highly immersive consumer-level technologies and overcoming the limitations of high-end equipment and patient availability in medical practice. A literature review revealed a trend in developing robot-assisted brain surgery instruments to expose trainees to scenarios otherwise impossible or very difficult to simulate with consumer-grade technology. This paper uses an interdisciplinary approach to develop a robot-assisted VR scenario for SEEG monitoring using the Meta Quest 2 VR headset. Using the System Usability Scale, our preliminary study evaluated the usability and allowed us to identify future enhancements. Our preliminary prototype has allowed us to explore the viability of VR for SEEG monitoring while identifying additional features for customizing the environments, simulating stereo cameras for registering the patient, markers, robot, and surgery room, along with the addition of evaluation and data outputs for assessment.