Sensorised surgical gloves for neuroendovascular procedures (Ver 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sensorised surgical gloves for neuroendovascular procedures: Preclinical study in flow diverter placement using 3D printed biorealistic haptic simulators
IRAS ID
331867
Contact name
Jonathan Downer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Lothian
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 11 days
Research summary
Endovascular treatment (EVT) has changed how we manage patients with brain aneurysms over the past 30 years and results now in the majority of patients undergoing minimally invasive ('keyhole') procedures where high-risk open brain surgery was required previously. New devices called flow divertors (FDs) allow EVT for even more complex brain aneurysms and this is leading to better outcomes for patients.
However, there is a steep learning curve to developing the technical skills to undertake these procedures and it can be very difficult from a trainer's perspective to teach novice operators the intricacies of handling the equipment. Specialised force-sensing gloves have been developed with a view to learning how surgeons manipulate instruments and data from these studies indicates that experiences surgeons handle instruments with different forces and techniques to novices. We are undertaking a study using these same gloves to investigate if this can be translated to the EVT environment.
We will carry out a simulated EVT procedure using realistic models of blood vessels and brain aneurysms to place a FD and compare the forces used by experts and novices. The information gained from this can be used to decide if force-sensing gloves could help in training new EVT practitioners and shorten the learning curve and improve the safety when trainees undertake these procedures.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
25/NS/0083
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion