Welcome to the Stone Lab

The Stone Lab, part of the Department of Neurosurgery, interfaces the advancements of neurosurgical phantom models with robotic interfaces to enhance neurosurgical training. For most of history tactile neurosurgical training is conducted in the operating room or at the bedside. Although patient interfacing teaching is invaluable, there is little room for error which precludes trainees from making mistakes. We plan to amend this gap in training using a biomechanical framework that simulates the neurosurgical training field.

At the foundation of our research, we hope to utilize a heads-up augmented reality (AR) device to provide real-time visual imaging feedback. Monitors and other display devices, albeit crucial to providing visual feedback during procedures (e.g. neuroanatomical navigation), pulls attention away from the surgical field. The AR heads-up device when synchronized with neuroanatomical navigation, allows near simultaneous focus on the surgical site and imaging feedback. Further, this platform can be integrated into various other educational tools such as remote proctor training and AI-training platforms. Our research also hopes to advance the development of 3D-printing and synthetic polymer molding to create patient-specific and intricate phantom models for neurosurgical training.

Surgical Simulation at URMC
 

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