  Surgical simulators have been widely used in training and evaluation of
physicians and surgeons. Virtual reality augmented with haptic technology has
made it feasible to develop more realistic surgical simulators. In this
context, we set out to design and develop a brain surgery bipolar
electrocautery simulator using haptic technology. A 3D model of brain tissue
was generated based on a brain craniotomy image. Bipolar forceps were also
modeled to visually assimilate real forceps. An experiment was developed to
assess the learning process of the participants. In this experiment, the
volunteers were asked to cauterize a large blood vessel in the brain while
minimizing the damage done to the brain tissue. The experiment was performed on
20 volunteers, and statistical analysis was conducted on the learning process
and error reduction during the surgery. Next, the volunteers were divided into
gamer and non gamer groups. The analysis of the volunteers operation
demonstrated that, on average, there was a 5 percent reduction in the
percentage of applied force error. It was also shown that the results achieved
by the gamer and non gamer group has significant difference with a p value of
0.0001. So, playing computer games would increase hand control, focus, and
reflex and positively affect surgery skills.
