‌Investigation and Development of an Endourology Haptic Robot Simulator for Surgical Training

Supervisors:  Dr Antonia Tzemanaki, Department of Mechanical Engineering Mr Joe Philip, Bristol Medical School Email: morgan.jenkinson@bristol.ac.uk

Project description:

In 2016, there were approximately 773,000 urological cases in the UK, with over half of these requiring a procedure. Within any field, the process of learning involves making errors and overcoming these, usually within a safe environment but, making an error within surgery can have fatal outcomes.  The focus of my PhD research is to investigate and develop a simulator to train surgeons, which can replicate the forces expected within endourological tasks and more specifically, cystoscopy. A novel medical phantom of the bladder will be produced, and user studies carried out in order to collect data based on life-like procedures. As the simulator being developed will be based around virtual reality, a virtual environment is to be produced through the use of a physics engine. Using data collected in the user studies, haptic feedback will be incorporated to provide the surgeon with a realistic sense of touch within the simulator, allowing for training equal to that of equal standards.

General Profile:

I graduated with a BEng in Robotics Engineering and went on to study and receive an MSc in Mechatronics and Intelligent Machines both from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

For my master’s dissertation, I created a control system for a spinal exoskeleton that amplifies electrical signals generated by the movements of Spinal Muscular Atrophy sufferers, thus helping them to move. This project was part of a bigger organisation called Primary Engineer, in which school children design/invent devices and we, as engineers, build them. This ‘SMA Jacket’ came second in a national competition.

Whilst at UCLan, I was also an associate lecturer where I taught on multiple maths and engineering modules. I have also been a STEM ambassador, which is aimed at involving the younger generation in projects within these fields. This led me to work at a summer camp in Pennsylvania, USA for three months as a STEM Unit Leader.