A Mannequin-Based Training System with Integrated Sensors for Ophthalmic Sub-Tenon Anesthesia

Sub-tenon ophthalmic blocks are gaining popularity for ophthalmic anesthesia but have no suitable systems available for training. In this article, the design and development of the first mannequin-based system to train and evaluate an ophthalmic anesthesiologist to perform the sub-tenon block correctly is presented. The system has integrated sensors with new sensing schemes for needle tip tracking and detection of errors incurred by the trainee. An integrated, conductive silicone-based eye model sensor is presented in this article. The model replicates the human ocular anatomy, and the embedded sensors within the eye model help to classify, assess, and evaluate the performed procedure. The developed system was also validated in a pilot clinical study for naturality and usage in a clinical setting with 37 ophthalmic anesthetists. The system recorded 98.3 % accuracy assessing the performed procedure during the clinical study, and the participants rated the naturality of the system with a score of 8.0 ± 0.63 (on a scale of 10) ( {p} < 0.01 ). 89 % of the participants and experienced sub tenon block instructors who previously used provisional animal eye-based models for training preferred the training system for its usage of anatomically accurate models and effective warning systems that evaluate the performed procedure.