Sensorised Phantoms for Interactive Surgical Training

The project is dedicated to the development of intelligent anatomical models, in which tissue-equivalent materials are integrated with deformable sensors to transform simulation into a measurable and interactive experience. The aim is to produce phantoms capable of recording mechanical parameters in real time through the generation of electrical signals directly correlated with surgical gestures.

The integration of strain sensors based on soft conductive materials enables tracking of deformations, pressures, and force distributions during manipulation, dissection, or suturing. The models thus become active systems, able to generate an electrical trace that can be interpreted both in real time and in offline analysis. Applications are particularly relevant for laparoscopy and robotic surgery – fields in which technological mediation reduces direct tactile perception, making the ability to quantitatively monitor tissue interaction crucial. Data acquisition allows immediate feedback to be visualised during the exercise and ex-post assessments to be performed on precision, force control, mechanical stress management, and operative strategies. This approach is also strategic for independent learning: the availability of objective metrics enables the trainee to compare their performance over time, transforming the phantom into a tool for structured self-assessment.

The integration of soft materials, flexible electronics, and data acquisition systems thus contributes to the construction of data-driven training platforms, in which simulation is not only mechanically realistic but also capable of generating quantitative information useful for the continuous improvement of surgical skills.