Section: Overall Objectives

Team Overview

The SHACRA project-team can be seen as an evolution of the scientific activities of the ALCOVE project-team, but its genesis also derives from other initiatives such as the large scale initiative on medical simulation (Inria AE SOFA InterMedS), started two years ago, and the development program for the SOFA framework. These different projects have helped to strengthen our expertise and refine our scientific objectives. A common element among these objectives is the notion of interaction. It implies that the simulations we develop are computed in real (or near real) time, and that the presence of a user in the loop is accounted for (through the use of dedicated hardware devices, haptic feedback and robust algorithms). This requires to develop accurate models, coupled with fast and robust computational strategies. The research directions we propose to follow essentially aim at improving the realism and fidelity of interactive simulations of medical procedures. This increase in realism will permit to address new clinical applications, in particular pre-operative planning and per-operative guidance, that currently rely on imaging techniques, but could greatly benefit from simulation techniques, thus enabling what we could call "simulation-guided therapy". To reach these clinical objectives (without forgetting training) we have identified several key areas where important improvements remain necessary. Most of these research areas are at the intersection between several scientific domains. They include real-time biophysical models (to define new models describing soft tissue deformation or physiological phenomena, and to develop computational strategies to enable real-time computation even with the increase in complexity of future models), models of therapy (to describe the action of medical devices on the anatomy whether this action is mechanical, electrical or chemical), and interaction models (to account for a variety of constraints between anatomical structures as well as tissue-tool interactions). The SOFA framework will be used to synthesize our various contributions and integrate them in a series of prototypes. These prototypes will span across several clinical areas and will serve as a basis for transitioning from training to planning to guidance.