Design and fabrication of a phantom head for robotic neurosurgery simulation

Phantoms play a crucial role in planning and simulating surgical procedures, evaluating new medical devices, and training purposes. Current simulators, such as human cadavers, animal models, and virtual reality systems, are quite expensive and not easily accessible. This research aims to design and develop an affordable 3D replica of a child's head for paediatric neurosurgery. The process began with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan of a child's head. Afterward, a phantom was fabricated using nylon 3D printing and incorporating agar to replicate the skull and soft tissue. Moreover, Vaseline balls simulating tumors and a silicone skin were added to the phantom, enabling realistic MRI scans for surgical navigation. The functionality of a novel paediatric neurosurgery robot was then evaluated using the phantom as a realistic representation of a child's head. The cost-effectiveness of this approach makes it an ideal and reproducible method for surgical simulation and training objectives.