Oculus Rift ‘could aid training of dental surgeons’

UK researchers have developed a new method of using the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset as a means of training dental surgeons.

A University of Huddersfield scientist has led a study that helps oral and maxillofacial surgical trainees to perform complex medical procedures using accurate graphical visualisations of human anatomy and surgical procedures.

Trainee surgeons will be provided with close-up, unrestricted, 360-degree views of surgical procedures, offering a level of insight that considerably improves on current operating room sessions in surgical training.

The project will soon move on to developing the concept and producing working prototypes.

Study leader Yeshwanth Pulijala said: "If you are a trainee surgeon wearing an Oculus Rift, you will see the surgical procedure in an operating room environment and also able to 'touch' the skull of the patient and interact with it."

This is one of a number of potential educational applications for the Oculus Rift VR headset, which will be launched commercially early next year.