Objective/hypothesis: To determine the efficacy of a haptic (force feedback) device and to compare isosurface and volumetric models of a functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) training simulator.

Study design: A pilot study involving faculty and residents from the Department of Otolaryngology at The Ohio State University.

Methods: Objective trials evaluated the haptic device's ability to perceive three-dimensional shapes (stereognosis) without the aid of image visualization. Ethmoidectomy tasks were performed with both isosurface and volumetric FESS simulators, and surveys compared the two models.

Results: The haptic device was 77% effective for stereognosis tasks. There was a preference toward the isosurface model over the volumetric model in terms of visual representation, comfort, haptic-visual fidelity, and overall performance.

Conclusions: The FESS simulator uses both visual and haptic feedback to create a virtual reality environment to teach paranasal sinus anatomy and basic endoscopic sinus surgery techniques to ear, nose, and throat residents. The results of the current study showed that the haptic device was accurate in and of itself, within its current physical limitations, and that the isosurface-based simulator was preferred.