Haptic Cow uses a virtual reality technology called haptics to create a 3-D virtual bovine reproductive tract that veterinary students can use to carry out virtual rectal examinations. With most of the U.K.’s veterinary schools now Haptic Cow users, Virtalis is launching its veterinary training tool internationally. Haptic force feedback technology has been deployed in the Haptic Cow to create a virtual bovine reproductive tract, positioned within a seemingly empty fiberglass model of the rear half of a cow.

This instrument makes it possible for users to suspend their disbelief and makes touching and palpating virtual objects highly realistic. Although nothing is there, the user can clearly “feel” all the features expected in a real rectal examination.

Because the cow’s organs are visible on the computer monitor, the instructor can see exactly what the student is doing and direct their movements, something that isn’t possible with a real animal.

The Haptic Cow can replicate a range of conditions at the touch of a button.

“The virtual environment of the Haptic Cow simulates the bovine reproductive tract, including models of the cervix, uterus and ovaries with a wide range of fertility cases, pregnancies and some examples of pathology,” explained Sarah Baillie of University of Bristol, and the product's inventor.

“We’ve developed a teaching protocol, so that the student learns initially to locate the uterus in different positions, mastering this fundamental skill before progressing on to fertility examinations and diagnosing pregnancy.” PD

—From Virtalis news release

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Photo courtesy of Virtalis.