Complex task performance in Cyberspace. Surgical procedures in a telepresence environment

Area of Science:

• Surgical Technology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Telepresence surgery systems offer remote surgical capabilities.
• Evaluating the efficacy of prototype systems is crucial for advancing surgical technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the capabilities of a fully functional, prototype telepresence surgery system.
• To evaluate the feasibility of performing complete operative procedures using the system.

Main Methods:

• Experienced surgeons performed various procedures, including cholecystectomy, gastrotomy, enterotomy closures, anastomosis, and nephrectomy, on live anesthetized pigs.
• The system featured force feedback and high-resolution stereoscopic video input.
• No specific training was required for system operation.

Main Results:

• Complete cholecystectomy was successfully performed in six animals without complications or aborted attempts.
• Other procedures like gastrotomy, enterotomy closures, anastomosis, and nephrectomy were also successfully completed.
• Operative times were longer than conventional surgery, attributed to the system's manipulator degrees of freedom.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons can achieve technical results equivalent to conventional surgery using this first-generation telepresence system.
• The telepresence surgery system demonstrated intuitive operation and effective performance facilitation through force feedback and advanced visuals.
• The prototype system shows significant potential for future applications in remote and minimally invasive surgery.