Haptic guided laparoscopy simulation improves learning curve

Haptic fidelity has been increasingly emphasized in MIS simulators however the real benefits of the simulated environments are mostly under-exploited for MIS Simulation and Training. In this paper we discuss the use of augmented forces such as haptic guidance in our laparoscopic simulator for improving learning curve. A simple virtual environment has been designed to simulate advanced MIS tasks such as cutting. A simple haptic guidance system has been implemented to provide a guiding force pulling a novice trainee along the ideal motion path for manipulating the laparoscopic tools. An experiment has been designed to compare the time taken by two groups of participants with and without guidance for the cutting procedure. The results indicate that the haptic guidance has assisted participants in learning of motor skills in its cognitive and associative stage of learning.