Analysis of Gripping Force on a Master Controller During Simulated Robotic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Robotic Surgery
• Surgical Simulation
• Human Factors in Medicine

Background:

• Robotic surgery offers ergonomic benefits but can still cause hand and wrist strain.
• Understanding surgeon technique is crucial for optimizing robotic surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare gripping force differences between novice and expert surgeons using the da Vinci surgical system.
• To investigate the relationship between gripping force and performance in a simulated robotic surgical task.

Main Methods:

• Two force sensors were attached to da Vinci master controllers to measure average gripping force (AF) and maximum gripping force (MF).
• Eleven expert and ten novice surgeons performed the 'Suture sponge 1' task on a surgical simulator.
• Data on AF and MF in the dominant hand were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Experts demonstrated significantly lower AF and MF in their dominant hand compared to novices.
• A positive correlation was found between mean gripping force and the number of missed targets (r=0.63, p=0.002).
• Higher average gripping force in the dominant hand was associated with poorer task performance.

Conclusions:

• Expert surgeons utilize a less forceful grip during robotic surgery simulation.
• Reducing gripping force may improve performance and potentially decrease the risk of missed targets.
• Findings suggest that training interventions focusing on relaxed gripping may benefit novice robotic surgeons.