easyEndo robotic endoscopy system: Development and usability test in a randomized controlled trial with novices and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Robotics
• Surgical Technology
• Endoscopy

Background:

• Conventional endoscopy presents challenges including non-intuitive steering, physical burden from endoscope weight, and operator communication issues.
• These difficulties can impact procedural efficiency and physician comfort during endoscopic examinations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel robotic endoscopy system designed to address the limitations of conventional methods.
• To compare the usability and performance of the robotic system against traditional endoscopic manipulation techniques.

Main Methods:

• A usability test was conducted involving 9 novices and 18 physicians (intermediate and expert groups).
• Participants performed simulated endoscopic tasks, including insertion, lesion marking, and simulated biopsies, using both conventional and robotic systems.
• Performance metrics and perceived workload were assessed to compare the two manipulation methods.

Main Results:

• Novices demonstrated faster task completion and reduced workload with the robotic system, while experts initially showed the opposite trend.
• Intermediate physician groups exhibited no significant performance difference as trials progressed.
• Learning curve analysis revealed a higher learning rate for robotic manipulation (21.02%) compared to conventional (13.75%), indicating potential for faster skill acquisition.

Conclusions:

• The developed robotic endoscopy system offers potential for solo-manipulation via a single controller.
• The system may provide a more intuitive and convenient user experience compared to traditional endoscopic manipulation.
• Robotic assistance in endoscopy shows potential for improving training and procedural efficiency across various skill levels.