Omnidirectional camera and head-mount display contribute to the safety of laparoscopic surgery

We focused on the availability of an omnidirectional camera and head-mount display (HMD). If the laparoscope is an omnidirectional camera, captured images are sent to the HMD worn by the operator in real time. The operator can thus view the image as they like without moving the camera and obtain a 360° view intuitively. However, the surgical system that can be used for actual laparoscopic operations has not yet been developed. In this study, we aimed to show that an omnidirectional camera and HMD would be useful in laparoscopic surgery.

Eleven medical students and twelve surgical residents (Surgeons group) participated in this study. We created an experimental box with five marks randomly attached inside the box, and the inside cannot be seen from the outside. We measured the time it took to identify all marks between conventional laparoscope and substitute system in each group.

In the substitute system, the time required for the task was significantly shorter than with conventional laparoscopy in each group.

An omnidirectional camera and HMD may be a useful new device for laparoscopic surgery. This system may help improve the safety of laparoscopic surgery.