Motion analysis of suturing technique with Leap Motion Controller^TM. Proof-of-concept

Leap Motion Controller is a device that can capture hand gestures and reproduce these as data comprising several parametric elements. We analyzed surgical suture motion using this device and investigated the optical methodology for clinical applications.

We recruited medical students and residents (novice group) and vascular surgeons (specialist group). The operators applied sutures once on a prosthetic graft, and the captured motion was analyzed.

Ten novices, who each received procedural instruction for at least 2 h, and 10 specialists were recruited. The hand gesture consisted of four elements (roll, pitch, yaw, and wrist angle). Since "roll" was the only element in this simple suture movement that showed some difference between the two groups, we analyzed three parameters: (1) the suturing time, (2) the difference in the degree between two piercing points, and (3) slope of the roll. We found that the specialist group demonstrated significantly shorter suturing times and a larger degree of the slope.

Leap Motion Controller analysis with the roll revealed that the novices could use the roll motion after only 2 h of instruction; however, the suturing speed and smoothness were secondary to those of the specialists.