Design and preliminary validation of a high-fidelity vascular simulator for robot-assisted manipulation

Area of Science:

• Surgical robotics
• Medical simulation
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (RMIS) is growing, increasing the demand for effective surgical training.
• Surgeons face challenges with new robotic controls and lack of haptic feedback.
• High-fidelity physical simulators are valuable for addressing these training needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, fabricate, and validate a high-fidelity sensorized simulator for vascular structures.
• To train novice robotic surgeons in vascular resection, focusing on preventing excessive tissue strain.
• To objectively assess manipulation skills and provide real-time feedback using soft strain sensors.

Main Methods:

• Developed a sensorized simulator of vascular structures with integrated soft strain sensors.
• Created a portable, user-friendly training task board mimicking anatomical constraints.
• Characterized the simulator's mechanical properties for realism and conducted validity and usability assessments with 13 clinicians.

Main Results:

• The vascular simulator demonstrated realistic mechanical properties comparable to human tissues.
• Preliminary validation showed generally positive results for face, content, and construct validity.
• Usability assessments indicated the simulator is a practical tool for surgical training.

Conclusions:

• The developed sensorized vascular simulator is a realistic and valid tool for robotic surgery training.
• It effectively quantifies manipulation skills and provides real-time feedback, aiding novice surgeons.
• This simulator addresses the need for improved training in RMIS, particularly for vascular procedures.