Assessing the Use of Virtual Pointers in Laparoscopic Surgery Training Activities.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Effective communication in laparoscopic surgery is crucial but challenging, especially in training.
• Misinterpretation of instructions can lead to errors in surgical procedures.
• Augmented reality (AR) with virtual pointers can potentially improve team communication and reduce errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the acceptance of virtual pointers in an AR environment for laparoscopic surgery training.
• To understand how pointer characteristics (shape, size, color) influence perception.
• To evaluate the usefulness of the HoloLens2 AR device in this context.

Main Methods:

• 10 participants (experts and novices) in laparoscopic surgery were involved.
• Various virtual pointers with different attributes were analyzed in an AR setting.
• The HoloLens2 device was used to present the AR environment and pointers.

Main Results:

• Initial acceptance rate for virtual pointers was 80%, decreasing to 60% after detailed analysis.
• Pointer characteristics significantly impact perception; large, thick-rimmed, orange pointers were preferred.
• The head-mounted display (HoloLens2) influenced perception, with some experts noting criticisms.

Conclusions:

• Optimized virtual pointers show promise for enhancing communication in laparoscopic surgical training.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to validate findings and explore device influence.
• These insights can inform the development of advanced training tools for minimally invasive surgery.