Randomised comparison between navigation and non-navigation-assisted camera control performance in a surgical...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Simulation
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Medical Education

Background:

• Camera control in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is challenging due to a lack of integrated navigation aids in current endoscopes.
• Effective camera navigation is critical for successful MIS procedures.
• Beginner performance in MIS is often limited by camera control difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of navigation guidance on the performance of beginners in a simulated surgical camera task.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of navigation aids in improving surgical skills.
• To identify potential improvements for endoscope interfaces and surgical training systems.

Main Methods:

• A custom computer-based simulation environment was developed with and without navigation guidance.
• Sixty-four beginner participants were randomly assigned to guided or unguided conditions.
• Participants used haptic devices to control a simulated endoscope and surgical tools during a camera-cleaning task.

Main Results:

• Participants using navigation guidance demonstrated significantly better performance compared to those without guidance.
• Female participants showed a significant reduction in task completion time when using navigation guidance.
• Navigation aids positively impacted overall task efficiency and skill acquisition.

Conclusions:

• Integrating navigation aids into endoscope interfaces can enhance user performance, particularly for novice surgeons.
• Medical device manufacturers should consider incorporating navigation features to improve endoscope usability.
• Simulation-based training systems can benefit from navigation aids to better support surgical education.