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Surgeons' Perceptions on the Utility of a Conceptual Novel Force Sensor at the Surgeon-Tool Interface: Formative
Bennet Mühlenbeck1, Jeremy Opie1,2, Carmen Salvadores Fernandez2,3
1UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC), University College London, London, United Kingdom.
JMIR Formative Research
|April 27, 2026
Summary
A novel force-sensing surgical glove could enhance surgical training and provide critical feedback when other senses are masked. Surgeons see value in real-time force feedback at the surgeon-tool interface, despite concerns about tactile interference and defining safe force ranges.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Technology
- Medical Device Innovation
- Human Factors Engineering
Background:
- Real-time force feedback is crucial in surgery, yet research primarily focuses on tool-tissue interaction.
- Measuring force at the surgeon-tool interface remains underexplored, presenting potential benefits and limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore scenarios where surgeons could benefit from force feedback at the surgeon-tool interface.
- To investigate the utility, value, and limitations of a conceptual force-sensing surgical glove.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory qualitative research involving interviews with 15 medical practitioners.
- Exploration of perceptions regarding a novel force-sensing surgical glove's usability and clinical implementation.
Main Results:
- Surgeons identified enhanced training via objective skill assessment and quantifiable feedback as key benefits.
- A sensorized glove could offer continuous feedback irrespective of instruments and aid in manual tissue manipulation where tactile feedback is masked.
- Concerns were raised regarding defining safe force ranges and potential interference with tactile sensation.
Conclusions:
- Force sensing at the surgeon-tool interface is considered valuable across various surgical specialties.
- A sensorized glove could improve decision-making and outcomes, especially when other sensory information is obscured.
- Design considerations for sensor placement depend on the surgical instrument and procedure type.
