Simulation-based detection of usability conflicts for an ISO/IEEE 11073 SDC workstation: a spine surgery case study

Area of Science:

• Medical device integration
• Operating room technology
• Usability engineering

Background:

• Service-oriented Device Connectivity (SDC) enables vendor-independent networking of medical devices for central operating room (OR) workstations.
• While interoperability is achieved, ensuring usability and safety in dynamic OR environments with numerous devices and roles remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simulation framework for detecting resource, workflow, and usability conflicts in SDC-based OR workstation setups.
• To demonstrate the framework's application in identifying conflicts during a dorsal decompression and spinal fusion procedure.

Main Methods:

• The framework integrates a Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) workflow, device-specific User Interface (UI) Profiles, and OR setup descriptions.
• An assignment engine automatically allocates device functions and validates assignments against a constraint library to detect violations.
• A conflict-free configuration prototype cockpit interface was developed and evaluated by clinicians.

Main Results:

• Simulation detected various conflict patterns, including input device shortages, output device limitations, and role capacity overload.
• Step-by-step adjustments resolved usability violations, leading to a conflict-free assignment.
• Formative evaluation indicated the simulation-derived workstation layout is feasible and usable.

Conclusions:

• The simulation framework serves as an efficient early-stage filter for identifying potential usability and safety issues.
• Reliability depends on the fidelity of input data, including BPMN workflows, usability constraints, and UI Profiles.
• Simulation-based conflict detection can proactively reveal issues in SDC OR setups before physical installation.