Effect of Visual Display Location on Human Performance in Simulated Laparoscopic Tasks

Abstract

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery practiced through small incisions in the body, and requiring the use of long-reach instruments and a camera. Since the video feed is displayed on a monitor, depth perception can be significantly altered, and it is hypothesized that such alterations may depend on the relative position of the monitor with respect to the operator. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between monitor positioning and human performance in laparoscopic tasks. A total of eight male subjects volunteered to perform a variety of simulated laparoscopic tasks including object transfers, precision cutting, and suturing while three different monitor configurations were used (i.e., left, center, and right of the user). Tool trajectory was monitored using a motion capturing system, and task performance was evaluated using human performance quantitative metrics including completion time, depth of penetration, path length, axial speed, and motion smoothness. Results showed that human performance significantly increased when monitor location was centered with respect to the user during precision cutting. Moreover, subjects' performance decreased when the monitor was placed on their dominant-hand side. The findings of this study suggest ergonomic guidelines for optimizing human performance in simulated and actual laparoscopic tasks. Specifically, placing the monitor in a central position with respect to the user should represent the standard configuration while conducting laparoscopy.

LAPKaans: Tool-Motion Tracking and Gripping Force-Sensing Modular Smart Laparoscopic Training System

“…The functionality and fidelity of the training simulator were validated through 39 subjects including attending surgeons, general surgery residents, and students from our medical school. They executed a series of adapted tasks reported in past works as training assessment exercises [27,31],…”

“…The functionality and fidelity of the training simulator were validated through 39 subjects including attending surgeons, general surgery residents, and students from our medical school. They executed a series of adapted tasks reported in past works as training assessment exercises [27,31], while control, simulator and live video windows (Figure 4b-d)) of the GUI were displayed on a laptop. Figure 5 shows a graphic representation of the training tasks:…”

“…LAPKaans is a smart laparoscopic training box equipped with different modules: Tool-motion Tracking, Grip Force Sensing, Force Training, Data Acquisition and Processing, Graphical User Interface, and Training Tasks. It was designed to be inexpensive, portable, user-friendly, and compatible with both: (a) standard laparoscopic instruments and (b) exercises from The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS), additional to other tasks reported by previous investigators [26,27]. Commonly used sensing technologies, components, and materials were employed, without limiting the functionality, ergonomics, or shape of standard surgical instruments.…”