Improving the Development of Surgical Skills with Virtual Fixtures in Simulation

• Published in: Information Processing in Computer-Assisted Interventions pp. 157 - 166
• Main Authors: Hernansanz, Albert, Zerbato, Davide, Gasperotti, Lorenza, Scandola, Michele, Fiorini, Paolo, Casals, Alicia
• Format: Book Chapter Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2012; Springer
• Series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science
• Subjects: Aplicacions de la informàtica; Assistive Technology; Completion Time; Force Feedback; Infografia; Informàtica; Medical informatics; Medicina; Realitat virtual; Robotic Surgery; Surgical Skill; Virtual reality; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
• ISBN: 9783642306174; 3642306179; 9783642306181; 3642306187
• ISSN: 0302-9743; 1611-3349
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-30618-1_16

This paper focuses on the use of virtual fixtures to improve the learning of basic skills for laparoscopic surgery. Five virtual fixtures are defined, integrated into a virtual surgical simulator and used to define an experimental setup based on a trajectory following task. 46 subjects among surgeons and residents underwent a training session based on the proposed setup. Their performance has been logged and used to identify the effect of virtual fixtures on the learning curve from the point of view of accuracy and completion time. Virtual fixtures prove to be effective in improving the learning and affect differently accuracy and completion time. This suggests the possibility to tailor virtual fixtures on the specific task requirements.