Evaluation of a head-mounted display (HMD) in the performance of a simulated laparoscopic task.
BACKGROUND
Head-mounted display (HM) units are used in various industries, but they have been tried only recently in surgery. In this study, we evaluated whether a commercially available HMD would improve or impede a laparoscopic task-in this case, suturing.


METHODS
Six participants performed a total of 120 laparoscopic suture knots in an experimental model. The Olympus FMD011 model with a two-dimensional image was used. The order of each task with or without the head display unit was random. The time to complete each knot was recorded, and the results were analyzed.


RESULTS
The display unit prolonged the suturing times of the subjects by 10% (p < 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
In this experimental model, the HMD we utilized did not appear to improve laparoscopic suturing. More developments, such as improved depth perception and better resolution, may increase its usefulness for laparoscopic tasks.
Cheah
W K
WK
Department of Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgical Center, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074.
Lenzi
J E
JE
So
J
J
Dong
F
F
Kum
C K
CK
Goh
P
P
D003198:Computer Simulation; D016288:Computer Terminals; D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods