The assessment of stability and reliability of a virtual reality-based laparoscopic gynecology simulation system.
OBJECTIVE
Surgeons require practiced skills in laparoscopic surgery. A virtual reality-based simulator system was developed for extensive training. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a virtual reality-based laparoscopic gynecology simulation system.


METHODS
Laparoscopic tools and three-dimensional virtual environments were included in the simulation system. Ten healthy, non-disabled volunteers were recruited. The surgical procedure is a process of tubal sterilization by cauterization. Volunteers followed the training procedure, 15 trials in the first test and retest, respectively.


RESULTS
Stable performances were obtained after about seven trials for all subjects. The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.935 and 0.425 for task time and error frequency, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that the system is stable and has a fair high test-retest reliability. Therefore, the VR-based laparoscopic gynecology system is feasible.
Sung
W H
WH
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taipei, Taiwan.
Fung
C P
CP
Chen
A C Y
AC
Yuan
C C
CC
Ng
H T
HT
Doong
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D014584:User-Computer Interface