Impact of heads-up display imaging on endoscopic task performance.
OBJECTIVE
Heads-Up Imaging goggles provide ergonomic advantages to the endourologist. This study was designed to evaluate whether heads-up display impacts task performance for ureteroscopic stone retrieval.


METHODS
The ability to capture a 5-mm calculus with a Cook N-Circle 2.2F stone basket from an inanimate caliceal model was tested by three experienced and three novice stone-basket operators. Visual display for initial testing for each operator was randomized to the OptiVu HD3 Heads-Up googles or a 20- inch Sony Triniton monitor (TV). Subsequent testing alternated between the two devices. Camera input was provided by the Storz telecam SL-NTSC. The HD3 was set up to align the direction of view with the operator's hands, while the TV was aligned at an angle 45 degrees lateral and 30 degrees superior to the operator's direction of view to approximate the traditional room set-up for an endourologic procedure. Each operator performed five basketing trials with each display set-up.


RESULTS
Expert operators retrieved calculi more rapidly (9.2 +/- 5.9 seconds) than novice operators (50.7 +/- 48.9 seconds), irrespective of whether a TV monitor or goggle display was utilized as the imaging modality. No significant differences were noted in task performance between the two imaging modalities for the expert (P = b0.60), novice (P = 0.77), or overall (P = 0.91) groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The Optiview Heads-Up goggle display system does not offer advantages in task performance with specific regard to the ability to capture stone fragments with baskets.
Ryndin
Igor
I
Department of Urologic Surgery, University of Minnesota and VAHCS Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
Lukasewycz
Stephen
S
Hoffman
Nathan
N
Nakib
Nissrine A
NA
Best
Sara
S
Monga
Manoj
M
D002983:Clinical Competence; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D013690:Television; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000601:surgery*; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation*