Evaluation of an intuitive writing interface in robot-aided laser laparoscopic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The feasibility of the conceptual Intuitive Writing Interface (IWI) in robot-aided laser laparoscopic surgery has been demonstrated previously. This paper investigates the potential improvement of IWI by comparing conventional manipulation (CM) and IWI manipulation (IM) and conducting an animal experiment.


METHODS
Three tasks were designed that were considered to be representative of laser laparoscopic surgical procedures. All test participants used both CM and IM in all tasks. Completion time and error level of each task were taken as comparative indices and were integrated into a self-defined Index of Time and Error (ITE). Six sequential in vitro trials were carried out to investigate learning curves. In addition, nephrectomy was performed on a rabbit by employing IWI in robot-aided laser laparoscopic surgery.


RESULTS
The results showed significant advantages for IM, with shorter completion time, more successful shots, and smaller error length in the three tasks, as compared to CM. The learning curve showed a promising trend for IM. More than half of the participants performed better with IM. The animal model experiment demonstrated the clinical feasibility of IM, but at the same time revealed some limitations.


CONCLUSIONS
The new IWI interface definitely improved laser laparoscopic procedures by taking advantage of familiar writing skills. With its flexibility of implementation and ease of use, IWI has clear potential for use in laser laparoscopic procedures.
Tang
Hsiao-Wei
HW
Division of Production Engineering, Machine Design and Automation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Hsiao-Wei.Tang@mech.kuleuven.ac.be
Van Brussel
Hendrik
H
Vander Sloten
Jos
J
Reynaerts
Dominiek
D
De Win
Gunter
G
Van Cleynenbreugel
Ben
B
Koninckx
Philippe R
PR
D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014584:User-Computer Interface