Ergonomic evaluation of 3D plane positioning using a mouse and a haptic device.
BACKGROUND
Preoperative planning and intraoperative assistance are needed to improve accuracy in tumour surgery. To be accepted, these processes must be efficient. An experiment was conducted to compare a mouse and a haptic device, with and without force feedback, to perform plan positioning in a 3D space. Ergonomics and performance factors were investigated during the experiment. Positioning strategies were observed.


METHODS
The task completion time, number of 3D orientations and failure rate were analysed. A questionnaire on ergonomics was filled out by each participant.


RESULTS
The haptic device showed a significantly lower failure rate and was quicker and more ergonomic than the mouse. The force feedback was not beneficial to the accomplishment of the task.


CONCLUSIONS
The haptic device is intuitive, ergonomic and more efficient than the mouse for positioning a 3D plane into a 3D space. Useful observations regarding positioning strategies will improve the integration of haptic devices into medical applications.
Paul
Laurent
L
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, Brussels, Belgium. l.paul@uclouvain.be
Cartiaux
Olivier
O
Docquier
Pierre-Louis
PL
Banse
Xavier
X
D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014110:Touch; D014584:User-Computer Interface