The effect of visualization method on the performance of simulated microsurgery tasks.
The operating microscopes may be a significant cause of fatigue and discomfort in surgeons. The need for the microscope to be placed over the operating field forces surgeons to remain at the microscope's eyepieces at an uncomfortable posture for the entirety of the surgery. This study compared the effects on microsurgical task performance for four visualization methods: a monocular microscope, a binocular microscope, a three-dimensional (3D) flat-panel television display and a two-dimensional (2D) flat-panel television display. Eleven subjects each performed two microsurgical tasks and their performance was documented by video camera. The statistical analysis performed indicated utilization of the microscope as a visualization method increased subject performance. No significant difference in performance between the 2D and stereoscopic visualization methods.
University of Michigan Center for Ergonomics, IOE Department, 1205 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2117, United States of America.
Denny
D
Yu
Michael E
ME
Sackllah
Charles B
CB
Woolley
Steven J
SJ
Kasten
Daniel
D
Kim
Cooper
C
Green
Thomas J
TJ
Armstrong
D003867:Depth Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008866:Microsurgery; D016272:Occupational Health; D011187:Posture; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014741:Video Recording