EVA: laparoscopic instrument tracking based on Endoscopic Video Analysis for psychomotor skills assessment.
BACKGROUND
The EVA (Endoscopic Video Analysis) tracking system is a new system for extracting motions of laparoscopic instruments based on nonobtrusive video tracking. The feasibility of using EVA in laparoscopic settings has been tested in a box trainer setup.


METHODS
EVA makes use of an algorithm that employs information of the laparoscopic instrument's shaft edges in the image, the instrument's insertion point, and the camera's optical center to track the three-dimensional position of the instrument tip. A validation study of EVA comprised a comparison of the measurements achieved with EVA and the TrEndo tracking system. To this end, 42 participants (16 novices, 22 residents, and 4 experts) were asked to perform a peg transfer task in a box trainer. Ten motion-based metrics were used to assess their performance.


RESULTS
Construct validation of the EVA has been obtained for seven motion-based metrics. Concurrent validation revealed that there is a strong correlation between the results obtained by EVA and the TrEndo for metrics, such as path length (ρ = 0.97), average speed (ρ = 0.94), or economy of volume (ρ = 0.85), proving the viability of EVA.


CONCLUSIONS
EVA has been successfully validated in a box trainer setup, showing the potential of endoscopic video analysis to assess laparoscopic psychomotor skills. The results encourage further implementation of video tracking in training setups and image-guided surgery.
Bioengineering and Telemedicine Centre (GBT), ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda Complutense, 30, 28040 Madrid, Spain. ioropesa@gbt.tfo.upm.es
Ignacio
I
Oropesa
Patricia
P
Sánchez-González
Magdalena K
MK
Chmarra
Pablo
P
Lamata
Alvaro
A
Fernández
Juan A
JA
Sánchez-Margallo
Frank Willem
FW
Jansen
Jenny
J
Dankelman
Francisco M
FM
Sánchez-Margallo
Enrique J
EJ
Gómez
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009068:Movement; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013664:Teaching Materials; D014741:Video Recording